The Progressive Movement and the Populist Party Age of Reform The Progressive Movement and the Populist Party

INDUSTRY/GROWTH IN CITIES Led to a new era 1000’s left farm and small towns to work in manufacturing

Areas of Reform: Reform-changes made to improve something Industrial Revolution caused some unique problems that created a need for reform Areas of Reform: Labor (Work) Education Alcohol Abuse Women’s inability to vote

Average worker - $225 yearly 12 hours a day 6 days a week TEXAS WORKER Average worker - $225 yearly 12 hours a day 6 days a week Lower than U.S. worker Advantage in town-- newspaper

Wages and Working Conditions of U.S. Worker Low Wages and Long Hours No Job security Impersonal unsafe work environment…limited compensation

Abuses in labor led to formation of labor unions

1870 industry employed twice as many children as women CHILD LABOR 1870 industry employed twice as many children as women

Railroad Abuses Took land given to them by the government and sold it at high prices to farmers Charged higher rate for short hauls than for long hauls Allowed political friends to ride free Gave rebates to preferred customers RR controlled prices

James Hogg Fights for Reform Fought Insurance Companies that weren’t following TX Law Broke up the Texas Traffic Assn-a Railroad trust Argued that trusts created a monopoly- one company’s complete control of over a product or service in the market Passed anti-trust laws making monopolies illegal

The Problems of Monopoly Monopoly blamed for creating high prices and unstable economy emergence of new rich class conspicuous consumption 1% controlled 88% of US wealth 10 mil lived below the poverty line standard of living was rising, but the gap was widening between the haves and have-nots

Populism Farmers felt they were being ignored by government- formed the Farmers’ Alliance which spread throughout the South. Populism- was a nationwide movement of rural citizens who had not benefited from the modern lifestyle made possible from growth in industry- a political movement of the common people that resulted in the formation of the “People’s Party” (political)

Populist’s Reforms Govt Regulation of Businesses Public ownership of RR, telegraph, and telephone lines Elimination of national banking system; implementation of greenbacks Storage of excess crops to cause prices to increase Graduated income tax (16th Amendment) Direct election of U.S. Senators (17th Amendment)

Temperance Movement led to Prohibition-18th Amendment Temperance-the avoidance of alcohol Citizens began expressing concern over the consumption of alcohol on society This movement was led by women such as WCTU-Women’s Christian Temp Union Prohibition- A ban of the manufacturing, sale, transport or use of alcoholic beverages

Women’s Suffrage Suffrage - the right to vote By 1918 women in TX could vote in primaries June 1919 - TX legislature ratified the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, allowing women the right to vote

Improving Education Constitution of 1876 - funds for public lands and poll taxes were revenues for public schools 1 Million students in public school by 1910 Universities, Texas A & M, and UT were established by 1880’s

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Disaster Leads to Change The City of Galveston was struck by a devastating hurricane in 1900. It was the worst natural disaster to ever hit the U.S.

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Winds – excess 120 miles per hour NUMBERS Winds – excess 120 miles per hour Waves – 20 feet higher than normal

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15 foot storm surge washed over city NUMBERS 15 foot storm surge washed over city 6000 – number of people who died

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OTHER INFO Worst natural disaster to hit US ever “Where 20,000 people lived on the 8th (of September), not a house remained on the 9th”

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17 foot seawall was built to break the waves during storms. SOLUTIONS? 17 foot seawall was built to break the waves during storms.

All weather bridge connects island to the mainland today for evacuation purposes

Progressives Push for Change! Banned co’s from issuing “scrips” instead of money for wages Limited number of hours employees work in one day Child labor laws- <12 couldn’t work in industrial plants in TX Blacklists were outlawed-used to alert employers of union activity

Farmer Jim as Governor No political experience; self-educated lawyer and banker Ignored prohibition; concentrated on poor tenant farmers First governor of TX to be impeached-to bring charges of misconduct to remove a public official from office