Progressive EraAge of Reform

The Gilded Age: Boom and Bust, 1870-1910”

Boom and Bust: The unregulated, “laissez-faire” economy led to distortions in distribution of wealth

Eventually, the economic rollercoaster ride caused business, banking, labor, and government to create agencies to regulate industry, reform monetary policy, and generally rationalize the economy.

Labor Movement

As mass production increased and industry raised America’s standard of living in late 1800’s, it also created dissatisfaction.

1. Workers worked 10-12 hour days, 6 days a week.

2. Many lost jobs if business was slow or were replaced by immigrants who worked for less pay.

3. Factories and mines were noisy, unhealthy, and unsafe. (sweatshops)

4. Women made half of what men earned (no law regulating salaries)

5. Child Labor – employers ignored child labor laws – but said children had to be at least 12 and could not work longer than 10 hour days.

Workers Organize

Labor Unions Groups of dissatisfied workers

who demand better pay and safer working conditions.

Used Strikes – work stoppages Most were failures and could

result in violence or death. Most were failures and could

result in violence or death. Scabs were especially targeted Police, militia, or Federal troops

sent in to stop riots and strikes.

Haymarket Strike Chicago (8 hour workday) Dynamite bomb went off and

ensuing gunfire killed 11 Homestead Strike

Pennsylvania (Steel) (wages) Pinkerton’s sent in

Pullman Railway Car Plant Chicago (wages) Led to Labor Day becoming a

National Holiday

Women Organize as well

Women formed own unions because not allowed in men’s.

ILGWU – International Ladies’ Garment Workers Union:

Result of Triangle ShirtWaist Fire where 150 workers died in 1911.

Why? Because doors where locked

by owners so workers could not leave early.

Farmers Organize

Farmer Alliance Supply of crops grew

faster than demand for them.

Expenses for manufactured goods remained high.

Blamed RR, eastern manufactures, and banks

CAUSES• New inventions and more efficient

techniques are introduced• A lack of competition exists among

railroads• Money is in short supply

EFFECTS• Prices of farm products decline• Farmers earnings decrease• Farmers are unable to pay back

loans• Banks lend money to fewer farmers• Farmers head to cities to find jobs.

Populism

Political movement uniting Farmers and Labor.

Supported the common people They called for legal protection

for industrial workers. Nationalization of railroads. Direct election of U.S.

Senators. Government control of

telephone and telegraph industries.

Populists in Congress passed the Interstate Commerce Act, which created an agency to regulate interstate trade (railroads.)

The Sherman Anti-Trust Act, banning monopolies.

Fusion Alliance in NC: Populists unable to break Democrats

hold on the state. Combined or “fused” efforts with

Republicans and swept the elections. provided money for charity and prison,

regulated interest rates, increased spending on education, and returned African Americans to full political participation

Progressivism

The Progressive Era marked the coming together of various reform movements designed to:

Increase democratic participation

To clean up government To increase the standard of

living of the poor To improve industrial output and

working conditions To make the U.S. a more moral

and healthful nation.

Wilmington Race Riot shapes NC’s Progressivism. Democrats regain control of the State

and promise return of “White Supremacy.”

Group of 400 whites burn down the office of Alexander Manly, an editor for an AA newspaper. A riot broke out and 11 AA were killed

and dozens were wounded. Over next 2 days many AA fled city and

whites took over city official jobs. Because of this event NC felt there

could be no reform without the separation of the races and the removal of AA from the political process. AA lost ground in the fight for equality.

Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt Famous “Rough Rider” from Battle of San Juan Hill

(Cuba) during Spanish-American War in 1898 POTUS after McKinley is assassinated. Known as the “trustbuster” because broke apart 25

trusts and fought for increased regulation of businesses. “Square Deal” – equal treatment for all was domestic

policy. “Speak Softly and Carry a Big Stick” – foreign policy in

Americas.

Progressive President

Fighting Corruption

In the late 1800s, many people called for reform because they felt that government and big business were not serving the best interests of the American people.

Powerful organizations linked to political parties, called political machines, controlled local government in many cities.

The machines were controlled by political bosses who gained power by doing favors for people in return for votes for their political party.

Fighting Corruption

William M. Tweed of New York City, called “Boss Tweed,” was one of the most corrupt politicians.

Tweed’s ring of corruption controlled the police, the courts, and many newspapers.

The ring collected millions of dollars in illegal payments.

Cartoonist Thomas Nast exposed the corruption of the Tweed ring in his political cartoons.

Tweed was convicted and sentenced to prison.

Progressive Reforms

Journalists called muckrakers exposed corruption and injustice. Jacob Riss exposed urban

poverty and health issues with “How the Other Half Lives.”

Upton Sinclair described the horrible conditions in the meatpacking industry in his book “The Jungle” Led to Meat Inspection Act

and Pure Food and Drug Act

Women’s Suffrage

The women’s fight for the suffrage began at the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848. Organized by Lucretia Mott and

Elizabeth Candy Stanton. Susan B Anthony also played an

important role in women’s suffrage movement.

Wyoming became the first state to grant women the vote, in 1869.

After the U.S. entered the World War I in 1917, the fact that more women were now working in war industries finally tipped the balance. In 1918, Congress passed the 19th

Amendment and in 1920 women finally got the vote nationwide

Temperance Movement

Prohibition Contributed to rise of

organized crime. Gangsters realized they

could make a great deal of money selling alcohol illegally.

Used the millions they made to influence Gov., business, and labor unions.

Campaign against alcohol use. Succeeded in 1919 with the 18th

Amendment Successful in South and Midwest

but little support in cities. Speakeasy – illegal bar Banned transportation,

manufacture, and sale of alcohol.

Viewed as a failure – 21st Amendment repealed 18th Amendment in 1933