SSUSH13: Identify major efforts to reform American society and politics in the progressive era

SSUSH13 At the turn of the century(1900), very few in the United States enjoyed wealth and prosperity. Many felt that government corruption is what caused much of this wealth for the few and demanded reform, or change. Those who pushed for these changes were known as Progressives. These progressives believed government regulation could make society better and actively attacked big business (L) Ida Tarbell (C) Upton Sinclair (R) Jane Addams

SSUSH13a: Explain upton sinclair’s the jungle and federal oversight of the meatpacking industry A Muckraker is a journalist or author who showed the “dirt” or “muck” on society, trying to force change One of the biggest changes due to Muckrakers is the change in the meatpacking industry in the United States following Upton Sinclair’s book The Jungle The book uncovered the terribly unsafe and unsanitary conditions in meatpacking plants across the country As a result, we see the first food inspection agency started by the government (later named the FDA)

SSUSH13D: explain ida tarbell’s role as a muckraker Ida Tarbell had a very important role as a muckraker as she got revenge on John D. Rockefeller by exposing Rockefeller’s Standard Oil Company as a monopoly, eventually causing it to break up Tarbell was upset that in the late 1800’s, Rockefeller worked out deals to put out smaller oil companies. Her father’s company being one of them Out of revenge, Tarbell wrote a damaging book in 1904 titled The History of the Standard Oil Company. In 1999, it was recognized as the #5 most influential literary work of the 20th century

SSUSH13b: Identify Jane Addams and hull house and describe the role of women in reform movements There were other reformers besides muckrakers in the Progressive Era, such as Jane Addams Addams, “the Mother of Social Work”, opened the Hull House in a poor neighborhood in Chicago. The purpose of this house is for poor immigrants and citizens to have a place to go for activities and as a place to live as opposed to the streets

SSUSH13b: Identify Jane Addams and hull house and describe the role of women in reform movements Other movements led by women: the passage of the 18th and 19th amendments 18th amendment banned alcohol production and consumption in the United States. Led by Carrie Nation with her ax in saloons 19th amendment continued on the Seneca Falls Convention in the 1800’s as women finally got the right to vote in 1920.