Causes of the Progressive Era

unskilled workers, unsafe working conditions, unscrupulous business practices, low wages, child labor, long hours (AFL helped with these problems!)

Industrialization

crowded living conditions, prejudice and discrimination

Immigration

concentration of workers in low income housing near factories, poor sanitation and spread of disease

Urbanization

Political corruption, spoils system (giving jobs to your friends or people who are not qualified)

Politics

Tried to solve the problems or causes of the Progressive Era.

Political Reforms

People bring an idea to the ballot

Initiative

Voters could remove unsatisfactory officials (corruption)

Recall

State brings the idea to the ballot

Referendum

voter’s select party’s candidate

Direct Primary

giving jobs to those who deserve them (Opposite of the spoils system!)

Merit System

Most federal government employees are on the merit system and this marked the end of the so-called spoils system. The act provided for some government jobs to be filled on the basis of competitive exams.

Civil Service Reform- Pendleton Act