Title: The Progressive Era
1The Progressive Era
2The Progressive Era
- 1890-1920
- Political and social reform movement
- Did not seek to overthrow capitalism, but rather
address the massive problems of urbanization and
industrialization - Mainly a white, middle-class movement. Did NOT
address racial issues.
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4The Muckrakers
- Journalists who exposed social problems and
political corruption but did not propose
solutions - Thomas Nast cartoonist known for exposing Boss
Tweed - Upton Sinclair His book The Jungle exposed
unsanitary conditions in the meatpacking industry - Ida Tarbell journalist who wrote about the
Standard Oil Company - Lincoln Steffens exposed corruption in city
government in St. Louis
5Progressive ReformsPolitical
- Problem Politics controlled by political
machines (bosses) - The most famous political machine, Tammany Hall,
was brought down by the most famous political
cartoonist, Thomas Nast. - Political cartoons are often most effective
because they inspire emotion and reach
populations of all educational levels
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11- Solutions
- 17th Amendment people, NOT state legislatures
elect senators - Recall Remove a corrupt elected official
- Referendum Allows voters to approve/reject a
law (taxes) - Initiative Allows voters to propose laws
- Secret ballot end control of bosses
12Progressive ReformsSocial
- Problem child labor, working conditions,
womens lack of the right to vote, domestic
violence
13These mill girls are in their early teens
14These are Bobbin Boys small children could fit
into small places.
15These boys work in a canning factory note the
condition of their hands.
16This young man is 5 years old. He is a shrimp
picker.
17The whole family was important as far as income
note the four year old girl standing on the board
and the child care.
18These Breaker Boys work in the coal mines
19These young ladies are fruit pickers
20This family is doing piece-work, as is the next.
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22This newsie is 5 years old and 41 inches tall.
23This young man is 8 years old. He has just
recovered from his second bout with pneumonia.
24Labor Reform
- Workers quickly realized that they must join
together to protect themselves - Sought to eliminate horrific sweatshop conditions
public attention drawn to the issue by the 146
deaths, mostly of teenage girls, in the 1911
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire - Limits placed initially on the child labor (under
14) and the hours of women
Family members try to identify fire victims in
the morgue.
25These families are trying to identify victims of
the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire (1912)
26- Solutions
- 16th Amendment legalized income tax
- 18th Amendment Prohibition (no alcohol)
- 19th Amendment Womens Suffrage
- Newlands Act Protect Environment
27Progressive ReformsEconomic
- Problem trusts and monopolies controlling the
economy - Solutions
- Sherman Anti-Trust Act made monopolies/trusts
illegal1st enforced in 1902 - Hepburn Act created Interstate Commerce
Commissioncontrolled interstate trade - Pure Food and Drug Act established FDA truth in
labeling - Meat Inspection Act Government inspection of
meat (The Jungle) - Federal Trade Commission Regulated unfair
business practices
28Legal Weapons of the Progressives
- Sherman Anti-Trust Act (1890)
- Outlawed monopolies
- First used by T. Roosevelttrustbuster
- Northern Securities Company (1902)
- 1st case brought by TR
- TR started 44 anti-trust lawsuits
- Made him very popular
- United Mine Workers Strike (1902)
- TR mediated strike
- Square Deal each side receive fair treatment
and consideration
29Legal Weapons
- Department of Commerce and Labor elevated to
Cabinet Level (1903) - Hepburn Act (1906)
- ICC createdto set just and reasonable RR rates
- Can investigate/regulate express/sleeping car
co.s, oil pipelines, ferries, terminals, and
bridges that cross state lines - Limited ability for RR to give free passes
30Legal Weapons
- Meat Inspection Act (1906)
- Direct result of The Jungle
- Government inspectors check all meat crossing
state lines - Pure Food and Drug Act (1906)
- FDA
- Direct result of The Jungle
- Banned manufacture, sale, or shipment of impure
meat or mislabeled food/drugs across state lines
31Legal Weapons
- 16th Amendment (1913)
- Established Federal Income Tax
- 17th Amendment (1913)
- Popular election of senators
- Federal Reserve Act (1913)
- Required federal and asked state banks to put
their in district banks - Government control of the money supply
32Legal Weapons
- Federal Trade Commission (1914)
- Prevented unfair business competition in
interstate commerce - Clayton Anti-Trust Act (1914)
- Different stock prices for different people
- tying contract
- Interlocking directories
- Stock purchases lessened competition
- Later Outlawed
33Legal Weapons
- 18th Amendment (1919)
- Forbid manufacture, sale, or transportation of
alcoholprohibition - 19th Amendment (1920)
- Womens Right to Vote