The Progressive Era

Progressivism  Progressivism- movement that believed honest and efficient government could bring about social justice  Areas of Reform-  Poverty  Working Conditions  Government on national, state, and local levels

Their main targets: Women’s suffrage City services Safety Inequities Trusts and monopolies Corrupt political machines

Muckrakers used investigative reporting to uncover and dramatize societal ills. Ida Tarbell The History of Standard Oil Lincoln Steffens The Shame of the Cities John Spargo The Bitter Cry of the Children

Jacob Riis exposed the deplorable conditions poor people were forced to live under in How the Other Half Lives.

Christian reformers’ Social Gospel demanded a shorter work day and the end of child labor. Children’s enrollment in school increased while child labor declined. The United States Children’s Bureau was created in 1912 by Florence Kelley.

In the 1900s, the U.S. had the world’s worst rate of industrial accidents. In 1911, 146 workers died in the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire. Many young women jumped to their deaths or burned. This incident made Americans focus their attention on worker safety.

Housing Reform  Tenement Act of Landlords had to install lights in public hallways and provide at least one toilet to every two families.

The NAACP or National Association for the Advancement of Colored People was founded to demand voting and civil rights for African Americans. The NAACP aimed to help African Americans become “physically free from peonage, mentally free from ignorance, politically free from disfranchisement, and socially free from insult.” In 1911, the Urban League was formed to create a network of local clubs and churches to assist African Americans migrating to northern cities. While the NAACP focused on political justice, the Urban League helped the poor find jobs, housing, clothing, and schools for their children.

Many ethnic groups formed self-help organizations to combat prejudice and protect their rights. African Americans Jews Mexican Americans Native Americans NAACP B’nai Brith Mutualistas Society of American Indians In 1913, the Anti-Defamation League was formed to defend against physical and verbal attacks, false statements, and to “secure justice and fair treatment for all citizens alike.” (groups that provided legal assistance and disability insurance) Despite organized protests, Native Americans and Japanese lost their ownership of land.

Workplace Reform  Fight to abolish child labor  1912 Massachusetts became 1 st state to pass minimum wage law– Congress didn’t pass until 1938  Fight to lower working hours  labor/videos#the-fight-to-end-child-labor labor/videos#the-fight-to-end-child-labor

Beginning of Unions  International Ladies’ Garment Workers Union (ILGWU)  ILGWU striked in 1909 and won a shorter workweek & higher wages  Industrial Workers of the World (IWW)  10 week strike- won higher wages

City Government Reform  Commissioners being experts in fields and not party loyalists  City Councils appointing professional politicians to help run city

 Limits on campaign spending  Commissions on regulating railroads, utilities, transportation, civil service, and taxation In Wisconsin, Governor Robert M. La Follette and other Progressives reformed state government to restore political control to the people.

Election Reforms