1. What were some of the problems in America’s economy and society during the Gilded Age?

2. The problems and successes of the Gilded Age motivated some Americans to push for reform in America.
How can problems and successes lead to the same thing?

3. The Progressive Era

5. “Liberal” & “Conservative” What do these terms mean?
Liberals
Conservatives
believe that governments exist to serve the people and have an obligation to use their powers to help address social problems.
believe that government’s powers should be limited to essential functions. That government cannot solve social problems and too much government interferes with people’s lives.

6. The Progressive Era Who were the Progressives?
Mostly Northerners.
Most lived in cities and suburbs.
Most were professionals and educated.
Both men and women.
Most were white, some were African American.
Many were journalists, authors and photographers.
Progressive Presidents – T. Roosevelt, W.H. Taft, Woodrow Wilson

7. The Progressive Era What problems did they see in society?
Social Problems Economic Problems Political Problems
crime poverty corruption
overcrowded cities monopolies lack of voter input
lack of services for people low wages for workers women couldn’t vote
immigrants weren’t socialized unsafe working conditions political machines
child labor gap between rich and poor lack of regulation
discrimination long working hours Jim Crow laws
homelessness environmental damage

8. The Progressive Era Progressive Methods
How would Progressives solve these problems?
What methods would they use?
What methods do we have today to solve problems in society?

9. The Progressive Era Progressive Methods:
Local organizations – motivate people
Marches
Protests
Strikes
Using the media - expose the problem
Muckrakers
Running for office – change the system
Starts at the local level but grows

10. The Progressive Era Goals of Progressives: Political Progressivism-
Make government more responsive
End corruption
Give voters more power
Increase government’s regulatory powers

11. The Progressive Era Political Progressivism Successes
Presidents – Theodore Roosevelt, William Taft,
Woodrow Wilson
Primary elections
Direct election of Senators
Initiative, recall and referendum
Women’s suffrage
Anti-trust laws
Government regulation of railroads
Some worker safety laws
FDA
Increased government involvement (environment, banking)

12. The Progressive Era Failures of the Progressive Era Political:
Most states did not have primary elections
Political machines lived on
No protection for minorities (African-Americans, Chinese)

13. The Progressive Era Goals of Progressives Economic Progressivism
Improve the lives of workers (pay, hours, conditions)
Stop monopolies
Close the gap between rich and poor
Protect our resources
End child labor
Increase government regulation of businesses
End poverty

14. The Progressive Era

15. The Progressive Era Economic Progressivism Successes
16th Amendment – Income Tax
Anti-Trust laws
Some child labor laws
Some labor unions succeed
Some working conditions improve
Some states adopt 8 hour work days
Increased government regulation of businesses
Protection of the environment begins

16. The Progressive Era Failures of the Progressive Era Economic:
Child labor continued
Long hours & poor working conditions continued
Unions see little success
Gap between rich and poor continued

17. The Progressive Era Goals of Progressives Social Progressivism –
Improve services for the poor
Fix social problems
Make a unified “American” society
Get government more involved in social issues

18. The Progressive Era Social Progressivism Successes More charities
Better schools
Settlement Houses
Civil Rights groups formed
Women get some more respect
Professional police forces
Improved health care in cities

19. The Progressive Era Failures of the Progressive Era Social:
Discrimination continued
Women still unequal
Poverty still existed
Progressives went too far – pressured people to live their lives a certain way.
How would this make people feel about Progressives?

20. The Progressive Era What’s the final verdict?
How successful were they in accomplishing their goals?
What effect did they have on our lives today?

21. Why did Progressives push for this law?
The Progressive Era
The Biggest Failure
Prohibition
The 18th Amendment (1919) made the “manufacture, sale or transportation” of alcohol illegal.
Why did Progressives push for this law?

22. The Progressive Era
Prohibition

23. The Progressive Era Prohibition
Alcohol was seen as the root of many evils
Child and spousal abuse
Poverty
Homelessness
Crime
Most people in cities opposed this law and ignored it.

24. The Progressive Era Prohibition What did Prohibition do?
Crime increased
Ordinary Americans broke the law.
Organized crime was born
Turned people against Progressives
Widened the gap between rural and urban Americans

25. The Progressive Era The End of the Era Why does Progressivism end?
World War One ( ) preoccupied people
Prohibition – gave Progressives a bad name
Fatigue – people got tired of Progressives trying to save the world and make everyone behave a certain way.