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