US-U5-L5

SSUSH13 e-f e. Describe the significance of progressive reforms such as the initiative, recall, and referendum; direct election of senators; reform of labor laws; and efforts to improve living conditions for the poor in cities. f. Describe the conservation movement and the development of national parks and forests; include the role of Theodore Roosevelt.

Progressives “The Progressives supported new ideas and policies they believed would improve people’s lives. They supported increased government regulation of business and industry, efforts to protect consumers and workers, and policies to conserve natural resources. Their efforts to improve living conditions for the poor in cities led to more and better libraries, schools, hospitals, and parks.”- US History standards supplementary materials.

Progressives Opposed Political bosses Citizens’ lack of control over political bosses

Progressive Reforms Initiative- “the right of citizens to place a measure or issue before the voters or the legislature for approval” In laymen’s terms, this is the right to petition voters so that the lawmakers have to pay attention to citizens’ concerns Referendum- “the practice of letting voters accept or reject measure proposed by the legislature” When enough voters sign the initiative the government must bring the issue to a vote. This process also ensures that the government listens to the citizens’ concerns. Quotes from American Vision

Progressive Reforms Recall- “the right that enables voters to remove unsatisfactory elected officials from office” This allows citizens to control who is in office by having a recall vote if the official is not living up to standards Direct election of senators-this effort was spearheaded by muckraker Charles Edward Russell who stated that the Senate had become “only a chamber of butlers for industrialists and financiers” because the Senators were elected by the heads of each state that were receiving kickbacks. - In 1912 Congress passed the direct election amendment but this changed one of the states’ checks on the federal government - In 1913 there was a ratification to the amendment and was then put into the Constitution as the 17th Amendment.

Progressive Reforms Reform of labor laws –In 1900 over 1.7 million children under the age of 16 worked outside the home, often in unsafe factories. –Reformers established a National Child Labor Committee in 1904 to work to abolish child labor. –Due to muckrakers like John Spargo who wrote a book about the children in coal mines who worked 10 hour days for $0.60 a day who came out with their backs permanently bent and fingers often crippled, the government began to pass laws to regulate minimum age and maximum hours children could work. –Many states began passing compulsory education laws requiring children to be in schools instead of working. –Many families were able to survive without their children working, but that often meant that the wives had to work instead.

Efforts to improve living conditions for the poor in cities. The Progressives fought for –better health codes and safety regulations in factories, coal mines, and railroads. –fire escapes due to fires in workplaces that killed many because the doors were locked from the outside. –compensation for the families of the victims of these fires –Building codes so that buildings would be specifically residential or commercial –Health codes for restaurants –Prohibition

Conservation Movement Theodore Roosevelt –He urged Americans to reserve their natural resources including minerals, animals, and terrain –He signed the Newland Reclamation Act that funded irrigation in dry areas. –He felt that land should be protected by the government. Under his presidency 5 national parks and 51 federal wildlife reservations were established

National Parks and forests Examples include: –Arches, Utah established 1971 –Crater Lake, Oregon established 1902 –Glacier, Montana established 1910 –Hawaii Volcanoes established 1916 –Yellowstone, Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho established

Closing What were 3 reform movements that the progressives either started or backed? Why was Teddy Roosevelt well known as a president? What were the key aspects of the conservation movement?