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The Republican Party experienced a significant division, which led to the formation of new political factions.
Roosevelt formed a new party known as the Moose Party, marking a major political shift.

Woodrow Wilson steps in to fill the power vacuum, winning the presidency.
Wilson appealed to the progressive vote, aligning with progressive ideals and policies.
Major reforms initiated during Wilson's first term:
- Creation of the Federal Reserve: Establishing a central banking system to manage monetary policy.
- Child Labor Reform Act: Addressing child labor issues depicted in industrial photographs, focusing on the hazards faced by children in factories, such as the loss of limbs or fingers.
- Example: Students today often benefit from these reforms, as many could not secure jobs at a young age due to these labor laws.
- Legislation Supporting Unions: Continued support for progressive measures aimed at improving workers' rights.

Despite several progressive policies, Wilson's presidency had notable negatives, including:
- Resegregation of the Federal Government and Military: A shift away from integrated units established during the Spanish-American War.
- African American soldiers had previously served in integrated units, which ceased under Wilson.
- Viewing of 'Birth of a Nation' in the White House: This film glorified the South and the Ku Klux Klan (KKK), reviving the Lost Cause narrative that romanticized the South's Civil War experience as a just cause centered on states' rights rather than slavery.
- The concept of the Lost Cause claims the South's fight was justified and that they could have won the war, re-igniting racial tensions in the South.

Wilson's viewing of this film led to a resurgence of KKK membership, not only in the South but nationwide.
- The KKK adapted aspects of the film to their image, with members often depicting themselves as noble figures from the Confederacy.
This climactic cultural moment resulted in:
- Increased violence and protests against African American communities, escalating racial tensions.
- Higher instances of lynchings, which became public events attended by crowds, including children.
- African American organizations, particularly the NAACP, formed in 1909, spearheaded efforts to combat these injustices.
- Founding members included prominent figures such as W. E. B. Du Bois, Ida B. Wells, Mary White Ovington, and Henry Moskowitz.
- The NAACP focused on fighting segregation, which they viewed as inherently unjust despite the premise of being "separate but equal."
- Examples of segregation: stark differences in the quality of resources such as public water fountains for whites and colored citizens.

The role of women during this period evolved significantly, particularly through various clubs advocating for suffrage.
Major actions included:
- Marching for suffrage rights, becoming highly visible in movements.
- Picketing outside the White House, demanding voting rights for women directly from Wilson.
The Nineteenth Amendment, ratified on August 18, 1920, granted women the right to vote.
The suffrage movement intersected with civil rights, as women's clubs often collaborated with the NAACP to push for broader social reforms.
Discussion of women's other demands:
- Calls for better pay and job opportunities.
- Advocacy against segregation, recognizing systemic inequalities.

Historians categorize eras for ease of understanding.
The Progressive Era is understood as a response to the previous Gilded Age, characterized by significant social reform.
- Key causes of the Progressive Era involved responses to issues uncovered by muckrakers like Upton Sinclair in "The Jungle," leading to the establishment of regulatory bodies such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1906.
- The motivations for reform were rooted in witnessing malpractices within industries and the pressing need for social justice.
Progress during this era involved improving working conditions, ensuring safe environments for labor, and increasing workplace protections.
- Emphasis on safety standards such as ensuring factory doors opened outward to prevent tragedies during emergencies.

The notion of societal change is perpetual; while specific eras may end, the drive for progress continues.
Historians often assert that while the Progressive Era concluded, the requirements for social change have not ceased. The ongoing dialogue includes themes like immigration, women's rights, and labor issues, which persist in contemporary discussions.
Legislative advancements today, such as those regarding race, gender equality, and workers' rights, can trace roots back to the Progressive Era and its foundational changes.