ABSTRACT
After two decades of moderate changes, New South boosters could not help but recognize the shortcomings of Southern society. The emergence of a materialist and industrial economy created many problems—real and imagined. Progressive reformers, often middle-class women, addressed many of these sources of anxiety during the first two decades of the twentieth century. Progressive reformers had various messages and multiple ambitions. One of their central concerns was the need to curtail the power of large corporations, especially trusts. Progressive laws addressed abusive child labor practices, regulated working hours and safety conditions, abolished the convict lease systems, addressed public health concerns, and created new government services to assist private businesses. Progressive reformers addressed the problems of the region's educational system directly.
