The Progressive Era A period of time, 1890-1920, when reformers (progressives) attempted to change society for the better

Industrialization problems Unsafe working conditions Corrupt business practices Trusts and monopolies Low wages Long hours Child labor

Immigration Prejudice and discrimination Urbanization Crowded living conditions Tenements Political Political machines- political organizations that controlled cities. Political corruption

Progressive Reformers Muckrakers: writers that exposed corruption in American society (Jacob Riis) Created a public demand for reform. Upton Sinclair Writer of the Jungle. Exposed the meat packing industry. The Meat Inspection Act was passed in 1906 and the Pure Food and Drug Act (Roosevelt). Ida Tarbell Accused standard oil industry of using unfair tactics to force small companies out of business. 1906; Anti-Trust suit filed against Rockefeller forced the Standard Oil company to break up (“trust busting”).

Progressive Reformers Thomas Nast Political Cartoonist who helped bring down William “Boss” Tweed, the leader of the largest New York City political machine of his time.

Theodore Roosevelt the “Trust Buster” “I believe in a square deal” Trust A legal act of combining businesses to eliminate competition. They would set prices to avoid competition. Sherman-Antitrust Act Made it illegal for corporations to gain control of industries by forming trusts.

Theodore Roosevelt the Conservation President The protection and preservation of natural resources Roosevelt doubled the number of national parks including Yosemite National park in California T. Roosevelt and John Muir (the leading environmentalist of the time) in Yosemite Nation Park

Political Reforms Reform Government & Expand Democracy, Promote Social Welfare, and Create Economic Reform Direct Primary; voters, rather than party conventions, choose candidates to run for public office. Robert La Follette: progressive governor wanted to give voters more control over their government; Wisconsin becomes the first state to establish a primary. Initiative; this reform allowed voters to propose a law directly. Referendum; a proposed law was submitted to a vote of the people. Recall; allowed people to vote an official out of office.

Political Reforms The Pendleton Act Law requiring government jobs to be filled based on a person’s qualifications, not based on who you knew. Ended the Spoils System which was when the election winner would reward people who supported him with government jobs regardless of their ability.

Progressive Movement workplace reforms Improved safety conditions Reduced work hours Placed restrictions on child labor.

The influence of women on the reforms of the Progressive Era Settlement Houses Jane Addams Temperance Movement Carrie Nation Women’s Suffrage Susan B. Anthony Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Settlement houses Community centers providing assistance to residents in a slum neighborhood. Jane Addams & Ellen Starr created the Hull House in Chicago. Hull House served as an information bureau for new immigrants. Helped unemployed find jobs. Pressured politicians for improved city services for the neighborhood.

Temperance Movement Campaign for prohibition Carrie Nation Prohibition: the banning of the manufacture, sale, and possession of alcoholic beverages. Carrie Nation Opposition to alcohol. Helped bring about the passage of the 18th amendment in 1919.

Women’s Suffrage Suffrage: the right to vote. Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony & Carrie Chapman Catt National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) By 1917, U.S. entry into WWI helped in passing the 19th amendment because women were supporting the war efforts by selling war bonds and organizing benefits. President Wilson urged the Senate to pass the suffrage amendment stating the passage was “vital to the winning of the war” 19th amendment passed in 1919 and ratified by the states in 1920; women had equal rights to vote.

Problems faced by African Americans Unequal opportunities in housing, work, education and government. Plessy v Ferguson Poll tax “Jim Crow” laws Literacy tests Racial segregation- separating people based on their race Discrimination- treating people unfairly because of their race, religion, or ethnicity (where they are from) Limits on the right to vote.

Racial Segregation Based upon race. Directed primarily against African Americans but other groups also were kept segregated. “Jim Crow” laws were passed to discriminate against African Americans.

Jim Crow Made discrimination practices legal in many communities and states Were characterized by unequal opportunities in housing, education, government.

Plessy vs. Ferguson In 1892 Homer Plessy, an African American, sued a railroad company arguing that segregated seating violated his 14th amendment right to “equal protection of the laws” 1896, supreme court ruled against Plessy. Stated that “separate but equal” facilities did not violate the 14th amendment. *in the south separate facilities were not always equal. White controlled governments and companies allowed the facilities for African Americans to decay*

Individuals that called for change Booker T. Washington Believed equality could be achieved through vocational education. Accepted social separation. Founded the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama to help African Americans learn trades and gain economic strength. W.E.B Dubois Believed in full political, civil, and social rights for African Americans. Encouraged African Americans to reject segregation. In 1909, founded the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

Amendments to the Constitution during the Progressive Era 16th- Created the national income tax 17th- Directed that senators would be elected by the voters of the state rather than the state government 18th- Started Prohibition (outlawed the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcohol) 19th- granted women’s suffrage (voting) in the United States