The Progressive Era (1971)

The film explores the Progressive Era in America, focusing on the presidential campaign of 1912, where Woodrow Wilson, Theodore Roosevelt, and William Howard Taft all addressed the power of trusts and economic inequality. It highlights the struggles of workers, farmers, and the urban poor against corrupt business practices and political machines. The film discusses the impact of muckrakers who exposed societal issues, leading to reforms such as the Pure Food and Drug Act. Despite some progress, the film notes that many of Wilson’s reforms were unrealized due to World War I and later challenges, suggesting an ongoing struggle for social justice and reform in America.

Keywords
Progressive Era, Woodrow Wilson, Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, trusts, muckrakers, reforms, economic inequality, social justice, Pure Food and Drug Act, labor rights