1. The Progressive Movement
Unit 4: Industrialization and the Progressive Era Chapter 8: Progressive Reforms
The Progressive Movement

2. Who Were the Progressives?
The progressives were urban middle-class
reformers who fought for reforms to confront
the problems brought about by
industrialization and urbanization

3. Goals of the Progressives
Major Concerns:
Corruption
The gap between the rich and poor
Urban problems

4. Political Goals breaking up political machines
removing corrupt officials from office
allowing the people more say in government
gaining suffrage for women

5. Economic Goals breaking up trusts regulating working conditions
supporting labor unions
ending child labor
establishing a minimum wage
enacting a graduated (or progressive) income tax

6. Social and Economic Goals
improving the lives of the poor
promoting education for women
legalizing birth control
limiting immigration
prohibiting alcohol
conserving natural resources

7. Progressive Activism How did Progressives Attempt Achieve their Goals?
Helping the Needy
Settlement houses were institutions that provided educational and social services to the urban poor
The best known settlement house was Jane Addams’ Hull House in Chicago
The social gospel movement emphasized the role of the church in improving people’s lives
Jane Addams, founder of Hull House

8. Voluntary Organizations
The National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA), originally led by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, was formed to agitate for a women’s suffrage amendment
The Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) led by Frances Willard sought prohibition of alcoholic beverages
The National Consumers League (NCL) led by Florence Kelley organized consumer boycotts of goods manufactured by children or by others who worked in dangerous and/or unsanitary conditions
Anthony and Stanton
Frances Willard
Florence Kelley

9. The Muckrakers
Muckrakers were journalists, writers, artists, and photographers who investigated and exposed corruption and injustice
Examples
Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle brought attention to the unsanitary conditions in the meatpacking industry, inspiring the Meat Inspection Act
Jacob Riis’ How the Other Half Lives drew attention to poor quality of life in New York City tenements
Upton Sinclair
Jacob Riis