Progressive Era 1890s to the 1920s

Progressive Era The Progressive Era in the United States was a period of reform which lasted from the 1890s to the 1920s. Reform means change, a different approach or way or doing things.

Why Reform? Factories in the large cities provided jobs but workers’ families often lived in harsh conditions, crowded into tenements and slums in the city. This rapid growth of cities caused housing shortages and the need for new public services: sewage, water systems, public transportation. This movement was a response to the changes brought about by industrialization. It was an effort to cure many of the ills of American society that had developed during the great industrial growth in the last quarter of the 19th century.

What the Progressives Wanted The desire to remove corruption and undue influence from government through the taming of bosses and political machines; The effort to include more people more directly in the political process; The conviction that government must play a role to solve social problems and establish fairness in economic matters.

Context: Tension is mounting… Haymarket Square Riot (1886) 3000 workers gathered in Chicago to protest the police shooting of factory workers that were on strike. At the protest, someone threw a bomb into a group of policemen, killing seven

Labor Unions Industrialization had led to the rise of Labor Unions. Labor Unions: organizations of factory workers that fought to ensure better working conditions Limited work hours (eventually reduced to 8 hour days) Regulated work conditions

Who were the Progressives, and what where they trying to do? The reformers were predominantly members of the middle class. Much like labor unions that had developed to advocate for workers, these progressives advocated a wide range of economic, political, social, and moral reforms.

Progressive Movement Though the frontier had been tamed, great cities and businesses had developed, and an overseas empire was established, not all citizens shared in the new wealth, prestige, and optimism. Progressives wanted to enable the citizenry to rule more directly and circumvent (work around) political bosses

Who took the lead? California, Wisconsin, and Oregon took the lead. California Governor Johnson established good ways to value and increase citizen participation : Initiative: procedure by which a specified # of voters may propose a statute, constitutional amendment, or ordinance, and force a popular vote on its adoption. Referendum: the principle or practice of referring measures proposed or passed by a legislative body to the vote of the electorate for approval or rejection. Recall: the removal or the right of removal of a public official from office by a vote of the people taken upon petition of a specified number of the qualified electors.

Reforming the Constitution The Progressive spirit also was evident in new amendments added to the Constitution, which provided for a new means to elect senators, protect society through prohibition and extend suffrage to women. 16 th Amendment: The right of Congress to levy an income tax 17 th Amendment: Direct election of Senators 18 th Amendment: Prohibition 19 th Amendment: women's suffrage (the right to vote)

Basically… Characteristics of progressivism included a favorable attitude toward urban-industrial society belief in mankind's ability to improve the environment and conditions of life’ belief in obligation to intervene in economic and social affairs belief in the ability of experts and in efficiency of government intervention.

Muckrakers Muckrakers were journalists who exposed waste, corruption, and scandal in the highly influential new medium of national magazines, such as McClure's. Progressives shared a common belief in the ability of science, technology and disinterested expertise to identify problems and come up with the best solution.

A Success… The success of Progressivism owed much to publicity generated by the muckrakers, writers who detailed the horrors of poverty, urban slums, dangerous factory conditions, and child labor, among a host of other ills.