During the progressive era, luxuries for citizens began to flourish. Department stores, vaudeville, music halls, and amusement parks flourished during this era. Amusement parks allowed families to escape their day to day life at home and an opportunity to socialize with friends and for women to show off their new outfits. Soon Henry Ford came out with the model t car which allowed average income families own a car as we'll allowing them to travel easier. Reformers feared that these luxuries would cause immorality and social disorder so they campaigned to regulate these pleasures. One big problem during the progressive era was prostitution. Males would take women and take part of their income. Some women saw this as an easy money maker while others were kidnapped and forced into it. The Federal Mann Act was passed in 1910 which made women trafficking illegal causing the red light districts to shut down. I didn't even know there was ever red light districts in places other than Amsterdam.
Another problem during this area was abuse of drugs and alcohol. Drug companies could freely prescribe or sell opium drugs as well as morphine and heroin. In 1914 the Harrison act was passed making those drugs only accessible with a doctors prescription. Also coca-cola contained cocaine in until 1900. I found this interesting because I had no idea that drug abuse was around for over 100 years.
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