Please use this background and additional information to do essays 1 & 2.
The Progressive Era, Social Reform, and the Social Work Profession: 1900–1930
INTRODUCTION
In this unit, we cover the Progressive Era, social reform, and the social work profession, from 1900 to 1930. Although the United States emerged as an industrial leader during the early 20th century, as the richest country in the world it still faced unresolved social, political, and economic challenges. Advances in transportation and communication removed the geographic barriers that led to the misunderstanding that many local problems were in fact national problems.
As a result of local and state reform efforts begun in the late 18th century, the national government was forced to implement a unified response to the needs of individuals with mental illness, children, women, and families, both in the workplace and at home. At the same time, while seeking to improve the workplace conditions of women and children, and provide social insurance for all workers, progressive reform ignored the plight of oppressed blacks. This period in history also marks the professionalization of social work, which until the late 19th century was dominated by the voluntary efforts of concerned individuals.
Readings: Use as one of your references- Stern, M. J., & Axinn, J. (2017). Social Welfare (9th Edition). Pearson Education (US).
From the Social Welfare: A History of American Response to Need text:
• Read Chapter 5, “Progress and Reform: 1900–1930,” pages 115–155.
Multimedia
Review the audio interviews:
• Policy Creation.
Review what to keep in mind when preparing a policy analysis:
[u01] Unit 5 Discussion 1
Essay 1: The Rise of the Social Work Profession (1 page)
During the Civil War, American women became active in public life. Explain the role of women during this era. How was women’s involvement during this time a precursor to the development of the social work profession? Describe the factors that led to the development of the social work profession. Include in your analysis how the two historical traditions of the settlement house movement and the charity organizations influenced the structure of the social work profession.
How did the fledgling profession reflect the values of the times? Have these values changed over the years? How so?
[u05d2] Unit 5 Discussion 2
Essay 2: Social Agencies as Instruments of Oppression(1page)
Describe how social welfare agencies discriminated against African Americans and how these same systems may still oppress them. Use your personal and work experience as well as course readings to respond to this question. You may also need to do some outside research.
Please use the reading and resources to complete this essay.
Essay 3: The Depression and the New Deal (1 page)
From this week’s readings, choose one effect of the Great Depression on men of color and women. Discuss one way that the New Deal or The Social Security Act positively affected these groups. How did the Social Security Act lead to a two-class system? Is this benefit still in place today? Why or why not?
Readings: Use as references
Stern, M. J., & Axinn, J. (2017). Social Welfare (9th Edition). Pearson Education (US).
From the Social Welfare: A History of American Response to Need text:
• Read Chapter 6, “The Depression and the New Deal: 1930–1940,” pages 164–197.
• Read Barrow’s 2007 article, “Forrester Blanchard Washington and His Advocacy for African Americans in the New Deal,” from Social Work, volume 52, issue 3, pages 156–204.
From the Internet:
• Visit the Social Security website to read the article, “Historical Background and Development of Social Security,” which describes economic security from the Ancient Greeks, English poor laws, and colonial America, up to the Obama administration.
Optional
• You may wish to browse History.com’s New Deal website, featuring the Great Depression, FDR’s New Deal, and the Tennessee Valley Authority.
