Mid Term Exam Questions Essays Examples

The defeat of the Native Americans in the late 1800 led to the flow of many Americans to the West. With the implementation of the Homestead Act of 1862, many families migrated to the West and farming was introduced in this area. As a result, the Native Americans were continuously migrated to smaller pieces of land. As there were large junks of land in the west, large scale farming was practiced in this region with finance from the East. By 1890, the west was producing 50% of the nation’s farm produce. The increased dependence of the East on the west due to this increased farm produce led to the eastern citizens migrating to the west. This resulted to the improper development of the land and over use of the land.
Soon afterwards, there as the development of the rail that eased transport from the west to east for consumption and for export through the sea. Later on, there was the introduction of Gold and Silver mining. These marked another heavy migration of the Eastern population to the West as they migrated to this area in search for Gold. Some migrated to own these chunks of land with these minerals while others migrated so at to get employment as miners and traders of these minerals. During this period, Gold was the standard of currency in the whole world hence important for trade. This gave the citizens of the east great motivation to migrate to the west.
As a result of this expansion in the west, there was increased population and urbanization of the west as a result of the increase in produce and income. Social evils such as corruption, prostitution and burglars increased as there was quick money to spend in the west. Miss-use of land was also witnessed in the west as a result of the expansion.
The progressive party was formed in 1912 after the former president of United States Theodore Roosevelt split from the Republican Party which was led by President William Howard Taft at the time. The party acquired a new nickname as the Bull Moose Party after the journalist quoted his speech immediately after the formation of the new saying ‘I am feeling like a bull moose’.
The major goals of the progressive party included the destruction of the major monopolies in the economy including banks and corporations. The party also advocated for the hiring of more representatives of the people in the national, state and local government. Reformations in the government were also advocated by this party. The laborers were not left out as well, they party main agenda was to ensure a decent salary to the workers and good working conditions. The women and children rights were also advocated for during their convection. An introduction of a progressive tax system to be applied in the country and finally the introduction of consumer protection laws to protect consumers against un-safe products.
Both the progressives and the populist advocated for change in the system of governance by the republicans and democrats. The socialist focused on helping of the oppressed while the progressives focused on improving of the living social conditions of the Americans. The progressives wanted to retain the capitalist system unlike the socialist who were against it. The populist were more focused on retaining farming as the main source of income for the country, but the progressives were more focused on the modern ways of development. This means that they supported capitalism unlike socialists.