1. Political Reforms
Objective: The student will describe the significance of progressive reforms such as the initiative, recall, and referendum; direct election of senators; reform of labor laws; and efforts to improve living conditions for the poor in cities.
Essential Question: What is the significance of political reforms during the Progressive Era?
Vocabulary: Initiative, Recall, Referendum, Direct Election of Senators

2. Progressive Goals
To reform the political process - end the party machines
Economic and social justice
Public interest should guide Government policies

3. Who were Progressives? Middle- class residents of U.S. cities
White- collar office workers
Middle managers

4. Political Reforms Secret, ballot Direct primaries
Initiative, referendum, and recall
Social welfare

5. Initiative
Allowed citizens of a state to place an issue before voters

6. Referendum
Allowed voters to accept or reject proposed legislation

7. Recall
A process that citizens can use to remove a corrupt official from office

8. Amendments to the Constitution
16th- Income Tax
17th- Direct election of Senators

9. Square Deal The name given to Theodore Roosevelt’s domestic policy
Created an equal opportunity for all laborers.

10. Labor Laws 8 hour work days improved safety in the workplace
end to child labor (minimum age laws to years of age)
some states restricted the hours and occupations of women

11. Living Conditions for the Poor in cities
improved conditions for the poor, urban laborers and immigrants
New York began passing its first laws aimed at improving urban tenements, or small low-income apartments usually shared by more than one family

12. Living Conditions for the Poor in cities
Exposed by an immigrant from Denmark, Jacob Riis “How the Other Half Lives”
cramped space
filthy conditions
often hazardous

13. What is the significance of political reforms during the Progressive Era?
America became more democratic with the new political reforms established by the Progressive reformers. Those reformers also pushed for government regulations on labor through new laws as well as improve the quality of living for those poor industrial workers of the city.