1. Progressivism

2. Wanted to correct the problems brought by industrialization and urbanization
Believed that government should take a more active role in solving society’s problems

3. Muckrakers Journalists who uncover scandal and corruption in society
Expose unfair practices of large corporations
Wanted to reform the government
Wanted to fix social problems
Ida Tarbell = critical of Standard Oil Company
Upton Sinclair = uncovered abuses in meat-packing industry
Jacob Riis = reported on poverty, disease, and crime in NYC

4. Reforming Government
Saw corruption and inefficiency at local government level
Gave jobs to political supporters and friends
2 Proposals to reform city government:
1) Commission plan – divide city gov’t into several departments each one under expert commissioner’s control
2) Council-manager – city council would hire city manager to run city instead of mayor

5. Election Reforms
Wanted to make political system more democratic and responsive to citizens
1) direct primary – party members vote for candidate to run in general election
2) initiative – group of citizens introduce legislation and legislator must vote on

6. Election Reforms continued
3) Referendum – citizens vote on proposed law directly
4) Recall – option to demand a special election to remove an elected official
5) 17th Amendment – direct election of Senators

7. Social Reforms Created charities to help poor and disadvantage
Pushed for new laws to fix social problems
Jane Addams – Settlement House

8. Child Labor Set minimum age for employment
Set maximum hours for children to be able to work

9. Health and Safety Codes
Muller vs. Oregon – upheld states’ rights to limit hours of women working in laundries
Created zoning laws to regulate how land and buildings could be used
Building codes set minimum standards for light, air, room size, sanitation and fire escapes
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire
Health codes required restaurants and other facilities to maintain clean environments

10. Suffrage Right to vote Pushed for women’s suffrage
19th amendment (1920) gave women the right to vote