The Progressive Era in America 1890 - 1920

Problems in American Society With the rapid growth of American cities and industry, Americans faced numerous problems as a society. Child Labor Disease was rampant Violent Labor Strikes Political Machines like Tammany Hall Bogus medicines Unsafe food sources Lack of Woman’s Suffrage Anti-immigrant hostilities Government Corruption High levels of crime Alcoholism Trusts and Monopolies Low Child mortality Segregation and Jim Crow Laws Unemployment Pollution and devastation to our environment Tenements and Slums

Problems in American Society With the rapid growth of American cities and industry, Americans faced numerous problems as a society. Child Labor Disease was rampant Violent Labor Strikes Political Machines like Tammany Hall Bogus medicines Unsafe food sources Lack of Woman’s Suffrage Anti-immigrant hostilities Government Corruption High levels of crime Alcoholism Trusts and Monopolies Low Child mortality Segregation and Jim Crow Laws Unemployment Pollution and devastation to our environment Tenements and Slums

Goals of the Progressive Movement To Promote Social Welfare Help the poor and unemployed Improve the healthcare Increase education among immigrants and the working class Prohibition (ends sale of alcohol) To Expand Democracy Direct Primaries, Initiatives, Referendums Recalls, Pendleton Civil Service Act, 17th Amendment Woman’s suffrage ( 19th amendment) To Create Economic Reform Sherman Anti-trust Act, Clayton Antitrust Act Meat Inspection Act, Pure Food and Drug Act 16th Amendment (income tax), Federal Reserve Act Conservation of Natural Resources

MUCKRAKERS During this era, several journalist will make an effort to expose the ills of our society. They are known as “Muckrakers”, and they investigate and write about the plight of America’s poor, the filth of the slums, the corruption of our government and the greediness of Big Business.

Muckrakers (cont.) Upton Sinclair Best known for exposing the horrid conditions in the meat packing industry in Chicago. His book The Jungle reveals many unsanitary practices used. Roosevelt reads the book and is shocked…leading to big changes like…… The PURE FOOD & DRUG ACT (1906) The Meat Inspection Act (1906)

Muckrakers (cont.) Nellie Bly: Faked a mental condition to gain entry into a mental asylum in order to confirm the reports of abuse to the patients. Ida B Wells: Wrote about the wrongs of lynching in the South.

Muckrakers (cont.) Jacob Riis: A photojournalist who takes pictures of the tenements and slums of our big cities. Complies them in a book called How The Other Half Lives. It will shock millions who had no idea of the squalor in the slums. Ida Tarbell: Writes a series of articles exposing the Standard Oil Trust, among others. She details the enormous greed and ruthless business practices of trusts and monopolies of America

Sherman Anti-Trust Act of 1890 The Sherman Anti-Trust Act of 1890 made it illegal for corporations to form Trusts. However, our government didn’t enforce the law at first….Until Teddy Roosevelt took office as President. When Roosevelt became president, he focused much of his energy on fighting against Corruption and promised reform. Using the Sherman Anti-Trust Act, Roosevelt busted up Railroad Trusts. He also broke up the Standard Oil Trust and a Tobacco Trust. All together Roosevelt will break up 44 corporations during his time as President.

“Square Deal” for workers, consumers, and big business Theodore Roosevelt 1858-1919 Hero Of the Spanish-American War Became Governor of New York (1898) Became Vice President (1900) Became President in 1901 after McKinley was assassinated. Entered politics at early age and was known to fight against corruption “Square Deal” for workers, consumers, and big business (His platform)

Theodore Roosevelt continued Meat Packing Industry: After reading The Jungle, Roosevelt starts an investigation into the Meat packing industry leading to the creation of the Meat Inspection Act Food and Drug Industries: Roosevelt also signs the Pure Food & Drug Act which bans the sale of impure foods and bogus medicines Conservation: A strong crusader for conserving our natural resources. Preserved 194 million acres and created the U.S. Forest Service Grand Canyon, Muir Woods, Pelican Island

William Taft Was handpicked successor to Roosevelt Continued attacks on Trusts Taft pursued almost twice as many