Exam 21: Progressivism

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Both socialists and Progressives blamed the rapid growth of capitalism and industry in America for the social problems plaguing the country.Specifically,leaders of both movements condemned the concentration of power in the hands of industrial leaders,as well as the poor working conditions that were injurious to the health and safety of the workers and that caused widespread labor unrest.Many leading Progressives were members of the Socialist Party,sharing Eugene Debs's vision that the movement was consistent with the basic principles of American democracy and justice that had been associated with the United States since the American Revolution.Although eventually American socialism fractured into different groups,most socialists agreed that capitalism should be eliminated and,to differing degrees,most called for a revolution to achieve that end.Progressives,by contrast,wanted to tame capitalism,not eliminate it.Socialists shared with Progressives the desire to see a stronger state with regulatory power,but,unlike Progressives,socialists wanted to see workers wield more political power and control.The constituencies of each movement were decidedly different.The masses of people who flocked to the Socialist Party (under the charismatic leadership of Eugene Debs)were members of working-class,ethnic communities.Most of these party members experienced first-hand the poor working and living conditions that both the Socialist and Progressive parties sought to improve.Progressives,on the other hand,remained a middle-class,white movement,peopled more by intellectuals than workers.