1. How reformers changed America
The Progressive Era
How reformers changed America
for the better….
U.S. History
Spring 2013

2. Progressivism Emerged in the 1890s
It was based on the belief that new ideas and honest, efficient government could bring about social justice
Brought lasting reforms that still affect society today

3. A Variety of Problems in the 19th Century in America…
Political corruption
Environmental devastation
Big Business
Labor issues (unfair, unsafe, unprotected)
Disenfranchisement (women and minorities)
And many, many other issues, too many for a 12 slide presentation

4. Progressives Target Political Corruption
City officials who created corrupt organizations to run their towns
Those who used bribery and intimidation to influence voters
Elected officials who did not listen to their voters
Progressives demanded
A commission form of city govt
Election reforms, including direct primaries, initiatives, referendums, and recalls
Fairer hiring in govt

5. Notable Names in Political Reform
The Galveston Plan
Robert M. La Follette
Populism
Hiram Johnson
Theodore Roosevelt
17th Amendment

6. Progressives Target Environmental Devastation
Polluted drinking water
Smog from factories
Sewage issues
Inadequate waste and refuse removal
Loss of pristine wilderness
Progressives demanded
Regulations to protect land, water, and air
Expectations on big businesses to pollute less
Government intervention into land and water usage

7. Notable Names in Environmental Reform
Teddy Roosevelt
John Muir
Gifford Pinchot
Francis Newlands
National Reclamation Act

8. Progressives Target Corrupt Big Businesses
The business owners were getting richer
The workers were getting poorer
Huge trusts led to monopolies and high prices
Greed was out of control and causing problems in many other areas
Progressives demanded
Break up of large trusts and monopolies
Regulation of corruption

9. Notable Names in Business Reform
Department of Commerce and Labor
Interstate Commerce Commission
Hepburn Act, Elkins Act
Sherman Anti-trust Act
Meat Inspection Act, Pure Food and Drug Act
Square Deal

10. Progressives Target Labor Issues
Extremely low pay
Arbitrary wage amounts
Child labor
Unsafe working conditions
No protections for workers
Progressives demanded
Fair wages
Safer work conditions
End to child labor
More protections and rights for workers

11. Notable Names in Labor Reform
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory
Worker’s Compensation
8-hour workday
Minimum wage
Strikes
Clayton Anti-trust Act
AFL
Samuel Gompers
Adamson Act
Ludlow Massacre

12. Progressives Target Disenfranchisement
Women weren’t allowed to vote
Minorities were prevented from voting
Poor people found it difficult to vote
Voter suppression was the rule, not the exception
Progressives demanded
Equal rights for everyone
A vote for every citizen

13. Notable Names in the Suffrage Movement
Alice Paul
Carrie Catt
NWA
NAWSA
19th Amendment
Susan B. Anthony
Elizabeth Cady Stanton
Margaret Sanger
Ida B. Wells

14. A Final Word on The Progressive Movement
The Progressive Movement was simply one moment in American History when a lot of people worked together to make things better for everyone.
The movement wasn’t perfect; many reforms were enacted out of self-interest. However, many good changes were made that helped American come ever closer to the nation it SHOULD be.
I didn’t even TOUCH racism, food safety, education, alcoholism, slums, the urban poor, the Social Gospel….I could go on and on….The Progressive Movement was a broad and many-pronged effort to improve the lives of Americans, and it deserves many more slides than this.
We still aren’t the nation we could be yet, but we seem to be getting closer!