Bell Starter

We are studying Goal 7, the Progressive Period, because it directly related to Goal 5.

During the Progressive Period, reformers attempted to fix some of the issues we discussed during the Gilded Age Period.

List at least 3 issues of the Gilded Age that you would like to see corrected during the Progressive Period (1890-1914).

Keep up with these; we will go back in the end and see if these issues are solved.

The Progressive Movement in the United States (1890-1914) - The learner will analyze the economic, political, and social reforms of the Progressive Period.

What do you think progressive mean?“moving forward or improving”

Rise of Progressivism Progressive Period: time period in which government officials and

citizens began to call for reforms in business, politics, and society

Entering the Progressive Period

Only a handful enjoyed wealth as the Gilded Age closed.

Immigrants and poor laborers endured harsh living and working conditions

Urban Slums (disease, pollution)

Tenements – overcrowded created open sewers and attracted rats and other disease-spreading pest.

Air was polluted with soot from coal-fired steam engines and boilers

Who was the photojournalist who tried to expose how people in the slums lived?

Working Conditions Worsen

Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire (1911): event that increased public outcry for reform (Hamlet, NC 1991: killed 25, Imperial Chicken Plant)

NYC

when women tried to escape the doors were locked (to prevent stealing)

Doors that did open opened inward

146 people killed (most young women) – which lead to increased demands for safer working conditions

Some jumped from windows to escape the flames

Results: Progressives called for reform, NY passed laws making workplaces safer, and created workers’ compensation

Efforts suffered in passing laws limiting workday to 10 hour

Supreme Court ruled in Lochner v. New York such laws were unconstitutional

Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire

Imperial Chicken Processing Plant

Name another aspect of labor which drastically needed to be ended in order to break the cycle of hopelessness for poor families (particularly immigrants).

Lawyer, Florence Kelly, convince Illinois to ban child labor 1912 formed the National Child Labor Committee—lobbied the

federal government to create the U.S. Children’s Bureau—examine issues that affected the health and welfare of children—still protect children today

1916, Congress passed the Keating-Owens Act banned child labor—not until 1938 Congress ended child labor

Better children life by education Passed laws requiring children to attend school

Argued should learn work skills, literature and music

Boys and girls should be taught different subjects

John Dewey: criticized schools for teaching memorize facts Think creativity

Teach subjects as history, geography, skills such as cooking and carpentry

Muckrakers

President Theodore Roosevelt nicknamed people who exposed abuses in government and big business muckrakers.

Muckrakers “raked up the muck” triggering reforms.

The following slides provide snapshots of famous muckrakers of the Progressive Period.

Ida Tarbell

• “Muckraker” journalist who revealed the abuses of the Standard Oil Company

• “History of the Standard Oil Company”

• Rockefeller used ruthless methods to ruin his competitors, charge higher prices, and reap huge profits

Upton Sinclair

• Wrote The Jungle, which exposed the horrific conditions (unsanitary conditions) in the U.S. meatpacking industry

• Led to passage of the Meat Inspection Act.

Frank Norris First Naturalist author

McTeague

The Octopus: A California Story

Dramatize the Southern Pacific Railroad’s stranglehold on struggling farmers

Wrote primarily exposing the dangers of monopolies and big business abuses

Lincoln Steffens

Managing editor at McClure’s magazine

Uncovering social problems

The Shame of the Cities

Exposed political corruptions in Philadelphia

Utility companies charge customers excessively high fees

Frances Ellen Watkins

African American author

“Iola Leroy”

Struggles of African Americans

EOC Review Activity

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Hold onto this! We will take up Goal 7 EOC Review Questions as one assignment.