1. The Progressive Era

2. Problems due to urbanization and industrialization:
Poverty
Slums
Bad working conditions
Corrupt government + people have little say
Monopolies and trusts
Child labor

3. 4 major areas that needed reforms and goals:
Social –promote well being of society
Economic- create economic reform
Political- reform gov’t & expand democracy
Environmental-conserve and preserve

4. Fighting Corruption In Government
Problem Solution or reform
Political Machines: controlled –Reformers attempted
jobs and services in many to break power by
cities; often dishonest- working to make city
accepted bribes and gov’ts more honest and
kickbacks. efficient
Boss Tweed-
Headed NYC
political machine known as
Tammany Hall

5. William Marcy Tweed: Tammany Hall

6. Problem Solution or reform
The Spoils System President Hayes (1877-(patronage) ) and President
rewarded jobs and favors Garfield(1881): tried
to political supporters unsuccessfully to change this President Arthur:
Pendleton Act- Congress establishes Civil Service Commission to give examinations for federal jobs.

7. Controlling Business The Economy
Problems
Solution or Reform
Trusts and Monopolies
-Limit power of big business & regulate activities
Sherman Antitrust Act was passed in 1890 to control trusts and monopolies.
Railroads (oligopolies)
The Interstate Commerce Act, passed in 1887, required railroads to charge and publish “reasonable and just rates”
Tariffs
Lower tariffs to decrease the price of goods.

8. New Reformers Socialism – Eugene V. Debs
government should own and operate major industries on behalf of all people.
Progressivism
End injustice and solve social problems /regulate industry
The Muckrakers- reporters who exposed problems
Lincoln Steffans
Thomas Nast
Exposed political machines in cities
cartoons exposing political machines
Ida Tarbell
Wrote articles on big businesses and trusts
Upton Sinclair
Wrote The Jungle- exposed horrors of meatpacking industry
Outcome: Meat Inspection Act & Pure Food and Drug Act (1906)
Jacob Riis
Lewis Hines
How the Other Half Lives – exposed problems of poverty and slums
Photos of child labor
Nellie Bly
Wrote account of abuse in mental hospitals

9. Reform of Government Goal: to increase the people’s direct control of government
Robert La Follette Direct Primary-party (Wisconsin) candidates chosen by voters instead of conventions The Oregon System Initiative-voters place issue on ballot Referendum- voters could accept or reject measures enacted by state legislatures Recall- voters may remove incompetent elected officials

10. Constitutional Changes
Seventeenth Amendment:1912- set forth the direct election of senators (in the old way, state legislatures chose senators)