Progressive Era

Progressive Era Groups that were working to bring about “progress” or reform in society between 1890 to 1920

Progressives -Were mostly of average wealth & wanted to free gov. of corruption so it could be more efficient in a role as guardian of workers and the poor

-One of their biggest concerns was the railroad corporations 1. Muckrakers Journalists that wrote about social, economic, and political injustices Coined by Theodore Roosevelt -One of their biggest concerns was the railroad corporations

A. Ida Tarbell Wrote about the Standard Oil Trust (1904)

B. Lincoln Steffens Wrote about Political Machines & city politics McClure’s Magazine

C. Upton Sinclair Wrote about the Meatpacking Industry and immigrant conditions in the city The Jungle

2. Social Gospel Focused on redeeming large cities Connected with Religious institutions Walter Rauschenbusch - advocated for playgrounds and better housing in slum neighborhoods

3. Settlement House Movement Community centers that helped the immigrant and poor residents Located in the larger cities run by the middle class Hull House - located in Chicago set up by Jane Addams

Training ground for new female leaders Eleanor Roosevelt Led the way for the field of social sciences

4. New Professions American Medical Association (AMA) National Association of Manufacturers (NAM)

Women Professions Settlement Houses, Social work, Nursing, Librarians, and mostly Teaching Very few women had high level jobs

5.Women’s Movement

A. Women’s Groups Women’s Trade Union League (1903) Encouraged women to join unions

National Consumers’ League Started in 1899 by Florence Kelley Goal was to improve wages and working conditions of women by promoting boycotts of goods from unfavorable companies

B. Suffrage Movement National American Women Suffrage Association (NAWSA) Carrie Chapman Catt Over 2 million members by 1917

19th Amendment Gave women the right to vote in 1920

6. Voter Reform A. Reform of City or Municipal Governments Eliminate Political Machines B. State Government Reform Robert La Follette of Wisconsin

Voters needed more power Recall - gave voters the ability to remove public officials from office Initiative - people can propose new laws by getting a certain % of signatures on a petition Referendum - allowed voters to petition a passed law to be “referred” to voters for approval Direct Primaries - voters could vote for a candidate to run in the general election