1900-1920 PROGRESSIVE ERA

In what ways can America correct injustices

domestically and abroad?

ESSENTIAL QUESTION

Reaction to “extremes” of modern life Big business too controlling Poor conditions in cities &

factories Gap between rich & poor Poor treatment of

immigrants Lack of care for

environment

ORIGINS OF PROGRESSIVISM

1. Reform economy 2. Protect welfare of people 3. Improve people’s morals 4. Make America more

efficient 5. Giving Americans a voice

in government

GOALS OF PROGRESSIVISM

Americans begin to question economy Some Americans (especially workers)

test out socialism to try & get rid of gap between rich and poor

Muckrakers: journalists who wrote about the corrupt side of business Raking up the “muck” of the world Wanted to expose corruption in society

The Jungle by Upton Sinclair (1906) Wanted to uncover mistreatment of

workers in factories Uncovered gross conditions of

meatpacking industry

REFORMING ECONOMY

Let’s read The Jungle!

Reformers wanted to improve harsh conditions of industrialization Settlement Houses YMCA (Young Men Christian’s

Association) Libraries, Classes, Athletics

Salvation Army Soup Kitchens, Orphanages, etc.

Florence Kelly: Worked to end child labor & advocate women’s rights at work

PROTECTING WELFARE OF PEOPLE

Child Labor Few public schools Working in cotton fields, factories

and coal mines No regulations for hours, wages,

conditions Could perform unskilled jobs for lower

wages Small hands could fit into tiny part of

machinery! Wages so low for adults that everyone

in family needed to work Accidents caused by fatigue Health problems from stunted growth

PROTECTING WELFARE OF PEOPLE

Fixing Child Labor 1904 – National Child Labor

Committee Expose harsh conditions Organized exhibits with photos &

statistics Supported by labor unions Child labor lowers wages for all workers

Keating-Owen Act of 1916 Bans transportation across state lines

of goods produced with child labor

PROTECTING WELFARE OF PEOPLE

Women work in factories Many are immigrants

Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire 1911: NYC Locked doors, 800 workers

trapped, 146 women died Fire Exposes: Female labor Poor working conditions, Lack of immigrant rights Lack of safety regulations

PROTECTING WELFARE OF PEOPLE

City buildings are not prepared for disaster Triangle Shirtwaist Fire Fire on 7th, 8th and 9th floors Doors locked No sprinkler system Fire escape collapsed Factory owners guilty of

manslaughter Effects of Triangle Fire Stronger laws regulating hours and

conditions 1917 30 states had workers’ compensation

laws Improved fire codes

PROTECTING WELFARE OF PEOPLE

Reformers felt poor people could improve their l ives by improving their morals Lift themselves up & improve personal

behavior Prohibition: banning of alcoholic

beverages Thought that alcohol was corrputing

American morals Temperance Movement: wanted to

make people stop consuming alcohol Believed alcohol led to corrupt urban

politics, prohibition, gambling, ruined families and a decline in productivity

IMPROVING PEOPLE’S MORALS

Prohibition Groups who wanted Prohibition Woman’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) Largest women’s group in nation’s history

Anti-Saloon League Carrie Nation: Smashed up bars with hatchet

Groups against Prohibition Some immigrant groups (especially Catholics) Working class (especially men)

Law States first – half of US “dry” by 1914, and ¾ of

territory had outlawed saloons 18th Amendment (1919) – outlawed all alcohol

sale, manufacture, and transport

IMPROVING PEOPLE’S MORALS

Introduce assembly lines to the work place tasks be performed much more

quickly Workers become tired leads to

injuries Henry Ford Automobile factory Reduced the work day to 8 hours Paid workers $5 a day

Business model attracted thousands of workers

MAKE AMERICA MORE EFFICIENT

“When I’m through everybody will be able to afford [a car], and

about everyone will have one”

-- Henry Ford, 1909

Big businesses are corrupt Govt passes laws to remove

corporations from politics Giving Americans more of a say

in govt Initiative – bill originated by the

people rather than the lawmakers Referendum – a vote on the

initiative Recall – let voters remove public

officials from elected positions 17th Amendment – allow Americans

to elect Senators rather than govt officials

GIVING AMERICANS A VOICE IN GOVT

Women increase their role in America 1900: 1/5 American women held jobs

outside the home More women graduate from high school &

college

Reformers want to give women the right to vote National American Women’s Suffrage

Association founded in 1890 by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony Believed that since women could do the

work of men, women should also have the right to vote

Black women formed separate group under Ida B. Wells (National Association of Colored Women)

GIVING AMERICANS A VOICE IN GOVT

Three Part Strategy for Suffrage Tried to convince state

legislatures Wyoming (1869) Utah, Colorado, Idaho (1890s)

Courts: brought cases testing 14th amendment Decided women are citizens, but

voting isn’t a citizenship right

National constitutional amendment Rejected by Congress for 42 years 19th Amendment (1920)

GIVING AMERICANS A VOICE IN GOVT

WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE