1. Copy 1-per student Progressive Legislation Chart and give to each student. 2. Begin Power Point Presentation: 1. Students complete the Pair-Share & review objective. 2. Students look up the legislation in their textbooks or internet to fill in the chart (pairs). 3. Review the legislation (power point) 4. Play the review game that follows by randomly selecting students to choose which legislation matches the description. 5. Complete the wrap-up discussion
During the American Industrial Revolution society faced many significant problems. What were these problems and how do you think they were reformed?
Students will be able to understand the major political, economic, and social reforms of the Progressive Era.
Understand the effect of political programs and activities of the Progressives (e.g., federal regulation of railroad transport, Children's Bureau, the Sixteenth Amendment, Theodore Roosevelt, Hiram Johnson).
A movement during the Industrial Revolution that aimed to restore economic opportunities and correct injustices in American life. Goals: Protecting social welfare Promoting moral improvement Creating economic reform Fostering efficiency
MuckrakersMuckrakers GooGoosGooGoos TemperanceTemperance SuffragettesSuffragettes PopulistsPopulists MidclassWomenMidclassWomen LaborUnionsLaborUnions CivilRightsCivilRights
People wanted to reform the ills of society during the Industrial Revolution.
Progressives: People who wanted to reform government and society. Muckrakers: Journalists who wrote about the corrupt side of business and public life in mass circulation magazines during the early 20 th century. Social Gospel: An early reform program that preached salvation through service to the poor.
Progressive Reforms
Problem Lower tariff rates did not raise enough $ for government expenditures. Solution Created a federal income tax Allowed the federal government to raise funds. Continues today.
Problem Cities needed expert advice (i.e.-technical engineers) Solution City council hired a professional manager to run city government.
What was the problem? Party bosses controlled the selection of convention delegates & election candidates. How was it fixed? A preliminary election was enacted in which voters choose candidates for the general election
Problem Big business and party bosses had to much control over state legislatures. Solution Allowed a group of citizens to introduce legislation, required the legislature to vote on it.
Problem Big business and party bosses had too much control over state legislatives. Solution Allowed proposed legislation to be submitted to the voters for approval
Problem Big business and party bosses had too much control over state legislatives Solution Allowed voters to remove an elected official from office by holding a special election.
Problem Senators were chosen by state legislatures and therefore Senators were shielded from direct public pressure. Solution Direct election of Senators Ended political corruption in the Senate
Problem Bribery of elected officials Solution Regulated insurance companies + protected interests of policy holders
Problem Tenements were unsafe Solution Laws regulating how land + buildings could be used
Problem Unsanitary conditions No labels on food Solution Protects consumers against unsafe drugs and food. Required labels on food.
Problem Unsanitary conditions in slaughter houses Solution Regulated the content and inspection of food, prohibited the use of addictive drugs.
I will be reading an excerpt from the book The Jungle from Upton Sinclair which led to the passage of the Meat Inspection Act. Put your head down and close your eyes. Try to visualize the events.
There was never the least attention paid to what was cut up for sausage; there would come all the way back from Europe old sausage that had been injected, and that was moldy and white—it would be douse with borax and glycerin, and dumped into the hoppers, and made over again for home consumption. There would be meat that had tumbled out on the floor, in the dirt and sawdust., where the workers had tramped and spit uncounted billions of consumption germs. There would be meat stored in great piles in rooms and water from the leaky roofs would drip over it, and thousands of rats would race about on it. It was to dark in these storage places to see well, but a man could run his hand over these piles of meat and sweep off handfuls of the dried dung of rats. These rats were nuisances, and the packers would put poisoned bread out for them, they would die, and then rats, bread, and meat would go into the hoppers together. …There was no place for the men to wash their hands before they ate their dinner, and so they made a practice of washing them in the water that was to be ladled into the sausage….and cart load after cart load would be taken up and dumped into the hoppers with fresh meat sent out to the public’s breakfast.
Problem If workers were hurt on the job they were fired. Solution Gave aid to families of workers who were hurt or killed on the job. Continues today.
Problem Child labor Soluton Child labor laws were created. Children’s Bureau investigated and reported "upon all matters pertaining to the welfare of children.”
Problem Children were working rather than going to school Solution laws requiring children to attend school number of high schools doubled between 1900 and 1920
Problem Alcohol was corrupting society Solution 18 th Prohibited alcohol. Repealed by the 21st amendment in 1933
Problem Consumers did not know what they were purchasing – no return policies Solution Labels required on all food. Return policies became mandatory.
Problem The RR industry was corrupt (rebates, bribes, etc.) Solution Increased competition between RR’s Lowered prices Increased value Decreased bribery Interstate Commerce Act RR’s could not fix prices Set RR rates Elkins Act RR could not give rebates Hepburn Act Limited # of free passes (prevented bribery)
Problem Monopolies were formed which eliminated competition. Solution Outlawed trusts (monopolies) Increased competition Decreased prices Increased value of products Incentive to make new and better products
Directions: You will be shown a description of a progressive legislation. When you are randomly selected, choose the matching legislation and earn a point!
Allowed the citizens to remove elected officials
Made monopolies illegal
Created an income tax
outlawed alcohol
Made school mandatory
City council hired a professional manager to run city government.
Allowed proposed legislation to be submitted to the voters for approval
Allowed a group of citizens to introduce legislation, required the legislature to vote on it.
investigated and reported "upon all matters pertaining to the welfare of children.”
Railroads could not set prices. Fixed rates.
Labels on food were mandatory
Regulated content and inspection of food
A preliminary election was enacted in which voters choose candidates for the general election
Direct election of Senators
Gave aid to families of workers who were hurt or killed on the job.
What do you think was the most significant reform during the Progressive Era and why?