America chapter 18 section1

 Published by Upton Sinclair in 1906  Based on investigation of Chicago meatpacking industry  Novel opened the nation’s eyes to 2 things: Accidents, violence, sickness, death, rape How the “meat” they ate for dinner was made

 “They use everything about the hog but the squeal.”  “At the end of the week he will carry home $3 to his family, being his pay at the rate of $0.05 an hour.” Quick Math: 60 hours!

 Reformers were reacting to the impact of Americas rapid growth: Slums & overpopulation in urban areas Low wages, horrible living conditions, etc.  Gov’t expanded services, but corruption often kept them limited  The public debate about what to do to help the urban poor sparked an era of reform from – The Progressive era

 NOT a single unified movement  Did NOT all share the same views  Goals fell into four categories: Social Moral Economic Political  Goals overlapped, sometimes conflicted

 People of average wealth with 4 basic beliefs: Government should be more accountable to its citizens Government should curb the power and influence of wealthy interests Government should be given expanded powers to become more active in improving citizens’ lives Government should be more efficient & less corrupt

 Journalists & other writers had tremendous influence on public opinion  Relied on scientific data Investigate an issue Get expert testimony Publish the results of the investigation to get the public to pressure the gov’t to deal with the issue

 Nickname given to journalists like Upton Sinclair who exposed wrongdoing and the ills of society through their work & writings  Lincoln Steffens: exposed corruption in St. Louis & other cities  Ida Tarbell: The History of Standard Oil  Their works inspired Americans to join reform groups

 Employers discouraged unionization. Preferred to deal with employees one on one  Owners could often count on their buddies in the court to file an injunction against a union Court orders that prevent a certain activity, in the case of labor unions, going on strike  Unions continued to fight for their workers through collective bargaining

 Socialism: econ. And pol. Philosophy favoring government control of property & income  Favored an end to capitalism, equal dist. Of wealth, government ownership of industries  Progressives did NOT favor total political & economic change  They wanted to end corruption and refocus the gov’t on helping the workers and poor

 Investigated labor conditions in Chicago  Her efforts led to reforms: No child labor Limited working hours for women  Led the National Consumers’ League (NCL). A women’s group that investigated the conditions in which goods were made & sold Campaign to outlaw child labor, protect workers

 Irish immigrant who joined the reform movement after losing her family to yellow fever…after rebuilding her life she lost it all again in the Chicago fire of 1871  Best known for organizing unions in the coal mines of West Virginia  National speaker for unions & child labor laws

 Progressives wanted an increased role for government in peoples’ lives  Often met resistance from the very people progressives were trying to help: the poor! Ex: progressives fought hard to eliminate child labor, but poor families needed the income from their working children to survive