How reformers changed America The Progressive Era How reformers changed America for the better…. U.S. History Spring 2013

Progressivism Emerged in the 1890s It was based on the belief that new ideas and honest, efficient government could bring about social justice Brought lasting reforms that still affect society today

A Variety of Problems in the 19th Century in America… Political corruption Environmental devastation Big Business Labor issues (unfair, unsafe, unprotected) Disenfranchisement (women and minorities) And many, many other issues, too many for a 12 slide presentation

Progressives Target Political Corruption City officials who created corrupt organizations to run their towns Those who used bribery and intimidation to influence voters Elected officials who did not listen to their voters Progressives demanded A commission form of city govt Election reforms, including direct primaries, initiatives, referendums, and recalls Fairer hiring in govt

Notable Names in Political Reform The Galveston Plan Robert M. La Follette Populism Hiram Johnson Theodore Roosevelt 17th Amendment

Progressives Target Environmental Devastation Polluted drinking water Smog from factories Sewage issues Inadequate waste and refuse removal Loss of pristine wilderness Progressives demanded Regulations to protect land, water, and air Expectations on big businesses to pollute less Government intervention into land and water usage

Notable Names in Environmental Reform Teddy Roosevelt John Muir Gifford Pinchot Francis Newlands National Reclamation Act

Progressives Target Corrupt Big Businesses The business owners were getting richer The workers were getting poorer Huge trusts led to monopolies and high prices Greed was out of control and causing problems in many other areas Progressives demanded Break up of large trusts and monopolies Regulation of corruption

Notable Names in Business Reform Department of Commerce and Labor Interstate Commerce Commission Hepburn Act, Elkins Act Sherman Anti-trust Act Meat Inspection Act, Pure Food and Drug Act Square Deal

Progressives Target Labor Issues Extremely low pay Arbitrary wage amounts Child labor Unsafe working conditions No protections for workers Progressives demanded Fair wages Safer work conditions End to child labor More protections and rights for workers

Notable Names in Labor Reform Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Worker’s Compensation 8-hour workday Minimum wage Strikes Clayton Anti-trust Act AFL Samuel Gompers Adamson Act Ludlow Massacre

Progressives Target Disenfranchisement Women weren’t allowed to vote Minorities were prevented from voting Poor people found it difficult to vote Voter suppression was the rule, not the exception Progressives demanded Equal rights for everyone A vote for every citizen

Notable Names in the Suffrage Movement Alice Paul Carrie Catt NWA NAWSA 19th Amendment Susan B. Anthony Elizabeth Cady Stanton Margaret Sanger Ida B. Wells

A Final Word on The Progressive Movement The Progressive Movement was simply one moment in American History when a lot of people worked together to make things better for everyone. The movement wasn’t perfect; many reforms were enacted out of self-interest. However, many good changes were made that helped American come ever closer to the nation it SHOULD be. I didn’t even TOUCH racism, food safety, education, alcoholism, slums, the urban poor, the Social Gospel….I could go on and on….The Progressive Movement was a broad and many-pronged effort to improve the lives of Americans, and it deserves many more slides than this. We still aren’t the nation we could be yet, but we seem to be getting closer!