<P> In 1913, Henry Ford dramatically increased the efficiency of his factories by large - scale use of the moving assembly line, with each worker doing one simple task in the production of automobiles . Emphasizing efficiency, Ford more than doubled wages (and cut hours from 9 a day to 8), attracting the best workers and sharply reducing labor turnover and absenteeism . His employees could and did buy his cars, and by cutting prices over and over he made the Model T cheap enough for millions of people to buy in the U.S. and in every major country . Ford's profits soared and his company dominated the world's automobile industry . Henry Ford became the world - famous prophet of high wages and high profits . </P> <P> Labor unions, especially the American Federation of Labor (AFL), grew rapidly in the early 20th century, and had a Progressive agenda as well . After experimenting in the early 20th century with cooperation with business in the National Civic Federation, the AFL turned after 1906 to a working political alliance with the Democratic party . The alliance was especially important in the larger industrial cities . The unions wanted restrictions on judges who intervened in labor disputes, usually on the side of the employer . They finally achieved that goal with the Norris--La Guardia Act of 1932 . </P> <P> The level of immigration grew steadily after 1896, with most new arrivals unskilled workers from eastern and southern Europe, who found jobs working in the steel mills, slaughterhouses, and construction crews in the mill towns and industrial cities . The start of World War I in 1914 suddenly stopped most international movement, which only resumed after 1919 . Starting in the 1880s, the labor unions aggressively promoted restrictions on immigration, especially restrictions on Chinese and other Asians . The basic fear was that large numbers of unskilled, low - paid workers would defeat the union's efforts to raise wages through collective bargaining . Other groups, such as the prohibitionists, opposed immigration because it was the base of strength of the saloon power, and the West generally . Rural Protestants distrusted the urban Catholics and Jews who comprised most of the immigrants after 1890 . On the other hand, the rapid growth of the industry called for large numbers of new workers, so large corporations generally opposed immigration restriction . By the early 1920s a consensus had been reached that the total influx of immigration had to be restricted, and a series of laws in the 1920s accomplished that purpose . A handful of eugenics advocates were also involved in immigration restriction . Immigration restriction continued to be a national policy until after World War II . </P> <P> During World War I, the Progressives strongly promoted Americanization programs, designed to modernize the recent immigrants and turn them into model American citizens, while diminishing loyalties to the old country . These programs often operated through the public school system, which expanded dramatically . </P>

What put an end to the progressive movement