1. Chapter 6: Progressivism

2. The Big Picture
Activists fought to make America’s economic and political systems fairer
Main Idea:
3 Main areas of reform: easing suffering of urban poor, improve labor conditions, reforming government

3. Muckrakers Journalists who printed stories about injustice
Most articles focused on business and political corruption
Ida Tarbell was a famous muckraker
She wrote about how John Rockefeller crushed his competition
Lincoln Steffens exposed corruption in cities

5. What issues did progressives work on and what helped energize their causes?
Relief of the poor, reforming government, improving work conditions
Got support for their causes by writing articles and exposing people.

6. Housing Reforms Tenament Reform Act 1901
Had install lighting in public hallways
One toilet per two families

7. Civil Rights
Creation of the NAACP (National Association for the advancement of Colored People)
Fought for the rights of African Americans
Tried unsuccessfully to ban “Birth of a Nation”
ADL (Anti-Defamation League) founded by Sigmund Livingston
Improved public opinion of Jewish people

8. Reforming the workplace
1893 Florence Kelley persuaded Illinois to outlaw child labor & limit the number of hours women could work
Laws varied from state to state and sometimes were not enforced
Laborers continued to be paid very low wages
40%of families lived in poverty
Began working for minimum wage1912 Massachusetts became 1st state to have a minimum wage
1923 Federal Government issues a minimum wage

9. Business owners began to sue the state
Supreme court in New York sided with businesses
Supreme Court in Oregon sided with workers

10. How did progressives reform the workplace?
Prohibited child labor, limited the number of hours in a work day, started a minimum wage

11. Significance of the Triangle Shirtwaist Company Fire
140 employees died, most were 15 or 16
What conditions contributed to the tragedy?
Overcrowded, dangerous with fabric around, emergency exits blocked off, elevators only carried 10 people at a time, firetrucks could not reach fire

12. Creation of labor unions
Won shorter work week and higher wages

13. Reforming Government
Wanted to eliminate political corruption and make government more efficient
Began to set up committees of commissioners to hold mayors accountable
Robert M LaFollette pushed the Wisconsin idea (limits on campaign spending, regulated railways and utilities, and taxation)