1. United States History

2. Progressivism  The late 1800’s industrial and economic development led to the development of a new political ideology known as progressivism  Progressives believed that the government should monitor the economy and industry more  Working conditions, political corruption, and living standards were all progressive issues  Progressives wanted the people to have more control and make the government more responsive to the wishes of the people  Women became especially involved in the Progressive movement because of the potential benefits to women

3. Roots and Inspiration of Progressivism  Journalists were most responsible for spreading the message of progressivism  Magazines were popular sources of info regarding corruption and societal problems, such as McClure’s Magazine  Journalists that reported these types of stories were known as muckrakers  This name described how writers “raked up” the corruption and filth of society  Books were also popular sources  Several muckraking books addressed racial tensions, working conditions, business practices, etc.

4. Government Reform  Most workers at the turn of the 20 th Century worked 6 days, 10+ hours/day, for about $1.50/day  Women and children earned even less  Progressives called for labor laws to limit hours worked, eliminate child labor and a minimum wage  Laws were rarely enforced, with companies still employing children and forcing workers into long hours  A national minimum wage wasn’t passed until 1938

5. Government Reform  Workplace safety was also a concern of the Progressives  A fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Company of New York on March 25, 1911 showed how dangerous conditions were  Over 140 workers died when they became trapped by the fire  As a result, New York passed very strict fire codes to protect workers  More and more states began to pass laws, but corporations and companies fought the laws through the courts  Labor unions also fought for and against laws, many favoring closed shops, or even socialism

6. Reforming Society  Society also went under many reforms in the early 1900’s  Cities struggled with sanitation, health services, police, fire depts., etc.  Progressives felt that better living conditions would lead to better citizens  City planning helped build parks, beautify cities, pass building codes, zoning standards, and sanitation standards

7. Moral Reform  Progressives wanted to clean up “immoral” behavior as well  Called for a prohibition of the manufacture, sale and consumption of alcohol  They were successful with the passage of the 18 th amendment in 1919  Wanted to censor the movies that had become a craze during the early 1900’s because the felt that they aroused desires and temptations  Many states passes censorship boards, but Hollywood censored themselves staring in 1909

8. Racial Discrimination  Some Progressives tried to address the discrimination of blacks and Native Americans  Leaders like W.E.B. du Bois were very influential in the black community  In 1909, he helped to form the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), addressing civil rights  The National Urban League was another group formed in 1911 to address job and housing opportunities for blacks  However, most blacks still faced terrible discrimination  Native Americans, in 1911, formed the Society of American Indians to address civil rights for Natives  They called for preservation of reservations, much of which had been lost, and equal rights for Native Americans

9. Immigrants and Assimilation  Progressives supported Americanization, a process of preparing immigrants for full citizenship  Programs were created to help immigrants learn English, become educated, and teach American culture  They also stood for workplace reforms and public health reforms to protect immigrants