1. By: Natalie Criniti Carlos Rivera JonMikal Riley
Political Reforms
By: Natalie Criniti
Carlos Rivera
JonMikal Riley

2. What is Economic Reform?
Movement of the early 1900’s based on the idea that government could be a tool for fixing society
Created because of an economic panic of 1893
Caused Americans to embrace Socialism
Eugene V. Debs
Created Socialist Party (1901)- goal of abolishing the “capitalistic system”

3. Reforming Local Government
City Council
- hired member’s commission of experts to take over during natural disasters
Galveston, Texas
- the first to do so in a 1900 hurricane
By 1917, 500 cities had followed Galveston’s ways
The local government was not as significant as the state governments

4. Reform Mayors Worked to stop corruption -made own local laws
Hazen Pingree (Detroit Mayor)
-Fairer Tax Structure:
lowered prices for public transportation, no corruption, and work relief for unemployed
Tom Johnson
-(Cleveland Ohio Mayor) worked for progressive reform in American cities
- believed citizens should play a role in the cities government

5. Reform Governors Robert M. La Rolette
- served as governor of Wisconsin for three years then became senate in 1906
- wanted companies out of politics and treat them how the civilians are treated
-targeted the railroad industry by taxing their property
Charles B. Aycock
- North Carolina
James S. Hogg
-Texas

6. Protecting Working Children
Tried to stop child labor and protect workers
Why were children hired?
- they were unskilled so took a lesser pay
- they had smaller hands so it was easier for them to handle smaller tools
Disadvantages
- many children got sick in the industrial field
- most of the family had to work because of low wages
Labor Committee
- created to investigate child labor

7. Woman Labor States created maximum work hours for women
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory
- resulted in the deaths of more than 100 women
Supreme Court
- ruled in favor of regulated work hours for women
ex: “Muller v. Oregon”
Finally, minimum wage provisions were introduced for women

8. Reforming Elections In some states regular citizens won state reforms.
Citizens would create initiatives
- a bill that was create by people not by the lawmakers
Legislature would either accept or reject it by referendum
The recall allowed voters to remove public officials by making them face another election before the end of their term

9. State Reforms Secret Ballot
- introduced because lack of secrecy, bribing or blackmailing voters
- prior it was colored papers printed by political parties
Reforms made to give voters more say
Referendum
- allowed certain laws to be approved by the voters first

10. Muckraker Reform oriented investigative journalists
Why were they hired?
- they were hired to draw attention to the problems such as poor working conditions, poor living conditions, and unfair business practices
Upton Sinclair
-Novelist
Ida M. Tarbell
- Journalist
Jacob Riis
- Photagrapher

11. Maternalist Reform
Provided state assistance for mothers with young children that did not have financial support of a male member in the house hold
The assistance took the form of a financial reimbursements
Limit the maximum hours of work for women
Goal
- to protect and improve the living standards of women and children

12. Political Bosses & Machines
Political Bosses are political leaders who got people to vote for them by giving favors
Sixteen states began using primary elections to reduce the power of bosses and machines.
Seventeenth Amendment
- ratified in 1913, requiring that all senators be elected by people (instead of state legislature)

13. Goals of Political Reform
To strengthen democracy by giving local populations more control over the government.
To eliminate corruption, particularly at the municipal level.
To protect laborers, children, and mothers with labor regulations.