America was seen as a paradise by many immigrants who wanted a better life. He had better jobs and better wages too. Even if achievable, it would be very difficult for new immigrants. Capitalism was starting to take advantage of the average American by giving all the wealth to large corporations owned by one person. The Progressive Era brought new opportunities for immigrants and people already living in the country. Social, political and economic reform classified the era. The main improvements were the dissolution of trusts, purer food and a better working environment. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Trusts took control of many major industries in the late 1800s. By 1900, people began taking actions against the trusts. One of the largest trusts were the railway companies. They were all somehow connected and raised prices for many while giving free passes to some. The Hepburn Act allowed the government to control railroad prices and bring them back to reasonable levels. It also eliminated the ability to provide free rail passes. The Sherman Anti-Trust Act was passed to ensure competition in the marketplace. Without competition, industries had complete power over certain markets as smaller companies were acquired or exited from the market. These monopolies were dissolved thanks to the law and the diligence of Roosevelt. As illustrated in Upton Sinclair's The Jungle, the quality of the food was not up to the standards it should have been. The main character, Jurgis, worked in a packing plant where they packaged meat that was unsafe for human consumption. An inspector arrived but was easily distracted by the owner. To help ensure the quality of food, some laws have been passed. To ensure the quality of the meat and ensure that it was not adulterated, the Meat Inspection Act was passed. This was followed by the Pure Food and Drug Act, which required that all foods and drugs be properly labeled with their ingredients. This was replaced by the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act which gave the government the power to inspect and regulate foods and other products. During the early industrial phase of the United States, farmers left their land to work in factories. They thought they would live a better life, when in reality they had to work harder and earn less wages. There have been many accidents at work but no action has been taken to prevent the same thing from happening again in the future. Conditions did not improve during the late 1800s until the Progressive Era. Groups of “reformers helped workers and their families and pleaded with employers to eliminate dangerous working conditions and other abuses” (Progressive Era Investigations). Protesters also united in their own unions, petitioned for higher wages, and often saw increased wages and decreased length of the workday. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now .Download a custom essay The late 1800s were a time of economic growth, but living and working conditions suffered for large corporations. During the Progressive Era, there were many reforms that improved social, economic, and political conditions. The trusts were dissolved with the passage of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act. The quality of food improved with the passage of the Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act. Factory workers and.