The Progressive

EraWarm Up: From what you learned about conditions in the United States during the late 1800s, think about areas that needed the greatest reform. Hint: What were the women wanting to change in the United States during this time?

The Progressives Theodore Roosevelt

became the first Progressive Party President when McKinley was shot.

Campaigned in second term on “Square Deal” platform.

Tried to balance interests of business, consumers and labor.

The Muckraking Process

Muckraker was a name applied to American journalists, novelists, and critics in the first decade of the 20th century.

Attempted to expose the abuses of business and the corruption in politics.

The term "Muckrakers" was coined by Theodore Roosevelt in reference to their ability to uncover "dirt."

Muckrakers looked only at the filth in the cesspool and never at anything good.

The Farmers

The Problem: 1. As the urban population grew, so did the demand for food. Farmers

planted more crops, causing a surplus. 2. Prices fell and farm profits plunged. 3. At the same time, expenses, such as railroad freight charges and the

price of new machinery, continued to rise. 4. Most farmers borrowed money against their land to buy new equipment

and when they could not pay back their loans, the banks seized their property and put them out of business.

The Solution:

1. The National Grange – Farmers formed cooperatives. They purchased large ticket items - grain silos, tractors - as a group. Each farmer paid less and shared the machinery. They planted fewer acres and got better prices. They pushed for better laws and control of harmful railroad pricing practices.

2. The Interstate Commerce Act (1887) – Railroad prices and practices regulated.

3. Federal Farm Loan Act (1916) – Low interest loans to farmers.

pages 259 -261, 317 Oliver Hudson Kelly

The Immigrants

The Problem: 1. From 1800 to 1880, 10 million immigrants to U.S. 2. From 1891 and 1910, 12 million immigrants to U.S.3. Massive immigration swelled the populations of the cities.4. Immigrants were resented and distrusted by citizens.5. Jobs, housing, education and medical care were difficult to find.6. Tenements sprang up. Housing poorly lit and ventilated.7. Children went to work in factories.

The Solution:1. Compulsory education laws were passed. John Dewey believed

that curriculum should be tied to real world experiences.2. Keeting Owen Child Labor Act. (page 281, 318) Outlawed interstate

sale of products made by children.3. Americanization was stressed. (page 292)4. Immigration quotas were established.

The Cities

The Problem:1. Massive immigration swelled the populations of the cities.2. Housing was scarce. Tenements sprang up that were

crowded, dirty, poorly lit and poorly ventilated.3. Smoke from factories and factory runoff polluted the air

and water.4. Tuberculosis became epidemic. The Solution:1. New York State Tenement House Act (1901) – Any new

tenements had to be built around open courtyards to allow in light and air. Had to have one bathroom for each apartment.

2. National Tuberculosis Association (1915) – Funding for hospitals

3. City parks and playgrounds built.4. First National Conference on City Planning (1909) – Plans

for future city growth.

pages 286 – 287

The Urban Poor

The Problem:1. Massive immigration swelled the populations of the cities.2. Scarce jobs for unskilled labor forced many into poverty.3. Sweatshops were common.4. Triangle Shirtwaist Company Fire brought the problem to the public

eye. The Solution: 1. Jane Addams and Hull House – Private relief agencies were at

first the only relief available to the poor. (pages 231-232) 2. This was based upon the idea of a “Social Gospel.” which

called for people to apply Christian principles to social problems.

3. Labor unions sprang up. 4. Labor laws enacted in many states, addressing working

conditions.5. Muller vs. Oregon – 10 hour workday upheld.

The Labor Unions

Solution: The New Unions1. AFL (American Federation of Labor - 1900) –

Skilled workers only. Lead by Samuel Gompers

2. ILGWU (International Ladies Garment Workers Union – 1909) Unionized workers employed in sewing shops in an attempt to end sweatshops. “Uprising of 20,000” Union not largely successful until Triangle Shirtwaist Company Fire.

3. IWW (Industrial Workers of the World) Called Wobblies. Wanted to end Capitalism. Americans feared their Socialist agenda. Soon faded.

The Labor Unions

The Problem:1. Labor unions are becoming more powerful2. The question was, should there be laws controlling

“open shops” and “closed shops”3. Open shop – nonunion workplace4. Closed shop – workers must join the union to work

there. The Solution:1. Fear of Socialism destroying our prosperous

capitalist economy forced government crack downs on labor unions.

2. Labor “bosses” came under anti trust laws.3. Labor membership continued to rise.

The Trust Busters The Problem: 1. Trusts eliminated competition - kept prices high.

2. Trusts forced companies to give them discounts, sold inferior products, corrupted public officials

3. Sherman Antitrust Act was poorly written and could not keep trusts and monopolies under control.

The Solution:1. Supreme Court ruled that Northern Securities Company was a

monopoly after the attorney general sued it for unfair trade practices.

2. Roosevelt administration filed 44 more antitrust suits.

3. Elkins Act (1903) – No shipping company rebates.

4. Hepburn Act (1906) – Set railroad rates

5. Clayton Antitrust Act (1914) Clearly stated what corporations could not do.

The Consumer

The Problem:1. Food additives made spoiled food

look fresh.2. There were no regulations on food or drug quality.3. Drug company claims were unproven.

The Solution:1. Upton Sinclair wrote The Jungle alerting consumers to

unsanitary conditions in meat packing plants.2. Meat Inspection Act (1906) – Federal inspection of meat

shipped across state lines.3. Pure Food and Drug Act (1906) – Forbade sale,

manufacture or transportation of food or drugs containing harmful materials.

The Women

The Problem:1. Women had unequal

working conditions and no power.2. The right to vote was denied to women. The Solution:1. Unions devoted to women’s labor – International

Ladies’ Garment Workers Union (1900) - were formed.

2. Progressives such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony and Carrie Chapman Catt campaigned for women’s suffrage.

3. The Nineteenth Amendment was passed in 1920 granting women the right to vote.

Prohibition The Problem:1. Alcohol abuse rose steadily

because it provided an escape from terrible living and working conditions.

2. Family life and moral conditions suffered. The Solution:1. Carrie Nation and other prohibitions campaigned

for an end to alcohol consumption in America.2. Women’s Christian Temperance Union formed.3. The Eighteenth Amendment was passed

in 1919, outlawing liquor sales and consumption

The Environment The Problem:1. Natural resources were limited.

2. Needs of business had takenpriority over the needs of the environment, causing waste, over cutting of trees and pollution.

The Solution:1.1. Newlands Reclamation ActNewlands Reclamation Act in 1902 – allowed

money from the sale of public lands to be used for reforestation and conservation.

2.2. The National Park ServiceThe National Park Service was created in 1916 - land set aside for parks and wildlife refuges.

The Political Parties The Problem:1. Corruption found at all levels of

government.2. State machines catered to special

interests and cut deals with monopolies.3. Politicians took bribes and gave them.4. Elections were rigged and votes were bought,

especially in Congress. The Solution:1. Lincoln Steffens writes The Shame of the Cities,

exposing political corruption.2. Seventeenth Amendment passed.3. Gave voters the power to elect their senators

directly.

Frayer Model: The Progressive Era Amendments

Amendment

What does the amendment say? Write this in your own words.

Draw an illustration of your amendment here.

Why was this amendment needed?

Why is this amendment still important in your life today?