TOPIC 4 America Comes of Age 1890 1920

TOPIC 4: America Comes of Age (1890 -1920) Lesson 1 Progressives Drive Reform

Learning Objectives • Identify the causes of Progressivism and compare it to Populism. • Analyze the role that journalists and novelists played in the Progressive Movement. • Evaluate some of the social reforms that Progressives tackled. • Explain what Progressives hoped to achieve through political reforms.

The Progressive Era Begins • Positives of industrialization, urbanization, and immigration (examples? ) • Also created social problems (examples? ) • New group of reformers= Progressives (liberals) • Focused on changing society through reforms (social, economic and political) use honest/efficient government to help change society • Similarities to the Populists: focused on changing corrupt government and ending abuses by big businesses • Different to the Populists: middle class vs. farmers (and some workers)

The Progressive Era Begins • Progressives focused on a wide range of reforms: • Political reform (national, state and local government) end corruption and political machines • Cities needed adequate services (water, sewer, housing etc. ) • Women’s right to vote • “bust the trusts; ” wanted increase in smaller businesses for competition • Reduce gap between rich and poor government intervention to increase social welfare regulations

During the Progressive Era, volunteers like this one from the Salvation Army helped those less fortunate in many ways.

The Impact of Muckrakers • Socially conscious journalists/writers dramatized the need for reform • Sensational investigative reports uncovered a range of problems affecting America in the early 1900 s • Theodore Roosevelt nicknamed them “muckrackers” • Jacob Riis 1890: “How the Other Half Lives” • Lincoln Steffens 1902: “The Shame of the Cities” • Ida Tarbell 1902: “Mother of Trusts” • David G. Phillips 1906: “The Treason of the Senate” • John Spargo 1906: “The Bitter Cry of Children” • Upton Sinclair 1906: The Jungle

Reformers Impact Society • Social Gospel-Christianity should be basis of reform • Follow Bible teachings to make society “the kingdom of God” • Settlement houses- improve lives of poor/immigrants in the cities • Jane Addams (Hull House in Chicago) social work

Reformers Impact Society • • • National Child Labor Committee (Florence Kelley) 1902 Education reform mandatory schooling Workplace reform: lack of worker protection laws • Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire 1911 (146 workers died) • Workers’ compensation laws, safety laws enacted on a state level

Analyze Information How did child labor laws affect children's employment levels during the Progressive Era?

Progressive Reforms Impact Government • Local government reform= end power of political machines and business interests • 1900 Galveston Plan= replace mayor/board of aldermen with 5 person commission after devastating hurricane • Each commissioner had expertise in specific area (sewers, safety etc. ) • More responsive to the people’s needs instead of bosses/business

Progressive Reforms Impact Government The Galveston Hurricane of 1900 destroyed countless structures, such as this public school.

Progressive Reforms Impact Government • State government reform: • direct primary elections • initiatives • referendums • recall • campaign finance reform • Australian ballot (Populist idea) • Direct election of US Senators achieved with 17 th amendment (Populist idea)

Progressive Reforms Impact Government Analyze Information What was the most significant Progressive election reform? Cite two pieces of information to support your answer.

Quiz: The Progressive Era Begins What common belief did all Progressives share? A. B. C. D. They wanted to improve labor conditions for factory workers. They wanted to reduce the gap between the rich and the poor. They wanted to create more opportunities for small businesses. They wanted to correct the injustices of urban industrial society.

Quiz: The Impact of Muckrakers Why did Theodore Roosevelt call socially conscious writers “muckrakers”? A. B. C. D. He considered their literature to be poorly written. He thought that their investigations were unpatriotic. He acknowledged their focus on the difficulties of urban life. He disagreed with their criticisms of social and political conditions.

Quiz: Reformers Impact Society What was the purpose of settlement houses? A. B. C. D. to provide health services for minorities to provide social services to the urban poor to provide resources for mistreated women to provide charitable housing to the homeless

Quiz: Progressive Reforms Impact Government What was the impact of the Galveston Plan? A. B. C. D. It decreased the size and efficiency of local governments. It gave utility companies the power to charge higher rates. It limited the power of bosses and corrupt political systems. It developed new infrastructure to survive natural disasters.