The Progressive Movement Thinking Skill: Demonstrate an understanding of concepts Objective: Determine who the Progressives were and what goals they hoped to achieve

What were the Progressives’ Goals? 1. Make government more democratic 2. End unhealthy and dangerous conditions in cities and factories. 3. Curb corporate power

What were the Progressives’ Solutions? No unified approach to solving society’s problems. Stricter regulation of business Humanitarian approach: Protect workers and the urban poor Reform structure of government federal, state and city level Reform society’s morals/ethics/behavior Create order Restrict immigration End vices of the city End alcohol

Who were the Progressives? Variety of Reformers Intellectuals challenged the ideology of business Writers and Journalists wrote about the conditions and effects of industrialization and urbanization on people Inspired Middle Class reformers to seek change Formed Interest Groups to solve certain problems Approached reform utilizing Scientific Methods

How were the Progressives and Populists Different? Rural and agricultural movement Farmers Lower class Considered radical or revolutionary Short-lived and not very successful Only change at local level Progressives Urban movement Led by Intellectuals, Journalists Middle Class Much more popular movement Sought to reform the system, not do away with it Much more successful Lasted 40 years Change at local, state, even national level

The Muckrakers Muckrakers were writers, journalists, and photographers who published stories about municipal corruption corporate wrongdoing reality of slum and factory life Term Muckrakers came from T.Roosevelt: Muckrakers wrote one sided, disparaging stories. “raking up the filth”

Major Muckrakers Ida Tarbell’s: “History of Standard Oil Comp.” Lincoln Steffen’s: “The Shame of the Cities” Upton Sinclair’s: “The Jungle” (Meat Packing Industry) Jacob Riis: “How the Other Half Lives” Photographed aspects of urban life and factories Major Publications: McClure’s (750,000 subscriptions) Cosmopolitan (1 million subscribers)

Jacob Riis ‘Bandit’s Roost’ Are Images more powerful than words? Concerned Muckraker ‘Bandit’s Roost’ ‘5 Cent Rooms’