Chapter 9

The Progressive Movement

Section 1

Roots of Progressivism

The era in American history from about 1890-1920 is known as the Progressive Era Progressivism: a collection of different

ideas and activities about how to fix the problems within American society it was a reaction against laissez-faire

economics they believed that industrialism and

urbanization had created many social problems

Muckrakers Journalists who exposed

corruption and social injustices Term coined by Theodore

Roosevelt

Magazines like this one often published muckraking articles

1. Jacob Riis Photographed and wrote

about conditions in tenements and factories, and on the streets

How the Other Half Lives

Riis: Photographs

“Dens of Death” “Five Cents Lodging, Bayard Street”

2. Lincoln Steffens

Muckraker who exposed government corruption

The Shame of the Cities (1904)

Uncovered direct evidence of graft

3. Ida M. Tarbell The History of the Standard Oil

Company (1904) Exposed monopolistic business

practices Contributed to public outrage and

support for antitrust legislation

4 Ways Progressives Planned to Reform Society: Government Efficiency, Social Problems,

Extending Democracy, Big Business

- They thought that managing a city required experts, not elected politicians.

- Established commission plan, a city’s government would be divided into several departments, which would each be placed under the control of an expert commissioner.

1. Government Efficiency

2. Social Problems

- Women’s Suffrage - Child Labor

- Workmen’s Compensation- Prohibition

Women’s Suffrage NAWSA formed in 1890 More women served as

progressive leaders Anthony, Catt, and Paul 19th Amendment passed

in 1919

Suffragists celebrate the ratification of the 19th Amendment

Child Labor 1.75 million under 16

had jobs in 1900 (not including farms)

Progressives campaigned against child labor and for higher adult wages

Child coal miners

Child Labor (continued)

Famous photograph by Lewis Hine of a girl working in a textile factory

Factory Conditions: Workers Growing employment

insecurity Fear of injury or death

at work Assembly line workers

generally paid by the task Women and children

paid less Very few African Americans Workers began to organize

The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire Locked doors, highly

flammable materials, no extinguishers, few exits

March 25, 1911 146 people died, mainly

young immigrant women Led to public outcry,

increased legislation for safety measures

The interior of the factory after the fire

Worked for Prohibition temperance- movement called for the

moderation of alcohol. Prohibition: laws banning the manufacture,

sale, and consumption of alcohol.

The Temperance Movement ” Supported curtailing or

banning alcohol WCTU and Anti-Saloon

League Targeted immigrants and

corrupt politicians 18th Amendment (1919)

3. Extending Democracy

- Direct Primary- Initiative- Referendum- Recall- 17th amendment

Direct Primaries Allow voters—not party

leaders or bosses—to directly choose candidates

Robert La Follette of Wisconsin

Initiative, Referendum, and Recall Initiative: citizens vote on a proposed state law

Referendum: citizens vote on an existing law

Recall: allowed citizens to demand a special election to remove an elected official

The 17th Amendment Bribery, corruption, deadlocks in state

legislatures Directly vote for senators

4. Big Business- Pushed for the break up of big corporations

to restore competition- Socialism: the idea that the government

should own and operate industry for the community as a whole party

•Eugene Debs ran on the American Socialist ticket for president in 1912 and received a great deal of votes.

African Americans in the Progressive Era

Reforms focused on poor whites and European immigrants

Jim Crow laws in the SouthPlessy vs. Ferguson

A black sharecropper

African Americans in the Progressive Era (continued)

Ida B. Wells: Led a crusade against lynching

Booker T. Washington: founded the Tuskegee Institute and promoted educational opportunities

W.E.B. Du Bois: challenged blacks to fight for their rights… voting

Ida B. Wells

The Niagara Movement The Niagara Movement

In 1905 DuBois and other African American leaders met at Niagara Falls to demand full political rights and responsibilities.

This led to the founding of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

Believed the vote was essential to bring about an end to lynching and racial discrimination