Age of Progressivism 1890-1920

Kandia JacksonJoselyn Fleming

Jade RogersAlexis Wheeler

The Progressive EraThe new century invited the public a new way of viewing its nation. The paupers not the powerful spurred this reform.

The progressive mentality was spurred by the views of the The progressive mentality was spurred by the views of the Greenback Labor party of the 1870s and the populists of Greenback Labor party of the 1870s and the populists of the 1890s. Although the idea of social reform was not new the 1890s. Although the idea of social reform was not new it gained popularity in the industrializing world.it gained popularity in the industrializing world.

In the picture in background depicts the In the picture in background depicts the Philosopher Diogenes and Alexander the Great telling Philosopher Diogenes and Alexander the Great telling Alexander “to move you are blocking my Light”.Alexander “to move you are blocking my Light”.

It is no coincidence that the progressive era and It is no coincidence that the progressive era and the industrial revolution went hand in hand. As the industrial revolution went hand in hand. As paupers observed how wealthy their abusive bosses paupers observed how wealthy their abusive bosses were becoming they were infuriated.were becoming they were infuriated.

A Network of RootsIn truth the progressive era sprang from many sources ,the fight against corruption and inefficiency, in government , the reformation of civil service, the attempts to regulate big business and insurance policies for workers injured in factories.

People began to criticize the imperfections of their world on the wealthy ,the privileged and the obscenely rich especially those oil tycoons . Authors stirred the publics anger, fueling it with magazines, pamphlets and novels.

The legacy of Teddy Roosevelt Mark Twain called him the Tom Sawyer of politics wanting to show off at every turn. But he did well to put his bill where his brains were.

EnvironmentalismTeddy Roosevelt despite being a renown hunter was the first president to sign into effect bills regulating and preserving resources. Though in all honesty he only did so because it aided him in his quest to control big businesses .

One infamous move of Roosevelt was the passing of the national meat inspection and drug legislation in 1906 as a response from England’s threats to ban American meat products due to their high rates of being infected.

Temperance became a growing issue

As insurance benefits were issued to workers the injured male As insurance benefits were issued to workers the injured male workers were encouraged not to drink as it would cause threat of workers were encouraged not to drink as it would cause threat of unemployment, and women encouraged their husbands sobriety with unemployment, and women encouraged their husbands sobriety with the threat of a dysfunctional and abusive families.the threat of a dysfunctional and abusive families.

Women did not go unnoticed in this social reformation. Feminist took advantage of the changing social climate to secure their roles in the world advancing the rights of women.

Working women Women found employment in jobs that closely Women found employment in jobs that closely related to housework such as cooking and cleaning related to housework such as cooking and cleaning but other jobs like stenography or accountants but other jobs like stenography or accountants became common. became common.

Human trafficking and prostitutionWhile some women wanted to break away from their “traditional” While some women wanted to break away from their “traditional” roles others flourished by supporting these “traditional” roles. roles others flourished by supporting these “traditional” roles. The human sex trafficking increased tenfold as immigrants from The human sex trafficking increased tenfold as immigrants from Europe were either forced or tricked into prostitutionEurope were either forced or tricked into prostitution.

OthersOthersOthers who were not forced into prostitution chose the Others who were not forced into prostitution chose the lifestyle because of the money. The average unskilled lifestyle because of the money. The average unskilled working woman made $5 to $7 a week while prostitutes working woman made $5 to $7 a week while prostitutes could make $30 to $40 thought most of the revenue went could make $30 to $40 thought most of the revenue went to policemen, pimps , and madams.to policemen, pimps , and madams.

Next up to batThe time came for Roosevelt to pass the torch wherein William Howard Taft took over the office of presidency.

Following blindlyTaft the president who followed Teddy was often said as an attempted emulator of him instead and the media loved to poke fun at his weight.

Roosevelt was ready to slit Taft’s political throat by any cost!

Roosevelt’s New Nationalism or Wilson’s New Freedom?

Women’s suffrage, minimum wage laws, and social insurance

Small Enterprise, Entrepreneurship, free functioning of unregulated and un-monopolized markets

Wilson’s Victory became the death of the Progressive Party