Progressive Era

Progressives  Progressives: Reformers work to change/address problems created by industrialization  Three main goals: 1. Improve living conditions 2. Regulate business 3. Make the gov’t responsive

Muckrakers  Journalists who exposes “raked up” garbage Publicized social problems

Muckraker Journalists  Ida Tarbell Exposed Rockefeller’s oil co. for poor business practices  Lincoln Steffens Shame of Cities > corrupt city gov’t  Upton Sinclair The Jungle > poor meat & food conditions  Jacob Riis How the Other Half Lives > photos chronicled urban poor

Social Reformers  Ida B. Wells Against discrimination & lynching  Jane Addams Settlement houses (Hull House)  Florence Kelly Against harsh child labor practices

Labor Reforms  1908 Muller v. Oregon 10-hr work day for women  1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Fire Safety issues! 140 died *Turning point for reform

Unions  International Ladies Garment Workers Union 1900 ILGWU organized unskilled (including women) Won shorter work week & higher wages  Industrial Workers of the World 1905 IWW organized unskilled Known as “Wobblies” > used traditional & radical tactics (sabotage) Lost support because of “radical extremes”

Political Reformers  Robert LaFollete “Wisconsin Idea” Wanted election reforms (limit campaign spending, state regulatory commissions)  Frances Willard Led WCTU > temperance & women’s rights  Susan B. Anthony NWSA > campaigned for constitutional amendment for women’s suffrage (voting)

Election Reforms  17 th Amendment Voters directly elect U.S. Senators  Initiative Voters put a proposed law on ballot  Referendum Citizens place recent law on ball to approve or reject  Recall Remove an elected official

Anti-Discriminatory Organizations  NAACP Nat’l Advancement for the Association of Colored People WEB DuBois helped organize Equality and rights for minorities  ADL Anti-Defamation League Led by Sigmund Livingston Reduce prejudice against Jews