America Comes of Age Topic 4

Topic 4: America Comes of Age Essential Question: What can individuals do to affect society? Enduring Understanding: Reformers worked for equality in politics, economics and government Political organizations worked to enforce fair business practices and protect the environment United States worked to expand trade and territory around the world United States emerged as a world power after the Spanish-American War and expanded into East Asia and Latin America

4.1 Progressives Drive Reform People vs. Evil Corporations Government + Businesses Progressive Movement - Aimed to restore economic opportunities and correct the injustices in American life. Response to the vast changes after the Civil War and from Industrialization Simpler America These were the problems: Economic inequities Environmental issues Social welfare Working conditions Rights for women and children Progressivism: political and cultural responses to industrialization and other issues Immigration, corporate power, widening class divisions.

Progressive v. Populism

Progressive Goals 2. City Living Conditions 3. Big Business 1. Political Reform Women gaining right to vote Corrupt city officials (Political Machines) 2. City Living Conditions Crowded cities Pollution, Crime Housing Tenement Housing Utilities Water, Paved Roads 3. Big Business Monopolies and Trusts Create more opportunities for smaller businesses 4. Class System Reduce gap between the rich and the poor Improve working conditions End Child Labor

Muckrakers Investigative journalists, known as “Muckrakers,” Muckrake: - rake used to remove manure and hay out of stables exposed corruption in business, terrible working conditions, living conditions. Famous Muckrakers Jacob Riis – How the Other Half Lives Photos of living conditions in Tenement Houses Upton Sinclair – The Jungle Unsanitary working conditions in the meat packing industry. Lincoln Steffens – Shame of the Cities Political corruption in the cities Ida Tarbell – The History of Standard Oil Methods of eliminating competition Thomas Nast- Cartoons that exposed political bosses McClure’s and Collier’s famous magazines Middle Class citizens in shock Today: 60 Minutes TV Program

The Jungle

Reformers Impact Society Muckrakers: - Increased popular support for Progressivism Improved living conditions, public health improved, education for children, break up monopolies Social Gospel Movement Applying Christian moral and ethics to improve society Poverty, crime, alcoholism, slums, economic inequality, poor schools Urge to end child labor + Shorter work week Churches provide support Settlement Houses – Jane Addams Community centers that provided services to urban poor Nursery schools, child care classes, art/theatre programs for adults Hull House – Settlement House in Chicago – Jane Addams Inspired college-educated middle class women to become social activists YMCA – Young Men’s Christian Association Promote Christian values, offered classes and sports for young men

Progressivism and Children Child Labor Individual states begin to ban child labor Florence Kelley Improve lives of women and children Helped to form National Child Labor Committee National Government studied effects of working conditions on children Investigated the sweat shops Campaigned for a federal Child-Labor Law Prohibited child labor and limited hours women could work Children work hours : Work Monday –Saturday from 6 am – 9 pm 1916 – Keating-Owens Act – bans child labor US Supreme court rules this unconstitutional. States then pass laws requiring students to attend school John Dewey – educational philosopher

Reforms in the Workplace United States Industrialization Highest accidents in the world, long hours, poor ventilation, hazardous gasses, no employee benefits 30,000 died… ½ million injured Triangle Shirtwaist Factory – New York City 146 workers die due to lack of safety Locked exits, no fire extinguishers, locked doors NYC and other cities issue safety regulations Workmen compensation, 10hr workday https://www.awesomestories.com/asset/view/Triangle-Shirtwaist-Fire

Political Reform Large Urban cities Local Governments Ran by Political bosses – Kickbacks Change: cities more responsive to its citizens Local Governments Established Council Members Officials take charge of certain areas in a city and certain issues Galveston, TX and Dayton, OH Both cities hit with a natural disaster Galveston – Hurricane Dayton – Flood

Election Reform: Direct Primary Citizens nominate candidates for political parties Eliminate Political Machines Secret Ballots – made it harder to rig elections Hard to tell who you voted for Initiatives – voters could create a bill rather than lawmakers Voters instruct legislators Referendums – Voters accepted or rejected the initiative Express their views on a proposed measure Recalls – Enabled voters to force out public officials by having them face another election With a petition voters can remove a public official 17th Amendment – the people elect the senators of their state. Help to prevent business influence in federal gov’t