Posted: February 6th, 2023

The Meaning of the Progressive Movement” by Peter Filene

Essay 3: Progressive Reforms

Paper instructions:
One of the central objectives of the course curriculum is to ensure that students are able to comprehend academic research—essentially understand information that is professionally researched, peer reviewed, and intended for the “academic discourse.”

For this essay, students will illustrate their capacity for comprehension and then express that comprehension in a short, explanatory piece of writing.

As the Filene article explains, for decades historians have debated the meaning and accomplishments of the Progressive Movement. When historians write books/articles they are usually in response to other historians’ books/articles. Historians either argue against each other, add to the cumulative knowledge of the “conventional wisdom” surrounding the historical topic, or on rare occasions offer breakthrough, novel interpretations. Filene helps explain the ebbs and flows of the debate on Progressivism. Your task is to effectively transmit the contents of the Filene article, but also indicate a clear understanding of Filene’s argument. Demonstrate a clear understanding of a scholar’s argument and how they develop and defend it through a written article summary.

Here are some tasks that should help you complete the larger objectives of the assignment:

Identify the author, title, and year of publication

Situate the topic in the historical context, based on what you know from the textbook and other sources in this class.

Identify and summarize the author’s thesis in YOUR OWN WORDS

State and explain the author’s supporting ideas and evidence

Explain the underlying meaning or goal of the article, not simply the superficial details.

For this paper you will demonstrate your ability to read and comprehend a published article and effectively summarizing the main idea(s) of the author in a concise summary.

Writing Standards

The essay will be 2 pages long.

Standard margins.

12 point times new roman font.

In-text parenthetical citations. For example: (Johnson, 25).

The essay needs to reference/cite the Filene article. The essay also needs to reference at least one of the sources from the module 2 on the Progressive Era. So, the essay must reference two sources. To illustrate a sharp command over the reading, you might judiciously incorporate some passages from the Filene article.

All essays need to be submitted to turn-it-in, through canvas. I will not grade the essay if it’s not submitted to turn-it-in.

Proofread the essay. If I can’t understand the writing, the grade will be penalized.

The rubric is posted on the course portal.

Every essay needs a formal works cited page. Remember to cite each individual source. MLA format for works cited page.

There is no need to consult outside sources. All of the information needed to complete this essay is found in the module. Students must reference the Filene text.

Essay Due February 19, 11:59 pm

After completing these tasks and objectives, students will be able to:

CO1. Demonstrate understanding of key events, central themes, and questions pertaining to recent United States history.

CO2. Gain experience reading and analyzing written arguments by engaging with a variety of types of sources.

CO 3: Read and condense the central ideas of an author’s work into your own words by identifying the author’s thesis and key evidence used to support it.
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The article “The Meaning of the Progressive Movement” by Peter Filene was published in 1984. It aims to analyze the Progressive Movement, which took place in the United States between the 1890s and 1920s, and explore the various debates and interpretations surrounding it.

The author’s thesis is that the Progressive Movement was a complex and diverse movement that cannot be easily categorized or reduced to a single definition. Filene argues that different historians have offered different interpretations of Progressivism, some seeing it as a broad-based reform movement aimed at addressing social and economic problems, while others see it as a more limited movement aimed at improving government efficiency.

Filene supports his thesis by examining the various historical debates surrounding Progressivism, including the debates over the movement’s goals, methods, and impact. He argues that Progressivism was a multifaceted movement that encompassed a wide range of reforms, including reforms in areas such as politics, economics, social issues, and education. He also notes that the movement was driven by a variety of actors, including progressive reformers, political leaders, and social activists.

The underlying meaning or goal of the article is to provide a comprehensive overview of the Progressive Movement and to demonstrate that it was a complex and diverse movement that cannot be easily reduced to a single definition. The author’s aim is to encourage historians to critically examine the various interpretations of Progressivism and to consider its broader historical context in order to better understand its meaning and impact.

The article “The Meaning of the Progressive Movement” by Peter Filene provides a thorough examination of the Progressive Movement in the United States and the various debates surrounding it. The author argues that Progressivism was a complex and diverse movement that cannot be reduced to a single definition and that it is important to critically examine its various interpretations in order to better understand its meaning and impact.
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Study Notes:
The Progressive Reforms was a political and social movement in the late 19th and early 20th centuries that aimed to address the problems caused by industrialization, urbanization, and immigration. The movement was characterized by a belief in government intervention and reform to address social and economic issues, including labor conditions, women’s rights, and political corruption. Progressives were a diverse group, including middle-class women, urban workers, and intellectuals, who sought to bring about change through new legislation, reforms of existing laws, and the creation of new institutions. Some of the most significant reforms of the Progressive Era include the Pure Food and Drug Act, the establishment of the Federal Reserve System, and the 16th Amendment, which allowed for the creation of a federal income tax. Despite the progress made during this time, the Progressive Era was not without its challenges, including opposition from powerful business interests and the difficulty of balancing the need for reform with individual freedoms.
References
Bell, R., & Cui, J. (2023). Addressing progressive educational reforms: Fusing acquisition approaches and participation in Chinese entrepreneurship education. The International Journal of Management Education, 21(1), 100748.
Rynbrandt, L. J. (2021). Caroline Bartlett Crane and progressive reform: Social housekeeping as sociology. Routledge.
Wang, J. (2022). Policy pilot to institutional demonstration under progressive reform-the case of Shenzhen special administrative region. Asian Journal of Social Science Studies, 7(5), 120.

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