What is progress The next period in history

What is progress? Ø The next period in history is called the “progressive era”, what does that tell you?

Progressive Era Ø 1890 -1918/1880 -1910 Ø An effort to reform the ills/problems in society Ø Most of the “ills” were created in some way by industrialization and urbanization

What are the problems of the nineteenth century?

Issues that need to be fixed Ø Issues of the cities/ poverty (accompanying problems): l l Prostitution Alcohol abuse Gambling Bad sanitation & general dirtiness! Ø Child labor Ø Poor working conditions & wages Ø Corruption in private businesses l Monopolies taking over industries Ø Corruption in government

Main Progressive Goals/How to reform the “ills” Ø Eliminate the issues associated with poverty/make society more moral Ø End corruption in government by giving the people more power Ø Give economic opportunities to all Americans, not just monopolies l Ø Less laissez faire Make businesses and society more efficient****

How does the movement begin? Ø Religious groups come together to push for change l Ø Journalists expose social and economic ills l Ø Social Gospel Muckrakers Newly educated women promote causes Ø Ultimately politicians take on some progressive issues…

How the Movement Progressed Ø Local organizations based in cities then… l Think YMCA or Salvation Army Local government then… Ø State reforms then… Ø The Presidencies of: Ø Theodore Roosevelt (1901 -1909) Ø William Taft (1909 -1912) Ø Woodrow Wilson (1912 -1920)***

What do the documents tell you?

Three Most Important Points The government needs to play a greater role to help people 2. Not a single movement, lots of different movements 3. Some of the movements contradicted each other 1.

Ø Do you think the movement will be successful? Ø Any obstacles…?

Start with religious organizations

Muckrakers

Exposing the Issues Ø Muckrakers l l l Ø Investigative journalists who exposed the ills of America newspapers, magazines, novels, photographs Jacob Riis, Upton Sinclair, Lincoln Steffens, Ida Tarbell, Frank Norris, and Thomas Nast Mc. Clure’s Magazine, created by Irish immigrant Samuel Mc. Clure in 1893 l l l Published articles, images, excerpts of novels written by muckrakers 10 -15 cents each Collier’s, Cosmopolitan – other publications

Who dominates the movement? Ø Middle class movement l l Ø a lot of women urban white collar Protestant Professions: lawyers, teachers, physicians, ministers and business people

“The great ends of the church are the proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humankind; the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God; the maintenance of divine worship; the preservation of truth; the promotion of social righteousness; and the exhibition of the Kingdom of Heaven to the world. ” -What does this mean?

"St. Louis, the fourth city in size in the United States, is making two announcements to the world: one that it is the worst-governed city in the land; the other that it wishes all men to come there (for the World’s Fair) and see it. It isn’t our worst-governed city; Philadelphia is that. But St. Louis is worth examining while we have it inside out. "

Duration of the Movement Ø 1890 -1910? Ø 1880 -1918? Ø 1890 -1918? Ø Why is it hard to put a date on it?

Can you foresee any problems…? Ø Lots of different goals Ø Are they achievable?

Success of the Movement Ø You be the judge….