Fighting to Reform

The United States in Chaos -Rapid growth by industrialization, immigration and urbanization took place -Major Problems: -Poor Working Conditions -Consumer Fraud -Unfair Practices by Large Corporations and Trusts -Political Corruption -Destruction of Wilderness

The Progressives combat the problems generally white, middle- class professionals from both political parties believed major reform was necessary

Muckrakers -Exposed the problems to the public -Lincoln Steffens wrote The Shame of Cities about corrupt gov. -Jacob Riis and Lewis Hine took hundreds of photographs of lower class -Ida Tarbell wrote History of Standard Oil about ruthless tactics of John D. Rockefeller

-Perhaps most famous muckraking literature - exposed Chicago meat- packing industry -Sinclair claimed he had seen everything in the book

- Long hours - Seven days a week - No minimum wage - Work sites unsafe - Child labor was permitted - In 1900, only 3% of workers belonged in unions

- Late 1800’s - reduction in the quality of goods - Meat-packing industry was notorious - Use of additive drugs in elixirs and syrups - False or misleading advertising

Congress passed the Pure Food and Drug Act which banned harmful additives and the use of false statements in the advertisement Federal Meat Inspection Act The Food and Drug Administration or FDA was established

Monopolies hoarded power and were merciless Fed. gov. regulate irresponsible businesses and corporations President Wilson- Federal Trade Commission and Clayton Antitrust Act

Governor from Wisconsin and US Senator Relentlessly crusaded to increase gov. efficiency, protect natural resources, and expand for democracy Ran for president under the Progressive Party, won 17% of popular vote Robert “Fighting Bob” La Follette

“Political Machines” rule Initiatives, referendums and recall elections gave politicians responsibility to the people 17 th Amendment 19 th Amendment

Protect natural resources Roosevelt – “father of the national park service” Gifford Pinchot helped Teddy John Muir – Yosemite

Many Progressives felt that blacks were inferior So. Pro. worked to strengthen segregation laws NAACP formed Defended blacks, fought lynching and investigated race riots