1. Fighting for Change The Progressive Movement

2. Basic Problems of the Gilded Age: poor working conditions unfair labor practices political corruption environmental destruction monopolies discrimination and legal segregation for women, African Americans, and immigrants unstable economy social divide between rich and poor

3. Causes of Problems: Industrialization Immigration Urbanization Bank Instability Lack of Government Regulation

4. The Progressive Movement Why this name? –The Progressives want change –To some, change is bad For example, the factory owners may see new regulations (lots of fire exits, for example) as a drain on their profitability –The Progressives are making the point that change is… you guessed it… Progress!

5. Origins of Progressives: Farmers -railroads had monopolies  could charge farmers high prices to ship crops - Result  farmers work harder each year and make less money -Farmers form Grangers  a sort of farmer’s union that fought to regulate railroads -succeeded with the Interstate Commerce Act Labor Unions

6. Origins of Progressives: (cont.) Populists- Labor Unions and Grangers formed a new political party (the Populists) to challenge a gov which seemed to only care about the rich and powerful Populists never won the presidency, but did cause other parties to adopt some popular ideas

7. Other Reformers Social Gospel Movement –Salvation through charity –Help the poor and the weak –Settlement Houses Set up in slums to take care of those in need and new immigrants Run mostly by educated women Muckrackers

8. The Muckrakers Originally considered a negative term, but eventually these journalists helped inspire others to fight for progressive change – including President Teddy Roosevelt

9. Who and What are the Muckrakers? investigative reporters attempting to uncover corruption in American society primarily wrote articles for newspapers, magazines, and journals some published entire books Focused on raking the muck of society and making it public knowledge.

10. Famous Muckrakers: Ida Tarbell (focused on monopolies like Rockefeller’s Oil Monopoly) Lincoln Steffens (focused on government corruption like political machines) Upton Sinclair (focused on immigrant’s experience)

11. The Jungle