Progressive Reformers: Social and political reforms Late 1800’s to the 1920’s in America

Women and Progressives: Roles for women were changing during this era- though they still could not vote, many women were pursuing new careers and professions. While teaching was still a profession for women, many women became involved in nursing and other fields. The move from farms to cities and suburbs resulted in smaller families, and the improved technology of the period also freed up a lot of time for women to work or volunteer outside of the home.

White, upper-middle class, college-educated women who wanted to make a difference in society created and worked at settlement houses, which were like community centers in inner-city, immigrant neighborhoods. Hoping to improve the lives of those living in tenement homes by providing education and child care, teaching English and other basic skills, helping the immigrants get better jobs and housing, and uplifting them culturally (art & music appreciation.)

Assimilation and the Hull House Part of the goal of the settlement house workers was Americanization or Assimilation of immigrants to teach the immigrants WASP (White, Anglo-Saxon Persons) middle-class values. The most famous settlement house was Hull House in Chicago, led by Jane Addams.

Still divided though… Black middle-class women ran separate settlement houses for fellow African-Americans, illustrating the racial segregation of the Progressive movement. And don’t forget, women still could not vote.

Housing and Sanitation reforms: keeping people healthy and happy  Progressive reformers urged cities to pass legislation which set standards for housing (to try to eliminate the worst tenements) and such sanitation matters as garbage pick-up and sewage systems. The legislation would require the hiring of inspectors to see that these standards were met.  Many of the inspectors first hired by city governments under these reforms were women, such as Jane Addams.

Beautification of the cities… Some reformers wanted to improve the urban environment by making it more pleasant and attractive. This, like the housing reforms, was based on their idea that an improved environment meant improved people. This idea was a rejection of Social Darwinism.  Some of their reforms included parks, civic centers, and better transportation systems. Historians still argue that these were superficial reforms enacted to please the middle-class inhabitants or tourists of cities, but did not really address the dire problems of the masses who lived in the slums.  But at least they tried… right?

JANE ADDAMS Leading example of “new woman” sets up Hull house pioneer in field of social work

Women continued… Many encouraged the education of the immigrants and the impoverished. Staffing public libraries, schools and settlement houses, they set out to improve lives and society. They sponsored laws to regulate the labor of both women and children and to require regular workplace inspection. Pressure by these women on Congress helped create the Children’s Bureau in the Labor Department

Temperance and prohibition Many social reformers of the time supported prohibition- laws that would ban the making or selling of alcohol. Many reasons women supported this ban: They felt that alcohol lead to abuse, laziness and immoral actions. 18th Amendment declares it illegal to make, transport, or sell alcool in the US. Big victory for women in the Progressive Era

BUT what about women’s rights and women’s suffrage???? All the way back in 1848, Elizabeth Cady Stanton (remember her?) organized a women’s rights convention in Seneca Falls, New York. Susan B. Anthony and Stanton were joined by many women in this movement. The NAWSA: National American Woman Suffrage Association is formed in 1890 While Anthony became president of the this group in 1892, there were many other influential women. They organized marches and made speeches supporting women’s suffrage. The day before President Woodrow Wilson was inaugurated, in 1913, they marched on Washington D.C.

Alice paul: Founded the national women’s party in 1916 She met with President Wilson, who initially refused to support woman’s suffrage. In response, she lead a protest which blocked the White House. They were arrested.

Hunger Strikes: Many women continued to peacefully protest by refusing to eat According to Alva Belmont, one of the protesters, all the women had done was “…stand there quietly, peacefully, lawfully and gloriously..” ALICE PAUL- pictured being Force-fed by jailers.

19th amendment: Passed in 1919- goes into effect in 1920.