Slide 2 Chapter 22, Section 2: The Progressives The Progressives
The Progressives Main Idea: Progressive reformers worked to end
political corruption and give voters greater power. Slide 3 A.
Reforming City Governments Cities became corrupt because, as they
grew, politicians accepted money to give away service jobs. Bribes
& corruption became common & widespread. Political Bosses
were powerful politicians that controlled many local governments.
They ran political machines that controlled services in cities in
exchange for payoffs from businesses. They were popular with poor
immigrants because they provided jobs & charity, which allowed
them to continuously get reelected. Boss Tweed ran NYC in the
1860/70s and cheated the city out of over $100 million. He was
eventually exposed by journalists such as Thomas Nast (political
cartoonist) & fled to Spain, but was apprehended & sent to
jail because he was recognized (cartoons). Boss Tweed Boss Tweed
Good Government Leagues goal was to replace corrupt officials with
honest leaders. Slide 4 Slide 5 Muckrakers and Reform Efforts Lets
stop them damned pictures, he said. I dont care so much what the
papers write about my constituents cant read but they can see
pictures. Boss Tweed Muckraker: Thomas Nast, cartoonist for Harpers
Weekly Reform: - Tweed was arrested Slide 6 Muckrakers and Reform
Efforts Problem: Corrupt city bosses, such as Boss (William) Tweed
in NYC. Boss (William) Tweed Tweed-le-dee and Tilden-dum, Thomas
Nast, Artist, Illustration in Harper's Weekly, July 1, 1876. With
his 1873 conviction behind him, Tweed was sued by New York State
for $6 million. Held in debtor's prison until he could post half
that amount as bail, the former boss had few options. Still
wealthy, his prison cell was fairly luxurious. Yet Tweed was
determined to escape. Fleeing to Spain, he worked as a common
seaman on a Spanish ship until recognized by his likeness to a Nast
cartoon & captured. Extradited to New York, William Marcy Tweed
died in debtor's prison on April 12, 1878. Slide 7 B. The
Muckrakers Reformers used the press to turn public opinion against
corruption. Reporters described how corruption led to poor city
services. Muckrakers crusading journalists who raked the dirt to
expose wrong-doing. They helped change public opinion to demand
change & reform. Jacob Riis - photographed slum life &
Child Labor (How the Other Half Lives) Jacob Riis Jacob Riis Ida
Tarbell - wrote articles about big business (particularly
Rockefellers Standard Oil Co.) Upton Sinclair wrote The Jungle, a
novel that depicted the terrible conditions in the meat packing
industry Upton Sinclair Upton Sinclair Lincoln Steffens wrote The
Shame of the Cities, about corruption in city governments Slide 8
Slide 9 Slide 10 President Roosevelt proposed legislation to clean
up the meatpacking industry after reading The Jungle. Food and Drug
Act Meat Inspection Act President Roosevelt proposed legislation to
clean up the meatpacking industry after reading The Jungle. Food
and Drug Act Meat Inspection Act Slide 11 Slide 12 C. The
Progressives Progressives was the term that reformers called
themselves (forward-thinking people who wanted to improve American
life) Progressives 1898-1917 is known as the Progressive Era They
were never a single, united group with one goal. They were many
groups & individuals with many causes & goals that believed
that societys problems could be solved. They fought for public
interest (good of the people) Progressives valued education. They
wanted schools to promote reform & teach democratic values by
example (ask questions & work together to solve problems) Slide
13 MuckrackersMuckrackers TemperanceTemperance
SuffragettesSuffragettes PopulistsPopulists
MidclassWomenMidclassWomen LaborUnionsLaborUnions
CivilRightsCivilRights Slide 14 D. Political Reforms Gov. Robert
Battling Bob La Follette & his Wisconsin Idea: The will of the
people shall be the law of the land. Empowering voters (give them
more power): Primary voters choose their partys candidate for the
general election Initiative gave voters right to put a bill before
a state legislature before a state legislature Referendum allowed
voters to vote directly on a bill Recall allowed voters to remove
an elected official from office due to incompetence (not same as
impeachment) 2 new amendments: 16 th gave Congress power to levy an
income tax (graduated tax people @ diff. rates based on ability to
pay) 17 th allowed for direct election of senators (used to be
elected by state legislatures, who were controlled by special
interests) Slide 15 Progressive Political Reforms Party leaders
pick candidates for state and local offices Only members of state
legislatures can introduce bills Only legislators pass laws Only
courts or legislature can remove corrupt officials Voters select
their partys candidates Voters can propose bills to the legislature
Voters can vote on bills directly Voters can remove elected
officials from office PRIMARY INITIATIVE REFERENDUM RECALL
BeforeAfter Slide 16 RECALL Slide 17 16th Amendment (1913) gave
Congress the power to impose an income tax Political Reforms
