Unit 2 Section 1 Part 2
A. Courts and Labor Laws Businesses tried to fight the laws Muller v. Oregon -Supreme Court Decision -established a 10 hour workday for women in laundries and factories -later, the law included men
B. Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire Progressives also fought for safety in the workplace About 500 women worked for the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in NY In 1911, a fire broke out in the factory Escape was nearly impossible -all the doors were locked to prevent theft -the fire escape broke, sending victims to their death -doors opened inward instead of outward -women began jumping out of windows 140 died
The fire convinced the government that something needed to be done Laws were passed to make the workplace safer
C. Reforming City Governments Progressives also tried to clean up governments Robert M. Lafollette -Progressive Mayor in Wisconsin He came up with the idea of forming commissions to oversee transportation, civil service, and taxation -also set up a commission to regulate RR’s
D. Election Reforms Some of the biggest reforms targeted elections Progressives wanted to make elections fair -also wanted to make elected officials accountable to the people Direct Primaries -allows voters to select a party’s candidates for public office 17 th Amendment -allowed normal voters to elect senators -this would undermine the power of party Bosses Also created the idea of the secret ballot
Finally, progressives urged states to adopt 3 measures Initiative -allows voters to propose laws Referendum -Allows voters to be the final word in accepting or rejecting laws Recall -allows citizens to remove an elected official from office