Roots of the Movement During the Gilded Age, people believed in social Darwinism. Social Darwinism was the idea that the "strongest" deserved to be on top. Injustices were seen as part of nature.

During the Progressive Era, people began to push back against social Darwinism. Humans did not have to accept unfair systems. They could change things if they needed to. William James called this kind of thinking "pragmatism." James was an important philosopher. His followers believed in a government that worked for people's interests.

Progressives took on many causes. They fought to make sure workers were still paid when they got hurt. Many jobs at the time were hard and unsafe. Businesses did not get in trouble if workers died or were hurt. The changes made jobs safer. Progressives also stopped factories from hiring children. Before this children were expected to work. Children also worked in mines, on farms and as helpers in shops. Progressives helped make child labor unpopular.

Progressive ideas came from all over America. Change was happening.
Progressives in the White House
Theodore Roosevelt was a popular war hero. He also ran New York state as governor.

Roosevelt was picked to be President McKinley's vice president. They ran together in the 1900 presidential election. Roosevelt was picked to help McKinley get reelected. Some people also wanted Roosevelt to be vice president instead of governor. They knew Roosevelt would have less power as vice president. Vice presidents only became president if the sitting president died in
office.

McKinley and Roosevelt won the election. Then, McKinley was shot and killed in September 1901. Roosevelt became president.

Conservatives did not want the government to make big changes. With Roosevelt in office, their worst fears came true. President Roosevelt's government protected people's rights over big business. He broke up large businesses called trusts. He protected the country's wilderness by creating many parks. Roosevelt also made sure the government tested food. Before that food was
not checked. It was sometimes unsafe to eat. The progressive movement finally had a president.

Progressive control of the presidency did not end with Theodore Roosevelt. Roosevelt got William Howard Taft elected in 1908. President Taft continued breaking up America's big businesses. Taft, though, could not control the more traditional parts of the Republican Party.

Theodore Roosevelt ran against Taft in 1912. His action split up the Republican Party. The Republicans lost the presidential election. Progressives, though, still won. The winning Democrat, Woodrow Wilson, took on many progressive ideas.

The progressives were in the White House from 1901 to 1920. Not since Abraham Lincoln were the presidents so active and powerful.

How did the progressive movement advocate (fight) for the disadvantaged in America? As a result of the progressive movement, what changes occurred for the disadvantaged in America? Use EVIDENCE from the text to support your answer.