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Progressive Era
Just Do It!
Have out on your desk:– Questions from yesterday’s film– Graph WS from last week– Note sheet – on podium by door
The Progressive Movement: The Basics
Period of wide-spread reform (1890-1920) economic, political, social & moral reforms reaction against laissez-faire government
Government should be more involved! reaction the Gilded Age– period of excess
following industrializationMuckrakers
Journalist who investigated social ills & political corruptionTargeted captains of industry & political
bosses
McClure’s was a progressive publication
“How the Other Half Lives” by Jacob Riis depicted the harsh and dirty conditions of poor Americans living in
crowded urban areas. These crowded apartments were typically called tenements.
“The Jungle” by Upton Sinclair exposed the nasty conditions of the meat packing industry. If you
were to read this book, you’d never want to eat meat again.
Trust me.
Political ReformPolitical machines (led by bosses) wielded great
power in many cities Led to corruption
More or less Democracy? Debate over efficiency of government
More voters or less
Political Bosses and Party “Machines”
• Political or party “machines” controlled many cities– The “Bosses” presided over certain political parties
(i.e. the Democratic Party of NYC)– Bosses were believed to receive bribes from
wealthy private organizations (sometimes big business)
– In exchange for these “kickbacks”, party bosses would ensure that private business interests were looked-after (often at the expense of the every-day man)
Political ReformPolitical machines (led by bosses) wielded great
power in many cities Led to corruption
More or less Democracy? Debate over efficiency of government
More voters or lessDirect Primaries
Allowed voters to choose political candidates17th Amendment (1913)
Direct election of US Senators19th Amendment (1920)
Allowed women to vote
Social ReformFocused on crime, illiteracy, alcohol abuse, child
labor & health and safety
Child Labor Kids often worked long hours for little pay
Breaker boys: 60 cents/hr; 10 hr days Labor laws & compulsory education laws
reduced number of kids working
The “Breaker Boys” worked long hours in dangerous conditions in coal mines in the U.S. and England. There were merely children! Some as young as 8!!
Social ReformFocused on crime, illiteracy, alcohol abuse, child
labor & health and safetyChild Labor
Kids often worked long hours for little pay Breaker boys: 60 cents/hr; 10 hr days
Labor laws & compulsory education laws reduced number of kids working
Safety Codes Required safe working conditions & workers comp
The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory (clothing factory) experienced a horrific fire in 1911. Many died. The fire brought attention to worker safety issues such as fire safety. Many women working there could not get out because they were blocked into the work space so they could not leave work before their shift was over.
There were no fire There were no fire escapes or other fire escapes or other fire safety mechanisms at safety mechanisms at
the factorythe factory
Social Reform in the Workplace
Focused on crime, illiteracy, alcohol abuse, child labor & health and safety
Child Labor Kids often worked long hours for little pay
Breaker boys: 60 cents per hr and 10 hr days But then labor laws & mandatory education laws
reduced number of kids workingSafety Codes
Required safe working conditions & workers comp
Social Reform at Home
• The Temperance movement called for restrictions on the consumption of alcohol– Supporters of the movement thought that drinking was
morally wrong and made society lazy and unproductive
Prohibition Temperance Movement & Anti-Saloon League Led to 18th Amendment (1920) & then the 21st
– “Prohibited” the sale, manufacturing, or transport of all alcohol in the United States
– The “Volstead Act” or 18th amendment made Prohibition an official part of the U.S. Constitution
Big Business ReformWealth was concentrated in the hands of too
few people Led to break up of big companies
Sherman Anti-trust Act (1890) Some pressed for Socialism
Public/Government ownership of industryEugene Debs
President T. Roosevelt gained reputation as a trust-buster Was not against big-business, but misconduct
by big business