Corruption and Reform

Politics Political machines– groups that influences elections, threatened voters, stuffed ballot boxes, paid off people for results Lead by bosses who got support from immigrant groups, in turn helped immigrants Most famous: Boss Tweed, stole millions of dollars

Grant administration very corrupt, took money from whiskey distillers so didn’t have to pay taxes Congress takes money in form of shares/stock from RR companies in exchange for land grants for new RR’s

Gilded Age Gilded age– time of reforming government Country looked golden, really gilded (covered) in thin layer of gold, cheap underneath Reform Presidents: Hayes, Garfield, Cleveland, Harrison

Progressive Movement Progressives– work to solve problem from industrial and urban growth Reform in health, education, gov, working conditions Civil Service Reform– every time new pres took office, many gov employees replaced, wanted exam to be given, skills rather than party

Muckrakers– journalists who uncover muck or filth of society, exposed corruption, discrimination, labor problems Upton Sinclair– “The Jungle” exposed meat processing

Direct Government Reduce power of political machines, secret ballots Direct primary– people choose candidates for office 17 th Amendment– vote directly for senators Recall– petition to remove an official from office Referendum– voters approve or disapprove of a law officials propose

Child Labor Reform Laws passed for kids to go to new public schools Kids sold newspapers, shined shoes, factories, coal mines Long hours and unsafe conditions

Work Safety Multiple accidents in major factories Triangle Shirtwaist fire- textile factory, 10 th story, doors locked, 146 killed Laws to keep paying workers hurt on job, limit hours, more safety More limits for women and children working

Progressive Women Start attending colleges in higher #’s, few chances for skilled jobs though Temperance Movement– women head the call to ban alcohol, blame society problems on booze, 18 th Amendment passed

Suffrage Movement– Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, Seneca Falls Convention 19 th Amendment passed in 1920

Progressive African Americans Booker T. Washington– was slave, became teacher, founded Tuskegee Institute for AA’s W.E.B. Du Bois– fought racism, helps found the NAACP- Nation Association for the Advancement of Colored People– works for racial equality, courts

Roosevelt the Progressive Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt– the Square Deal– balance business with people’s needs Big into conservation– protection of nature and natural resources Double # of national parks, more monuments, wildlife refuges