1) Progressive reform lost momentum in the 1920s with respect to regulation of business as the federal government adopted a laissez-faire approach and removed itself from regulating the economy, leading to rampant speculation and ultimately the stock market crash and Great Depression. 2) Labor reform also declined as the diversity of immigrant workers made unity difficult due to language and cultural barriers, and private labor organizations were not encouraged. 3) Social welfare for immigrants decreased as well, as the U.S. adopted an isolationist stance in the 1920s and passed laws that significantly reduced immigration and created an unhospitable environment for foreigners.

1. Day 6, Question C
Allison Rooney, Dan Shea, Emily
Seydel

2. Historians have argued that
Progressive reform lost
momentum in the 1920’s.
Evaluate this statement with
respect to each of the following:
-Regulation of business
-Labor reform
-Social welfare for immigrants

3. The Progressive Era
Characterized by:
•A return to religion
•Weeding out gov. and business
corruption
•Movement on social issues
•Overall, “bettering” the country

4. Regulation of Business
LAISSEZ-FAIRE
•Removal of federal
government from the personal
lives of American citizens.

5. Regulation of Business Cont.
•The “economic joyride” that was
the 1920’s finally ended an era of
prosperity with a crash.
• Annually, several hundred banks
were failing.

6. Regulation of Business Cont.
•Speculation ran rampant, and
“buying on the margin” was a
popular stock practice.
•The end of the twenties saw the
start of the Great Depression.

7. Labor Reform
–Because of the influx of
foreigners, workplaces were
extremely diverse. Therefore,
workers were less united
because of the language and
cultural barriers.

8. Labor Reform Cont.
•Private organizations were not
encouraged during the twenties,
separate from the gov.
•The general attitude during the
1920’s was not one of unity and
togetherness amongst different
peoples.

9. Social Welfare for Immigrants
•America adopted an Isolationist
attitude in the 1920’s.
•Roughly 800,000 immigrants
came to the U.S. between 1920
and 1921, which was causing
problems for the government.

10. Welfare for Immigrants Cont.
•The Emergency Quota act of 1921
and the Immigration Act of 1924
stemmed the flow.
•America was not a very hospitable
environment for foreigners during
this period.