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THE PROGRESSIVE ERA

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Vocabulary1. Labor Class – the level of society that includes

people who work for a living2. Consumer – anyone who buys things3. Fraud – intentional lying for personal gain (usually

financial - $$)4. Corruption – a breakdown of morality (usually in

government) ex: bribery5. Muckraker – A progressive journalist/author6. Monopoly – AKA TRUST – domination of an industry

(ex: oil) by ONE company7. Era – A period of time with certain similar

characteristics

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The Gilded Age The “Gilded Age” is another way of

describing the “Industrial Revolution” period of American History when industrialization caused: The U.S to grow and become wealthier Increased pollution Increased child labor Mass production and factories Unsafe factory conditions Great wealth for some citizens Poverty for many citizens

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What was Progressivism?

A response to the “Gilded Age”

Characterized by individuals who fought for better treatment of people

A call upon government to protect people against the problems of the Gilded age

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Quick Quiz1. What is a monopoly?2. What is a consumer?3. What is fraud?4. What do you think consumer fraud is?5. What are SIX important aspects of the

“gilded age” of American history6. What was the Progressive Era?

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Gilded Age Problems

1. Unfair Treatment of Labor Class2. Consumer Fraud/Unsafe Products3. Unfair Business Practices4. Political Corruption5. Environmental Damage

In the following slides we will look at these Gilded Age problems and the Progressives who tried to solve them.

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Problem #1Unfair Treatment of Labor Class No Safety Laws

Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire (1911) is an example of problems (148 died)

Low Wages No worker’s right

organizations Anti-union laws (laws

against forming unions)

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Progressive Problem Solver: Jacob Riis

Muckraker Photographer who

captured city-life “How the Other Half

Lives” Also took pictures of

workers in living quarters Pictures showed rest of

society how bad conditions were

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Problem #2Consumer Fraud/Unsafe Products

Products did not live up to basic honesty standards

Meat packing industry- horribly unclean and unsanitary

No accountability for bad products

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Progressive Problem Solver: Upton Sinclair A Muckraker He wrote a book called

“The Jungle” Exposed the Chicago

meat-packing industry as being dirty and unclean.

Harsh response from public in favor of food safety laws after book was published

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An excerpt from “The Jungle” “There would be meat stored in great

piles in rooms; and the water from leaky roofs would drip over it, and thousands of rats would race about on it…a man could run his hand over these piles of meat and sweep off handfuls of the dried dung of rats. These rats were nuisances, and the packers would put poisoned bread out for them; they would die, and then rats, bread, and meat would go into the hoppers together.”

Upton Sinclair – The Jungle

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Problem #3Unfair Business Practices Monopolies eliminated competition Large companies like Standard Oil

Company took over all little companies in its way

Then they could raise prices and charge consumers more.

Other Monopolies included Carnegie Steel, Cornelius Vanderbilt and his Railroads and JP Morgan of the Financial World

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Standard Oil Political Cartoon

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Progressive Problem SolversIda Tarbell & “Fightin” Bob Lafollete

Ida Tarbell Muckraker Exposed John D.

Rockefeller corruption Wrote “A History of

Standard Oil”

Robert Lafollette Governor of Wisconsin Fought against

companies controlling the government and abusing consumers

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Problem #4Political Corruption

“Political Machines” Areas of government/political

parties that gained support of immigrants

Positions filled by incompetent officials

Government officials would take bribes from large corporations

Boss Tweed (pictured) is an example of a Political Machine.

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Progressive Problem Solver - Lincoln Steffens

Muckraker “Shame of the Cities” Exposed the corruption

of local government and corporations

Known to scare his interviewees into answering truthfully

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Problem #5Environmental Damage Railroads started to

web across country Mines blew up

mountains Oil drills ruined

landscape Water was

becoming polluted

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Progressive Problem Solver - John Muir Environmentalist

from California Helped create the

National Park System Preserved the Sierra

Mountain Range

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National Park System

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Quick Quiz1. What was progressivism2. EXPLAIN ①each of the five major progressive

era problems each in your own words, ②who attempted to solve the problem, and ③how?a. Unfair Treatment of the Labor Classb. Consumer Fraud/Unsafe Productsc. Unfair Business Practicesd. Political Corruptione. Environmental Damage

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The greatest progressive problem solver of all was…

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Message from President T. Roosevelt “Here is your country. Cherish these

natural wonders, cherish the natural resources, cherish the history and romance as a sacred heritage, for your children and your children's children. Do not let selfish men or greedy interests skin your country of its beauty, its riches or its romance.” 

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Theodore Roosevelt on Mt. Rushmore

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President Theodore RooseveltThe Progressive President Problem #1- Poor

Working Conditions Before Roosevelt, when

workers would strike the government and their bosses would use force to make them continue working.

Roosevelt was first president to send in National Guard to protect workers.

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Teddy Roosevelt (cont.) Problem# 2-

Consumer Fraud Created Food and Drug

Administration to regulate food companies and create food safety laws

Signed the meat inspection act of 1906 to provide for safer meat.

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Teddy Roosevelt (cont.) Problem #3- Unfair

Business Practices The Square Deal- new

laws that prevented monopolies

Known as a “trustbuster” someone who breaks up monopolies

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Teddy Roosevelt (Cont.) Problem #4- Political Corruption

Supported secret ballot system to protect voters

Before this sometimes voters decisions could be known by those working at the voting booth and voters faced intimidation.

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President Theodore Roosevelt (cont.)

Problem #5- Environmental Degradation Teamed up with

John Muir to create Yosemite National Park

Also created the National Park system which still exists today.

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Other Progressive Presidents William Howard Taft

Was president after Roosevelt

Developed Foreign Policy based on U.S. economic interests

Later disagreed with Roosevelt on which monopolies to break up

Woodrow Wilson Was President After Taft Believed in more

trustbusting than T. Roosevelt but less other rules for business

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Quick Quiz1. How did Teddy Roosevelt help solve each

of the following Gilded Age problems with Progressive Era Solutions?a. Unfair Treatment of Labor Classb. Consumer Fraudc. Unfair Business Practicesd. Political Corruptione. Environmental Damage

2. Who were the other two progressive Presidents, and what do you know about them?