1. What is the Progressive Era?
A shift from a lassize-faire stance on government and the economy
A Result of the excesses of the Gilded Age.
A belief that the government could fix problems in society.

2. Muckrakers
Investigative journalists who highlight corruption, abuse, or unsafe conditions in industry, society, or politics and call for reform.

3. How the Other Half Lives
Jacob Riis
How the Other Half Lives
(1890)
Photographed poor crime, overcrowding, poor living conditions in New York City

4. Upton Sinclair The Jungle (1906)
Exposed for working conditions, exploitation of immigrant workers, and unsanitary conditions in Chicago’s Meat Packing Industry.
Meat Inspection Act (1906)
Pure Food & Drug Act (1906)

5. Lincoln Steffens The Shame of the Cities (1904)
Exposed Corruption of Political Machines
Spurred need for electoral reform… many states adopted secret ballots, initiative, referendum, and recall measures

6. Ida Tarbell
Exposed unfair business practices such as “rebates” used by Rockefeller’s Oil Trust to put small companies out of business
Lead to passage of more Anti-Trust Legislation
Hepburn Act (1906)
Mann-Elkins Act (1910)
Clayton Anti-Trust Act (1914)