Mrs. Housenick US History 10/8/12 Call to Reform Mrs. Housenick US History 10/8/12

The Muckrakers A group of reporters committed to investigating social conditions and political corruption Wanted to expose corruption and scandal to the people Examples: Jacob Riis, How the Other Half Lives--shocking pictures of urban poor Upton Sinclair, “The Jungle”--account of Chicago meatpacking plants, unsanitary conditions there

Jacob Riis’ Photographs

Excerpt from The Jungle Cut up by the two-thousand-revolutions- a-minute flyers, and mixed with half a ton of other meat, no odor that ever was in a ham could make any difference. There was never the least attention paid to what was cut up for sausage; there would come all the way back from Europe old sausage that had been rejected, and that was moldy and white. It would be dosed with borax and glycerin, and dumped into the hoppers, and made over again for home consumption. There would be meat that had tumbled out on the floor, in the dirt and sawdust, where the workers had tramped and spit uncounted billions of consumption germs. There would be meat stored in great piles in rooms; and the water from leaky roofs would drip over it, and thousands of rats would race about on it. It was too dark in these storage places to see well, but a man could run his hand over these piles of meat and sweep off handfuls of the dried dung of rats. These rats were nuisances, and the packers would put poisoned bread out for them; they would die, and then rats, bread, and meat would go into the hoppers together.

The Social Gospel Movement Wanted to improve conditions in cities according to biblical ideas of charity and justice. Churches began to try to help society—social programs, day care, help for the poor Salvation Army provided aid and religious counseling to poor

The Social Gospel Movement ctnd. YMCA (Young Men’s Christian Association) designed to help poor by organizing prayer meetings, citizenship training and fitness activities. Founded by Dwight L Moody Settlement Houses Provided medical care, hot lunch, English classes to new immigrants Begun by Jane Addams in Chicago with HULL HOUSE Spread to cities across America

Reform for Farmers Many problems for farmers: Too many crops lowered prices High tariffs made manufactured goods expensive Banks charged high interest for loans Railroads charged high rates for shipping Populist Movement—forms to demand changes for farmers.

Goals of the Populists Wanted money supply to be based on gold and silver to create inflation and make it easier to pay back loans Graduated income tax so rich would pay more taxes More involvement from the people in politics MANY POPULIST IDEAS HAD INFLUENCE LATER– (EX. INCOME TAX!!!)

Rise of Labor Unions Workers formed labor unions to get better wages and working conditions By negotiating as a group (collective bargaining) workers improved the chances of making change AMERICAN FEDERATION OF LABOR First major nationwide labor union Used peaceful strikes and negotiation to get better conditions for workers