The Progressive Movement of the Turn of the Century epitomized the high minded ideals of the era for a class’s society based on moral values and economic equality. However, they also held positions on race and ethnicity steeped in the Darwinian philosophy of social development that dominated the period.

Using the readings from Michael McGerr’s A Fierce Discontent: The Rise and Fall of the Progressive Movement in American 1870-1920 and Shelton Stromquist’s Re-Inventing “The People”: The Progressive Movement , the Class Problem, and the Origins of Modern Liberalism, analyze the Progressive’s positions on race and society? How did they view African Americans and the measures of Jim Crow against them? Did these views differ from those regarding the “new immigrants” coming into America? Did they think these groups could be assimilated into American society? Do you think their views of race were harmful or helpful for fostering the promotion of equality in the long run or were it a hindrance?

You will craft an essay to answer these questions. Essays should be no shorter than 500 words and preferably no longer than 750. You may use class readings as well in your essays for further evidence. Your papers will be in MLA format and include citations. Please refer to the syllabus's definition of plagiarism and the punishment for plagiarism before writing your papers.