The Progressive Era | Roots of Reform | 1

American History Tellers

Wondery

Society & Culture, Kids & Family, History, Education For Kids

4.7 • 18.3K Ratings

🗓️ 7 May 2025

⏱️ 46 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In the late 1890s, Theodore Roosevelt emerged as a hero of the Spanish-American War and embarked on a meteoric rise through the political ranks. His bold leadership and restless energy would define a new era of Progressive change.

At the end of the 19th century, the United States had become one of the world’s great industrial powers. But prosperity hid the truth of a society rife with corruption and inequality. In response, a diverse group of reformers resolved to harness the power of government to build a better society. Journalists, activists, lawyers, and politicians joined Roosevelt to fight for safer workplaces, consumer protections, and corporate regulations. They were known as “Progressives.”

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Transcript

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0:00.0	As we explore the triumphs and tragedies that shaped America, we're always striving to paint a vivid,
0:05.7	nuanced picture of the past, and with Wondery Plus, you can experience that vision in its purest form.
0:11.0	Enjoy ad-free episodes, early access to new seasons, and exclusive bonus content that illuminates the human stories behind the history.
0:17.9	Join Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts and see American
0:21.7	History through a whole new lens.
0:43.4	Imagine it's 2 o'clock in the morning in February 1896 in New York City's low-rease sign.
0:48.2	You wipe raindrops from your spectacles, trying to ignore the bone-chilling cold.
0:53.1	You're a police reporter for the New York evening sun, and you're on one of your late-night outings with your new friend,
0:54.7	Theodore Roosevelt, the city police commissioner. But tonight, you have something important you want
0:59.5	to bring up with him. You step into the dim glow of the green lights of the Church Street police
1:04.7	lodging house, ready to delve into your pitch. These dingy police station basements are the only
1:10.2	shelters available to the homeless.
1:12.3	I think it's long past time we shut them down and open up real shelters, ones with beds and
1:16.4	showers, but almost anything's better than what they've got. We wait till you see for yourself.
1:21.2	Okay, then, lead the way. Roosevelt is new on the job and has never been to a police lodging house.
1:29.2	All the other city officials have turned a blind eye to this misery, but you're hoping to change that. Roosevelt opens the door for you,
1:35.3	then follows you inside. You nod at a familiar-looking sergeant, then lead Roosevelt toward the
1:40.6	narrow set of stairs to the basement. You know, I stayed here myself. 25 years ago
1:45.9	when I first came to this city, I was an immigrant with nowhere else to go. What was it like? Not good.
1:52.6	A tramp robbed me, took my last token of home, a small gold locket containing a lock of my mother's
1:58.6	hair. When I told the police officer on duty, though,
2:01.6	he just threw me out. But I had my dog with me, and I thought that would have been enough,
	...

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