The Progressive Era Ch. 17 Notes

The Progressive Movement Developed in response to problems growing in cities & the changing workplace in the late 19 th century Mainly led by middle class, wanted: -to reform corrupt gov’t -end monopolies in Big Business -improve conditions for industrial workers -address problems of immigrants & migrants

The Progressive Movement Progressives reached large audiences with the help of muckraking journalists The Jungle, by Upton Sinclair, was a book that exposed the horrors of the meatpacking industry

Child Labor Reform Supported by Northern progressives, SC newspaper editors, & women’s groups of both races Opposed by mill owners & some workers…why do you think?

Child Labor Reform – Minimum working age set to 12, then raised to 14 – Compulsory education laws were passed & funding increased for schools

Temperance Movement & Prohibition Gov. Tillman did not want prohibition, but progressives did By early 20 th century, 20/43 counties were “dry” 1915: statewide prohibition 1918: U.S. prohibition (18 th Amendment) – Could not make, sell, or transport alcohol – Many did not follow the law; crime rate increased because of “bootleggers” and “moonshiners”

Women’s Groups Many young, educated women promoted reform In SC, women’s clubs supported – Prohibition – Fostering civil responsibility – Education reform Successes: Improving health & education Failures: did not help much with women’s suffrage movement – 19 th Amendment (1920): gave women the right to vote—not ratified in SC until 1969

African Americans during the Progressive Era Many African Americans migrated from the South to the North Organizations like the Urban League and the NAACP as well as Progressive leaders like W.E.B. DuBois and Ida B. Wells Barnett wanted to improve conditions for African Americans – Progressive movement for African Americans not successful in SC; politicians still wanted segregation

Progressive Era Governors Robert Cooper – Increased taxes & spent more on education – Supported law to increase school year to 7 months – Graduation rate still low (esp in African American schools) because of lack of high schools Coleman Blease – NOT PROGRESSIVE – Didn’t support anti- lynching laws – Opposed child labor reform in mills Richard Manning – Progressive governor – Establish fair tax system – Established schools – Improved administration of hospitals & paved roads

Reforms in the State State hospitals established for TB patients & women’s leagues raised money to build libraries – Separate facilities for races existed in the state SC Highway Department created – Gov’t supported construction of roads b/c of cars WWI brought an end to the movement, but not the problems addressed in the movement