1. The Progressive Era

2. The Progressive Era 1890-1920 Political and social reform movement
Did not seek to overthrow capitalism, but rather address the massive problems of urbanization and industrialization
Mainly a white, middle-class movement. Did NOT address racial issues.

4. The Muckrakers
Journalists who exposed social problems and political corruption but did not propose solutions
Thomas Nast – cartoonist known for exposing Boss Tweed
Upton Sinclair – His book The Jungle exposed unsanitary conditions in the meatpacking industry
Ida Tarbell – journalist who wrote about the Standard Oil Company
Lincoln Steffens – exposed corruption in city government in St. Louis

5. Progressive Reforms—Political
Problem: Politics controlled by political machines (bosses)
The most famous political machine, Tammany Hall, was brought down by the most famous political cartoonist, Thomas Nast.
Political cartoons are often most effective because they inspire emotion and reach populations of all educational levels

11. Solutions:
17th Amendment: people, NOT state legislatures elect senators
Recall: Remove a corrupt elected official
Referendum: Allows voters to approve/reject a law (taxes)
Initiative: Allows voters to propose laws
Secret ballot: end control of bosses

12. Progressive Reforms—Social
Problem: child labor, working conditions, women’s lack of the right to vote, domestic violence

13. These mill girls are in their early teens

14. These are Bobbin Boys; small children could fit into small places.

15. These boys work in a canning factory; note the condition of their hands.

16. This young man is 5 years old. He is a shrimp picker.

17. The whole family was important as far as income; note the four year old girl standing on the board and the child care.

18. These Breaker Boys work in the coal mines

19. These young ladies are fruit pickers

20. This family is doing piece-work, as is the next.

22. This newsie is 5 years old and 41 inches tall.

23. This young man is 8 years old
This young man is 8 years old. He has just recovered from his second bout with pneumonia.

24. Labor Reform
Workers quickly realized that they must join together to protect themselves
Sought to eliminate horrific sweatshop conditions – public attention drawn to the issue by the 146 deaths, mostly of teenage girls, in the 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire
Limits placed initially on the child labor (under 14) and the hours of women
Family members try to identify fire victims in the morgue.

25. These families are trying to identify victims of the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire (1912)

26. Solutions: 16th Amendment: legalized income tax
18th Amendment: Prohibition (no alcohol)
19th Amendment: Women’s Suffrage
Newlands Act: Protect Environment

27. Progressive Reforms—Economic
Problem: trusts and monopolies controlling the economy
Solutions:
Sherman Anti-Trust Act: made monopolies/trusts illegal—1st enforced in 1902
Hepburn Act: created Interstate Commerce Commission—controlled interstate trade
Pure Food and Drug Act: established FDA truth in labeling
Meat Inspection Act: Government inspection of meat (The Jungle)
Federal Trade Commission: Regulated unfair business practices

28. Legal Weapons of the Progressives
Sherman Anti-Trust Act (1890)
Outlawed monopolies
First used by T. Roosevelt—”trustbuster”
Northern Securities Company (1902)
1st case brought by TR
TR started 44 anti-trust lawsuits
Made him very popular
United Mine Workers Strike (1902)
TR mediated strike
“Square Deal” each side receive fair treatment and consideration

29. Legal Weapons
Department of Commerce and Labor elevated to Cabinet Level (1903)
Hepburn Act (1906)
ICC created—to set “just and reasonable RR rates”
Can investigate/regulate express/sleeping car co.s, oil pipelines, ferries, terminals, and bridges that cross state lines
Limited ability for RR to give free passes

30. Legal Weapons Meat Inspection Act (1906) Pure Food and Drug Act (1906)
Direct result of The Jungle
Government inspectors check all meat crossing state lines
Pure Food and Drug Act (1906)
FDA
Banned manufacture, sale, or shipment of impure meat or mislabeled food/drugs across state lines

31. Legal Weapons 16th Amendment (1913) 17th Amendment (1913)
Established Federal Income Tax
17th Amendment (1913)
Popular election of senators
Federal Reserve Act (1913)
Required federal and asked state banks to put their $ in district banks
Government control of the money supply

32. Legal Weapons Federal Trade Commission (1914)
Prevented unfair business competition in interstate commerce
Clayton Anti-Trust Act (1914)
Different stock prices for different people
“tying contract”
Interlocking directories
Stock purchases lessened competition
Later Outlawed

33. Legal Weapons 18th Amendment (1919) 19th Amendment (1920)
Forbid manufacture, sale, or transportation of alcohol—prohibition
19th Amendment (1920)
Women’s Right to Vote