Progressive Era

Just Do It! Have out on your desk: – Questions from yesterday’s film – Graph WS from last week – Note sheet – on podium by door

The Progressive Movement: The Basics Period of wide-spread reform ( )  economic, political, social & moral reforms  reaction against laissez-faire government  Government should be more involved!  reaction the Gilded Age– period of excess following industrialization Muckrakers  Journalist who investigated social ills & political corruption  Targeted captains of industry & political bosses

McClure’s was a progressive publication

“How the Other Half Lives” by Jacob Riis depicted the harsh and dirty conditions of poor Americans living in crowded urban areas. These crowded apartments were typically called tenements.

“The Jungle” by Upton Sinclair exposed the nasty conditions of the meat packing industry. If you were to read this book, you’d never want to eat meat again. Trust me.

Political Reform Political machines (led by bosses) wielded great power in many cities  Led to corruption More or less Democracy?  Debate over efficiency of government  More voters or less

Political Bosses and Party “Machines” Political or party “machines” controlled many cities – The “Bosses” presided over certain political parties (i.e. the Democratic Party of NYC) – Bosses were believed to receive bribes from wealthy private organizations (sometimes big business) – In exchange for these “kickbacks”, party bosses would ensure that private business interests were looked-after (often at the expense of the every-day man)

Political Reform Progressive political reformers wanted to take some political power out of the hands of “elites” like party bosses Political reforms that took place during the Progressive Era: 1.Women’s suffrage (19 th amendment) 2.Direct election of U.S. Senators (overly powerful state legislatures cannot elect Senators any more; the people do) 3.Direct Primaries– party “bosses” do no choose primary election candidates; the people do

Political Reform Political machines (led by bosses) wielded great power in many cities  Led to corruption More or less Democracy?  Debate over efficiency of government  More voters or less Direct Primaries  Allowed voters to choose political candidates 17 th Amendment (1913)  Direct election of US Senators 19 th Amendment (1920)  Allowed women to vote

Social Reform Focused on crime, illiteracy, alcohol abuse, child labor & health and safety Child Labor  Kids often worked long hours for little pay  Breaker boys: 60 cents/hr; 10 hr days  Labor laws & compulsory education laws reduced number of kids working

The “Breaker Boys” worked long hours in dangerous conditions in coal mines in the U.S. and England. There were merely children! Some as young as 8!!

Social Reform Focused on crime, illiteracy, alcohol abuse, child labor & health and safety Child Labor  Kids often worked long hours for little pay  Breaker boys: 60 cents/hr; 10 hr days  Labor laws & compulsory education laws reduced number of kids working Safety Codes  Required safe working conditions & workers comp

The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory (clothing factory) experienced a horrific fire in Many died. The fire brought attention to worker safety issues such as fire safety. Many women working there could not get out because they were blocked into the work space so they could not leave work before their shift was over.

There were no fire escapes or other fire safety mechanisms at the factory

Social Reform in the Workplace Focused on crime, illiteracy, alcohol abuse, child labor & health and safety Child Labor  Kids often worked long hours for little pay  Breaker boys: 60 cents per hr and 10 hr days  But then labor laws & mandatory education laws reduced number of kids working Safety Codes  Required safe working conditions & workers comp

Social Reform at Home The Temperance movement called for restrictions on the consumption of alcohol – Supporters of the movement thought that drinking was morally wrong and made society lazy and unproductive Prohibition  Temperance Movement & Anti-Saloon League  Led to 18 th Amendment (1920) & then the 21 st – “Prohibited” the sale, manufacturing, or transport of all alcohol in the United States – The “Volstead Act” or 18 th amendment made Prohibition an official part of the U.S. Constitution

Big Business Reform Wealth was concentrated in the hands of too few people  Led to break up of big companies  Sherman Anti-trust Act (1890)  Some pressed for Socialism  Public/Government ownership of industry  Eugene Debs President T. Roosevelt gained reputation as a trust-buster  Was not against big-business, but misconduct by big business

Susan B. Anthony