The Progressive Reform Era

Chapter 11

The Progressive Beliefs

Government should…

Be accountable to its citizens.

Curb the power and influence of wealthy interests.

Be given expanded powers so that it could become more active in improving the lives of its citizens.

Become more efficient and less corrupt.

Reformers Henry George – single property tax and eliminate poverty

Edward Bellamy – No harsh working conditions, no gaps between social classes and no political corruption

Muckrakers – journalists who play a key role in alerting the public to wrong doing in politics and business

Upton Sinclair – The Jungle (exposed meat packing industry)

Ida Tarbell – exposed abuses committed by Standard Oil

Mother Jones – organized unions to fight for better working conditions

Florence Kelly – worked to outlaw child labor

The Need for Reform As a result of the Labor Movement, UNIONS

emerged. They focuses on HOURS, WAGES and CONDITIONS Young work = cheap labor

Women demanded the right to VOTE

Government needed to change, too REGULATE TREATMENT OF WORKERS PREVENT MONOPOLIES Create Social Welfare Programs – government should

help to ensure a basic standard of living (disability, unemployment, health insurance)

Reforms

Political reforms begin in small cities

Monopolies were disbanded

Direct primary – voters select who is going to run

Muller v. Oregon – limited hours women could work

Child labor – no employment for children under 14

Initiative - voters can put new laws on a ballot

Referendum – voters can vote directly on bill

Recall – voters can remove public officials before the next election

Roosevelt’s Square Deal

Focused on revamping railroads and food/drug industry

4 Major Contributions

1902 – United Mine Workers strike (Arbitration – a 3rd party decides the outcome which both parties are legally binding)

Hepburn Act – Gave Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) the ability to limit rates if shippers complained about unfair treatment

Pure Food and Drug Act – must label ingredients, conditions must be sanitary and established a rating system for meats

Anti-Trust – holding companies: companies which hold a great deal of stock over small corporations = Control/Monopoly

Results of Progressive Era (TR) Many monopolies are broken up

(TR) Preservation of 200 million acres for national forests, mineral reserves and water projects

16th Amendment: Congress can collect federal income tax

17th Amendment: direct election of Senators

18th Amendment: Prohibition

19th Amendment: women's suffrage