THE PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENT IN SC

PROGRESSSIVES IN SC In South Carolina, some national issues held little concern. South Carolinians were not interested in solving the problems of new immigrants, since few came to the state. The major issues of the progressives in South Carolina included child labor and fair treatment for workers, temperance, women’s suffrage and improving education. Just as with the Populist movement in South Carolina, progressive South Carolinians did not want to align themselves with the national movement or party but rather worked within the Democratic Party.

CHILD LABOR REFORMS Newspapers in SC supported child labor reform with articles that described the problem of the workers. Mill owners opposed labor reforms but progressives were still able to pass child labor laws that set the minimum age to work at ten and later raised it to twelve. Only 1/3 of children in SC were going to school and of those 1/3 attended for our months or less. Education reforms included a compulsory (required) school attendance law, increased school funding, and the creation of an adult school program

MILL WORKERS REACTION Most required state reforms were left up to the local communities. Mill workers did not always support these reforms and often needed the money their working children brought to the family. They resented anyone telling them when their children could work or that they had to go to school or that they should be inoculated against disease.

OTHER REFORMS A state hospital for tuberculosis patients was built near Columbia. Money was raise by women’s leagues to build libraries in communities The U.S. government offered to assist African American farmers with a land grant but the state would not authorize the purchase of land. Claflin College offered land and support to African American farmers

Dispensary System Many progressives in the nation believed that prohibition of alcohol (stopping the making and selling of alcohol) would reduce crime and improve family life. The state legislature passed a prohibition bill but Governor Tillman substituted prohibition with the Dispensary system. In the Dispensary system only the state government could distribute alcohol. Many counties passed their own prohibition laws in the state. 43 counties became “dry” counties.

Prohibition In 1915 the state passed a prohibition law In 1918 the U.S passed the 18 th amendment, outlawing the sale and distribution of alcohol. Many people in SC and throughout the U.S. continued to make, sell, and consume illegal alcohol.

Progressive Women Women in SC took an active role throughout the United States to try and improve society, but they gained little support for securing the right to vote. They supported prohibition, civic responsibility, and education reforms. A church women’s group established the first tuberculosis treatment center in the state. SC women did not gain support for their right to vote until the suffrage (right to vote) movement grew national attention.