1. The Progressive Era
Reform shifts from the farm to the city and climbs the ladder of government from the local to the state and then to the national level.

2. The Problems of the 1890’s Huge Gap between rich and poor
Tremendous economic and political power of the rich
Industrial workers hideously poor, living in squalor and working in dangerous conditions
“How the Other Half Lives” (1890)
Little concern for Black America

8. Features of Progressive Reform
Desire to make society more moral and more just
Desire to distribute income more equitably
Desire to broaden opportunities for individual advancement
Improve the role of women and minorities in the social life of the United States.

10. Huge Gap Created by Unfair Business Practice
Ida Tarbell wrote a book called “The History of Standard Oil” which outlined the problems of businesses who took advantage of “the little guy” to make huge profits. Her work helped unveil the problem, and Theodore Roosevelt sued many trusts, breaking them up.

11. POLITICAL CORRUPTION
Tried to put more power into the hands of the people
People did not feel well represented by the government, and many government leaders were taking bribes
The work of Phillips helped Americans get “secret ballots” and allowed to vote for their senators directly
David Graham Phillips' “The Treason of the Senate” Article brought the direct election issue to light

12. POOR LIVING CONDITIONS
The “Social Gospel” movement – “do for others as you would want”
Settlement House Workers
--Jane Addams, Hull House in Chicago (1889)
--government added minimum standards for housing codes as more people pushed for support

13. WORK/LIVING CONDITIONS
Edwin Markham wrote poems and took photos of horrible workplace conditions, including Child Labor
Child labor laws
Ten-hour work days
*Prohibition initiatives
Minimum safety standards on the job

14. WORK/LIVING CONDITIONS
Jacon Riis’ book “How the Other Half Lives” helped reveal MAJOR issues in daily lives of Americans, especially the poor
Minimum safety standards on the job
Minimum standards for housing codes
“City Beautification” movement – worked to create shelters and clean up dirty streets… get rid of the “Slums”

15. MISTREATMENT OF WOMEN
Women were considered second class citizens, whose opinions did not matter
They were basically the property of their husbands
A MAJOR movement to change this feeling, and allow women the right to vote took place. Susan B. Anthony was one of the many “suffragettes” who worked for this.

16. African American Issues
African Americans had faced deep racism for as long as the country had existed, even after racism ended.
The NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) was created to begin to bring black equality battles to court.
Their successes were limited as the country was more concerned with sweeping changes than addressing African Americans individually.
A group of black and white leaders, lead by W.E.B DuBois formed the NAACP in They began to sue Southern governments with racist laws
They fought specifically against lynching.

17. Progressive Amendments to the Constitution
Progressive reliance on the law
16th Amendment (1913)—federal income tax
17th Amendment (1913)—direct election of senators
18th Amendment (1919)—prohibition
19th Amendment (1920)—vote for women

18. The End of the Progressive Movement
Progressive movement peaks by 1917
Success of the movement led to its decline
Advent of World War I also hurt progressive activism
Progressives themselves began to tire of their own attitudes as fewer problems needed solving
Ironically, voter participation has steadily declined since the election of 1912, a sign that people have grown acceptant of the way things are, many in thanks to the Progressive Era!

20. BEFORE
AFTER