The Progressive Era

What is a Progressive?• Someone who works to reform or change

parts of society.

• Problems of the Progressive Era: political corruption, poor working and living conditions.

***Government intervention and

programs were needed!!!

Late 1800s-1920

By the late 1800s

• Laissez-faire-> Government had little concern for workers.

• Many industrial workers made less than $500 per year.

• At the same time-Rich were very rich

-Who can we think of?

Key Players• Andrew Carnegie-Carnegie Steel Company

-Growth of Skyscraper, Elevator helps this growth• John D. Rockefeller- Founder of Standard Oil Company

-Emergence of trusts across states-Business men/companies that invest and support growth

**Helps create Monopoly in the industry (lack of competition)

• Cornelius Vanderbilt- Dominant the Steamboat industry-Second wealthiest man during time after Rockefeller

City Problems

• Overcrowding in Tenements• Crime• Dirt/Disease from garbage

Tenements

• A place where people of the same ethnicity, race, or religion live.

• Families living in close proximity to one another.

Tenement Homes

Workplace Problems• Low Wages• Poor Work Conditions• Child Labor• Long Hours• Unsafe

Example:• Triangle Shirtwaist Fire

Muckrakers• Authors, journalists, photographers

and other artists that expose the problems and ills of society at this time. Help the public (Elite) become aware of these conditions.• Working• Living• Political Corruption

Can you think of others?

Legal Impacts

• Sherman Anti-Trust Act 1890: restricts business practices that lead to monopolies; 1st federal law to limit monopolies

• Pure Food & Drug Act 1906: 1st federal law regulating food & drugs; dangerous ingredients had to be listed on the label

• Fair Labor Standards Act 1938: created min wage, max hour laws, and restricts child labor

• Many other state laws regulating safety and workers’ rights were created in the early 1900s

Child Labor Reform• 1836- First state child labor law-

Massachusetts- 15 and under working in factories must go to school for at least 3 months per year 1842

• 1842-States limit work day- Mass. limits work day to 10 hours (not always enforced)

• 1881- State minimum age laws- AFL calls on states to ban full employment for under 14

• 1904- National Child Labor Committee forms- national campaign for federal child labor laws

Labor Unions Grow

What do unions do?

PROTECTWorkers!!!

• Worked 12 to 16 hr days

• 6 days a week

• Cheap pay

• Unhealthy conditions

• Dark

• Dirty

• No compensation for workplace injuries

• No sick leave• No paid vacation

Knights of Labor• Accepted unskilled workers, women,

African Americans.• Reach a high of 800,00 members in 1886.

American Federation of Labor• Started in 1886- primarily for

skilled workers and mostly white men.

• Wanted Increased Pay & Decrease in Hours

• End Child Labor• Merged with CIO in 1955 to

form the most powerful union in the USA.

International Ladies Garment Workers Union (ILGWU)

• Organized 2 major strikes in NYC:

• 1910: The Uprising of the 20,000

• 1911: The Great Revolt (involved 60,000 workers)

Standard Oil v. New Jersey (1911)

• By 1904, Standard Oil controlled 94% of all oil production in the USA

• Ida Tarbell’s work brought attention to their dominance

• The Supreme Court used the Sherman Anti-trust Act to break up the company into 34 independent companies (largest 2 became Exxon & Mobil)

John D. Rockefeller

Effects of Progressivism…

• Although progressives excluded large groups along the way, they did expand democracy, reform education, and improve the quality of life for millions of men, women, and especially children.

• Progressivism officially ended in 1920 with the national right for women to vote.