The Progressive Era 1890 1920 Time period 1890

The Progressive Era 1890 -1920

� Time period (1890 -1920) when efforts were made to reform or eliminate many social problems. ◦ Economic Reform �Regulate business, improve working conditions, consumer protection ◦ Social Reform �education, women’s suffrage ◦ Political Reform �government accountable to the people ◦ Environmental Reform �Protect the environment from industry Definition of Progressive Era

� Sherman Anti-Trust Act Break up monopolies -monopolies were unfair and not in the best interest of the American people � What does this political cartoon say about monopolies and the men who controlled them? - Theodore Roosevelt was known as the “trust buster” Economic Reform (Regulate trade)

�Pure Act �Meat Food and Drug Inspection Act �“The Jungle” by Upton Sinclair ◦ Exposed the appalling working conditions in meat packing facilities ◦ Led to federal food safety laws Economic Reform (Consumer protection)

� As you listen to this segment from The Jungle, think about the following questions: � What is in the sausage? � How is the workplace unsanitary? � Would people eat this sausage if they knew how it was made? The Jungle by Upton Sinclair

�Workplace and Labor reforms: ◦ 8 hour workday ◦ Improve safety conditions ◦ Minimum wage ◦ Unionization ◦ Child labor laws Economic Reform (Improve working conditions)

�Triangular Shirtwaist Factory Fire �March 25, 1911 � 145 workers burned to death �Deaths were preventable: ◦ Locked doors ◦ Neglected safety features Tragedy leads to safer working conditions

�Goal-Protection and expansion of individual rights. �Women’s Suffrage Social Reform

�Seneca Falls Convention (1848) ◦ 1 st national meeting for women’s rights 19 th Amendment: -women can vote (1920) �Susan B. Anthony �Elizabeth Cady Stanton Women’s Suffrage

�End corruption ◦ Politicians taking bribes �Boss Tweed in NYC �People elect their senators (not the state legislatures) ◦ 17 th amendment Political Reform �Boss Tweed

� President Theodore Roosevelt is known as the “conservationist President” � Established the Forest Service in 1906 � 5 National Parks � Protected 230 million acres of public land Environmental Reform