1. THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES 1877-1945 SEMINAR 7 REFORMERS AND PROGRESSIVES

2. AMERICAN INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION Unprecedented development By 1900 the U.S. became the richest and most productive industrial country 1/3 of population (70 million) employed in manufacturing Growth equalling that of Great Britain’s 150 years of development

3. SOCIAL IMPACT Urbanization, tenement living Apalling working conditions, long hours, low wages (9 USD for 59 hours workweek) Immigrant labor, women, children work Dangerous working conditions Accidents at the workplace

4. TRIANGLE SHIRTWAIST FACTORY FIRE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rf9GVbzf7 Q4

5. BEGINNINGS OF THE LABOR MOVEMENT Trade or labor unions Weaker than European ones Reasons: competition for jobs between natives and immigrants Violent opposition on part of employers Use of private armies to break up strikes (Homestead Steel Mill strike in 1892) www.youtube.com/watch?v=ds4cHgzN- S8&list=PL1B5B55BAD615BDF8

6. REJECTION OF THE UNIONS BY AMERICAN PEOPLE Seen as against the traditional value of individualism Contrary to the American Dream of becoming successful Strong impact of rags to riches stories Horatio Alger stories Allen Pinkerton Molly Maguires Collective bargaining, scab, picket line Teamsters, Jimmy Hoffa, Amalgamated Workers Union

7. PROGRESSIVISM A general reform movement aming to heal the social, economic, and political problems caused by the American Industrial Revolution Muckrakers documentary journalists, writers revealing social problems, unjust labor practices Mugwumps—gentlemen reformers

8. UPTON SINCLAIR The Jungle 1906 Attacking the meat packing industry in Chicago Description of appalling working conditions via the life of a Lithuanian immigrant family Unhealthy and dangerous conditions during the production of breakfast sausages http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHF_BWfS Pik

9. THEODORE ROOSEVELT Leader of the Progressive Movement Main idea: where necessary government should interfere in order to solve social, economic, or political problems President in 1901 Vice-President to McKinley Uses Presidency as the bully pulpit to convince people about the need for changes

10. THE SQUARE DEAL The power of the federal government should be used to improve the life of the people Moves against the power of the trusts Interferes in labor relations, settles the coal miner strike in 1902 ”to hell with the constitution when people need coal!” Forces railroad companies to charge fair rates Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906

11. WOODROW WILSON A President from the Democratic Party Fighting against corruption New Freedom (1913-1917) Reduction of customs duties to promote trade Reforming the banking system Introduction of income taxes Limiting the power of the trusts

12. PROGRESSIVISM IN THE COUNTRY Prohibition of child labor Introduction of secret voting, direct election of Senators Improving work safety Protecting natural resources-beginning of the conservation movement

13. DIRECT DEMOCRACY Initiative Referendum Recall Petition Seventeenth Amendment Boss system—political machine-city manager Daley

14. Fill in the blanks The …………. …………… found a leader in ………….. …………….., who became President in 1901 One of his main convictions was that the power of the …………….. ………….. should be used to improve the life of the people. The name of T. Roosevelt’s domestic program: The name of W. Wilson’s domestic program: