Progressive Era “We’ve got to start to make this world over. (Thomas Edison,1912 )

THE BIG IDEA Beginning in the late 1800s, reformers known as Progressives worked to try to solve the problems of American Society

Industrialization caused problems  Unemployment and labor unrest  Wasteful use of natural resources  Abuses of corporate power

Urbanization – move from farm to city  Cities full of problems – poverty, disease, crime and political corruption  Influx of immigrants and rise of a new manager class upset earlier class alignments  Depression from 1893 – 1897 convinced people that “equality of opportunity” was a myth – NO WAY OUT

Who Were the Progressives  New middle class of young professionals  Apply professional principles  Strong faith in progress and education  Volunteerism can solve problems  Most were city dwellers and focused on city problems

Progressives included:  Socialists  Labor Leaders  Child Labor reformers  Government reformers  Muckrakers (Reporters)

American Socialist Party Government control of property and income End capitalist system (inequality) Redistribute wealth Nationalize industries No revolution – change through elections Socialist Party formed 1901

GOALS OF THE PROGRESSIVES  Prevent businesses from treating other companies unfairly  Improve safety and working conditions  Outlaw child labor  Create programs to help –sick, unemployed, and elderly  Reduce government corruption  Give women the right to vote

The Muckrakers  Why were they called Muckrakers?  Who functions like a muckraker in our modern society?  Who is a muckraker in Buffalo New York?

Muckrakers  Lincoln Steffens  Ida Tarbell  Upton Sinclair

In 1890 Jacob Riis ( ) published “How the Other Half Lives,” including his photograph of children sleeping on the streets of New York. Photo courtesy of Library of Congress.

Muckraking vs. Yellow Journalism

 The two are often confused  What are the Similarities?

Virtually the Same… but

There are Differences!

Something to think about – Homework

Progressive Legislation  1890 – Sherman Anti-Trust Act  Outlawed monopolies and unfair business practices  U.S. Forest Service – manage nation’s water and timber resources  1906 – Meat Inspection Act – Federal inspection of meat processing  1906 – Pure Food and Drug Act – outlawed dishonest labeling  1913 – Department of Labor created – promote welfare and safety of working people

The Progressive Presidents Woodrow Wilson 28th President Theodore Roosevelt 26 th President Wm. Howard Taft 27th President

Women can finally VOTE  19th Amendment passed in 1920  Voting population is doubled  Women take their rightful place in a democratic republic