Progressive Era Progressive Era Political reforms focused on

Progressive Era

Progressive Era Political reforms focused on ending corruption and expanding popular sovereignty Muckrakers wrote about corruption and abuses. Social Work Movement focused on poor, disabled, children and families. Temperance – worked on abolishing the production of alcohol. Suffrage movement worked to obtain women’s right to vote. Racial equality was largely ignored by most progressives.

Political Reforms 17 th Amendment allowed for the direct election of senators Initiative – gives the public the right to petition for an issue to be brought for a vote Referendum allows for citizens to vote for public officials and on issues presented Recall allows voters to remove an elected official from office

Muckrakers Upton Sinclair’s novel, The Jungle revealed the unsanitary conditions in the meat packing industry. Ida Tarbell wrote about the business abuses in trusts like Standard Oil. Her work led to reforms like trust busting. Muckrakers were journalists who exposed corruption and abuses in business and politics. Lincoln Steffens wrote about political corruption in city government.

Social and Labor Reforms Improvement in working conditions City beautification (parks) Shorter work days Building of hospitals End of and child labor libraries Settlement houses for poor – Jane Addams

Temperance Advocated prohibition of alcohol production Movement involved women and church groups Carrie Nation was one of the leaders – destroyed some saloons Got the 18 th amendment ratified in 1919 Prohibition ended with the ratification of the 21 st amendment

Women’s Suffrage Still fighting for women’s voting rights Leaders included Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton The National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) was formed to promote women’s suffrage After World War I, the 19 th amendment was ratified in 1920.

Race: Progressive Movement’s Shortcoming African Americans faced segregatio n imposed by Jim Crow Laws Segregation was determined to be legal in the 1896 case Plessy v. Ferguson (separate but equal) Many members of the progressiv e movement did not oppose segregatio n. Black intellectuals such as W. E. B. Du. Bois fought against segregation. The NAACP was establishe d to protect the rights and improve the lives of African American.