Chapter 17 Section 1 The Drive For Reform

Origins of Progressivsm Progressivism emerged in the 1890’s They wanted to get rid of corrupt government officials and make government more responsive to people’s needs They wanted to improve city slums They needed to regulate “Big Business”

Muckrakers Writers who uncovered and exposed misconduct in politics or business Lincoln Steffens – was a leading Muckraker was known for uncovering social problems He wrote a book (Shame of the Cities) which was a collection of articles on political corruption Jacob Riis – was a muckraking photographer who took photos of how the urban poor lived

Lincoln Steffens

Jacob Riis

Reforming Society Social Gospel – reform movement that sought to improve society by applying religious principles

Protecting Children in the Workplace Florence Kelly – helped to ban child labor Working condition for children as well as women were terrible and there were no laws to protect them Keating-Owens Act – In 1916 this banned child labor

The Jungle Book written by Upton Sinclair It revealed the unsanitary conditions in Chicago’s meat packing industry

Triangle Shirtwaist Fire March 1911, a fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory shocked Americans The owners chained the exits because they feared workers would steal materials 146 female workers died (many fell to their deaths) This outraged Progressives and many states began to adopt workplace safety laws

Reforming Government Election reforms were needed Robert M. LaFollette, Governor of Wisconsin established the direct primary This gave citizens the vote to select nomiees for upcoming elections In the past party leaders would select candidates