Journal Activity & Chart Notes The Progressives Journal Activity & Chart Notes

Journal/ORQ: Answer each question with 3-5 sentences Think about the challenges the Industrial Revolution and Gilded Age brought to American Society in the late 1800s: Masses of Immigrants in American Cities Extreme Poverty and disgusting living conditions Financial crisis for farmers in Rural America Corruption and graft in all levels of politics Dangerous and unclean working conditions for factory workers Prejudice, discrimination and disenfranchisement against minorities Closing of the frontier and development of the West’s natural resources Monopolies limit competition and slow the economy Which of these issues is the most important to you? Why? Which of these issues would you work to change and how would you start?

Who were the progressives? Middle class activists- urban, college educated, mostly white Leaders of smaller, issue based reforms Used the power of the national, state, and local governments to solve society’s problems Wanted to make government larger and responsible for taking care of more people Tried to get more laws, regulations, and amendments passed to bring change in American Society

Who were the Muckrakers? Muckrakers were a group of crusading journalists who investigated social conditions and political corruption Publishers competed to see who could expose the most corruption Muck= the stuff people used to throw out the window but now you flush, i.e. gross stuff

MAKE THIS CHART ON THE BACK OF YOUR PAPER : 11x3 Problem: Solutions: Who Was Involved: Living Conditions in Cities: Child Labor: Work Place Safety: Alcohol Abuse: Destroying the Environment: Unsafe Products: Corruption in Government: Not Everyone Can Vote: Unchecked Big Business: Discrimination and Racism:

LEARNING STATION INSTRUCTIONS: With your KAGAN groups, summarize why there is a problem under the PROBLEM column Summarize how people worked to fix these problems in the SOLUTIONS column List the names of the people that helped fix these problem in the WHO WAS INVOLVED column. *You will have 5 minutes per station* EQ: How have Americans benefited from the issues addressed by the Progressives? Did they fix everything wrong with American Society? What remains to be addressed?

Problem: Child Labor Long hours, little pay, dangerous conditions Health problems Cycle of poverty – wages were needed to help provide for the family

Child Labor: Solution Child Labor Laws Age limits and maximum hours Public Education Mandatory attendance laws Skilled jobs preparation Helps immigrants assimilate

Problem: Not Everyone Can Vote Many progressive women saw themselves as "social housekeepers” – clean up society Women’s Suffrage 1848 – Seneca Falls State by state w/o federal Amendment

Not Everyone Can Vote: Solution Susan B. Anthony Alice Paul – use aggressive tactics to gain public attention and support Protests in front of White House, Marches, and hunger strikes 19th Amendment to the Constitution – can not be denied the right to vote based on gender

Problem: Living Conditions in Cities Crammed into tenement houses with unsanitary conditions Streets were filled with garbage and filth Disease, fire and crime

Living Conditions in Cities: Solution Jacob Riis publishes How the Other Half Lives Social Gospel – churches take on community problems to help the poor Salvation Army and YMCA – practical aid and religious counseling Jane Addams starts Settlement Houses

Problem: Work Place Safety Uncovered machines, long hours, little pay Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire

Work Place Safety: Solution Building and safety codes Workers compensation Union victories Minimum wage

Problem: Alcohol Abuse Breakdown of families Lost wages, physical abuse and crime Bad for business Workers don’t perform and often get hurt

Alcohol Abuse: Solution Temperance Movement Moderation and elimination of alcohol from society Laws to limit availability Women lead the movement Victims of abuse The Women’s Christian Temperance Movement Moral voice in society Prohibition 18th Amendment to the Constitution – makes production, sale and distribution of alcohol illegal

Problem: Destroying the Environment Industries overuse the land Ranching, logging, bonanza wheat farming- soil depletion Extracting natural resources Mining, oil drilling Pollution Coal dust - air Waste disposal - water

Destroying the Environment: Solution Conservation movement Teddy! And John Muir National parks Regulations

Problem: Unsafe Products Ingredients?!? Medicines Unclean Food Unsanitary Conditions

Unsafe Products: Solution Meatpacking – Upton Sinclair writes The Jungle Meat Inspection Act Pure Food and Drug Act Ingredients lists, and warning labels

Problem: Corruption in Government Political Machines Bribery, favoritism Buying Elections Inefficient/wasteful Patronage

Corruption in Government: Solution Taylorism – efficiency (like the assembly line) Departments to mange specific issues Robert La Follett – primaries for candidates Citizen participation Recalls, referendums, initiatives, secret ballot Pendleton Act Jobs given to candidates based on merit not favors 17th Amendment to the Constitution – direct election of senators

Problem: Unchecked Big Business Monopolies No competition, control prices Unequal distribution of wealth “Gilded Age”

Unchecked Big Business: Solution Sherman Anti-Trust Act Illegal to form monopolies  Break them up! Teddy, Taft and Wilson Square Deal – every American should have an equal opportunity Trust Busting Socialism Government regulates the economy – owns the means of production Eugene Debs 16th Amendment to the Constitution – income tax Progressive income tax  higher tax brackets for wealthier people

Problem: Discrimination and Racism Segregation Plessey v. Ferguson Hate crimes Lynching Discrimination Jim Crow Nativism and xenophobia (fear of outsiders)

Discrimination and Racism: Solution Booker T. Washington Tuskegee Institute - Blacks can gain respect as they work their way up in society Vocational college W.E.B. Dubois NAACP – challenge segregation laws in courts, help to vote Ida B. Wells Writer and speaker - challenging and decrying lynching

Exit Questions: Which of the changes brought about by Progressive Reformers do you think caused the biggest impact for everyday Americans at the time? Explain your answer. Which of the solutions from the Progressive Era has had the most impact on your life? Explain your answer.