1. The Progressive Movement
The People’s Response to Overcrowded Cities, Poor Working Conditions and A Broken Political System.

2. The Presidents of the period
Theodore Roosevelt
William Howard Taft
Woodrow Wilson

3. Who Were the Progressives
They were against unregulated, corrupt Big Business running the country
Believed industrialization and urbanization created many social problems
They believed they could improve society with their strong faith in Science and technology
Many believed the system was un-Democratic and un-Christian

4. “Muckrakers”
They were investigative journalists or writers who focused on corruption and social problems
Teddy Roosevelt named them “muckrakers” because they dug up the filth or muck they saw in politics and society while ignoring the positive
The “muckrakers” were doing their jobs according to the principals of the founding fathers
excerpt from- The Bitter Cry of Children

5. Women as Progressives Fight for the Right to Vote Known as Suffrage
Women fight for the right to vote for 72 years beginning in 1848
Western states give full voting rights to women before 1920
Governor Albert Roberts of Tennessee called a special session of the General Assembly which voted in favor of the 19th amendment
19th amendment grants women the right to vote

6. Social Reforms Begin to Happen
Unions, Strikers and the more “radical” people lead the way
Triangle Tragedy gets the countries attention
States begin to limit hours worked per day (especially women and children), pay workers compensation and enforce building and health codes
Temperance movement advocated that people stop or moderate alcohol consumption

7. Progressives vs. Big Business
Teddy Roosevelt takes on trusts
Defeats and breaks up Northern Securities, a railroad monopoly owned J.P. Morgan
Becomes known as the “Trustbuster” but leaves most intact
The Socialists led by Eugene V. Debs scare everyone including Roosevelt to reform capitalism

8. Regulating Big Business
Upton Sinclair (a socialists) published The Jungle describing horrible conditions in the meat packing industry (excerpt p. 302)
Lead to Meat Inspection Act and The Pure Food and Drug Act

9. The Election of 1912

10. Roosevelt vs Wilson: who is the progressive
Roosevelt: Loser
believes Monopolies are a fact of life
Wants protection for women and children in the work place and workers compensation
Wilson: Winner
Need to destroy Monopolies
Introduces Income Tax or direct tax on the earnings of individuals
Federal Reserve Act: Historic piece of legislation Reforms the Banks by supervising banking industry and controlling interest rates

11. Limits of Progressivism
Changes were made
Americans now expected more from Federal and State Government
W.E.B. Du Bois Fisk and Harvard Graduate created the NAACP believing voting rights essential to ending lynching's