1. Tuesday, April 15 th How would you fix or reform Middletown High School to improve your education?

2. Closer, 4/15 On a separate piece of paper, write a letter to the editor of your local paper “exposing” a problem in Middletown High School. What does the public need to know about education at MHS? Make sure that your audience knows the severity of the problem—use lots of sensory detail!

3. Wednesday, April 16 th Think back to the Muckraker Gallery Walk yesterday. In your opinion, what were the 5 most important issues that the muckrakers were concerned about? Explain why these issues need to be addressed.

4. America: Pathways to the Present The Progressive Reform Era (1890–1920) Copyright © 2003 by Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey. All rights reserved.

5. AKA... The Gilded Age Gilded – cheap center covered w/ thin layer of gold (coined by Mark Twain in an 1873 book) Gov’t followed Laissez – Faire policies 1877-1900

6. Rapid industrialization, immigration, and urbanization led to national growth and prosperity.Rapid industrialization, immigration, and urbanization led to national growth and prosperity. Life in Urban America

7. Rapid growth also caused poverty, unemployment, poor working conditions and political corruption.

8. Many Progressives believed that political action and reform were required for progress in society.

9. Progressives were not a single unified movement. Their efforts fell into four categories: The Progressives: Their Goals and Beliefs Social Reform Moral Reform Economic Reform Political Reform

10. MUCKRAKERS Journalists that exposed turn of the century problems such as illegal business activities, putrid food, quack medicines, squalid living conditions, dangerous working conditions, etc. The uncovering of these awful truths led progressives to demand changes.

11. Exposed the shameful living conditions in city tenements Exposed Big City Political Corruption Exposed the ruthless practices of big business Exposed the horrors of the meatpacking industry The Jungle History of Standard Oil SOME FAMOUS MUCKRAKERS How the Other Half Lives Ida Tarbell Lincoln Steffens Shame of the Cities Jacob Riis Upton Sinclair

12. Economic Reforms

13. Economic Reformers sought to curb the power and influence of wealthy interests. The focus was on the following issues: Economic Reform »Monopolies »Trusts »Gap between Rich and Poor

15. Sherman Anti-Trust Act

16. 16 th Amendment Income Tax! How can that be a good thing?How can that be a good thing? A “Progressive Tax” – the more income you make, the more tax you pay. Reduces the gap between rich and poor!Reduces the gap between rich and poor!