Woman in Red Cross Nurse's Uniform,between 1900 and 1915 Touring Turn-of-the-Century America, 1880-1920

This generation of Americans also hoped to make the world a more democratic place. At home, this meant expanding the right to vote to women and a number of election reforms such as the recall, referendum, and direct election of Senators. Abroad, it meant trying to make the world safe for democracy. In 1917, the United States joined Great Britain and France--two democratic nations--in their war against autocratic Germany and Austria-Hungary. Soon after the Great War, the majority of Americans turned away from concern about foreign affairs, adopting an attitude of live and let live.

The 1920s, also known as the "roaring twenties" and as "the new era," were similar to the Progressive Era in that America continued its economic growth and prosperity. The incomes of working people increased along with those of middle class and wealthier Americans. The major growth industry was automobile manufacturing. Americans fell in love with the automobile, which radically changed their way of life. On the other hand, the 1920s saw the decline of many reform activities that had been so widespread after 1900.
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• Automobiles in the Progressive and New Eras

• Cities During the Progressive Era

• Conservation in the Progressive Era

• Immigrants in the Progressive Era

• Prohibition: A Case Study of Progressive Reform

• U.S. Participation in the Great War (World War One)

• Women's Suffrage in the Progressive Era