History 132 Discussion Questions
Chapter 4:  "Progressives and the Family..."

January 31, 2011

1.     What were the characteristics of the Progressive movement?  What were the characteristics of the Progressives themselves?

2.     According to the editors, “the key to examining the changing concept of childhood is to realize that attitudes toward and ideas about children are socially constructed – that is, they are formed by certain aspects of our society at a particular point in history.”    With that in mind, how did attitudes towards children change?  Why did those attitudes change?  Overall, what was the emerging Progressive concept of childhood?

3.     Progressives were not always successful in their reform efforts.  What were some of the limitations of the reformers themselves that limited their effectiveness and success?