Final answer:
The Sheppard-Towner Maternity Act of 1921 was the first federal program to provide funding for women's health clinics and initiatives to reduce infant mortality, reflecting the 1920s' changing political climate and support for women's welfare.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Sheppard-Towner Maternity Act of 1921 was a landmark legislation in American history. It was officially known as the Promotion of the Welfare and Hygiene of Maternity and Infancy Act. This act provided federal funding, specifically $1.25 million, for women's health clinics, educational programs, and nursing to support the well-being of mothers and infants.
This initiative played a crucial role in reducing infant mortality rates by allowing the establishment of well-baby clinics, as well as by promoting hygiene and maternity care during a critical period where many women and children lacked access to adequate healthcare services.
The enactment of the Sheppard-Towner Act was a reflection of the evolving political landscape of the 1920s, demonstrating a growing expectation for government involvement in social welfare. It showcases a period when the fight for women's rights was integrally connected to broader societal concerns like public health.
Despite its benefits, the American Medical Association (AMA) opposed the Sheppard-Towner Act, considering it as a step towards socialism. This opposition showcased a tension between private interests and public health initiatives during that era.