The Progressive Movement

1890-1917 known as the progressive movement,

large campaign for social, economic, and

political reform.

Focused primarily on urban problems

Goal- Easing the suffering of the urban poor, Improving working conditions, & reforminggovernment

Progressives Areas of Reform

1. Reform Society - Housing, Civil Rights (NAACP & ADL)

2. Reform the Workplace - Labor laws (10 hour work days), Unions

3. Reform Government- corrupt politicians and practices (Political

Machines)

If you could change one thing about America, what would it be and why?

Immigrants________________

_______________Politicalmachine

Fighting for Civil Rights

NAACP

• National Association for the Advancement of Colored People

• Formed in 1909 by a multiracial group of activists to fight for the rights of African Americans

• 1913: Protested the official introduction of segregation in federal government

• 1915: Protested the D. W. Griffith film Birth of a Nation because of hostile African American stereotypes, which led to the film’s banning in eight states

ADL

• Anti-Defamation League

• Formed by Sigmund Livingston, a Jewish man in Chicago, in 1913

• Fought anti-Semitism, or prejudice against Jews, which was common in America

• Fought to stop negative stereotypes of Jews in media

• The publisher of the New York Times was a member and helped stop negative references to Jews

Progressives fought prejudice in society by forming various reform groups.

Populism vs. Progressivism

Populism- a rural movement based on unfairbusiness practices (Farmers)

Progressivism- urban movement based on the conditions of the workers, sanitation, and political machines

The Progressives

The progressives were native born, middle or upper class, and well educated

Attracted to

Men and Women

Doctors

Small Business owners

Teachers

Progressive Issues

A dangerous Workplace

A major concern was how corporate America did business

In 1910, 70% of all Americans worked an average of 54 hours/week

As a result, American workers had a higher accident rate than any other country

These conditions led Progressives to demand limits on corporate powers

Promoted laws to prohibit monopolies

Called for an 8 hour work day

Minimum wage

Safer working conditions

Laws to stop child labor

Discuss poor working conditions in factories during the IR. Create an

illustration depicting your thoughts.

In 1911, a gruesome disaster in New York inspired progressives to fight for safety in the workplace.

• About 500 women worked for the Triangle Shirtwaist Company, a high-rise building sweatshop that made women’s blouses.

• Just as they were ending their six-day workweek, a small fire broke out, which quickly spread to three floors.

• Escape was nearly impossible, as doors were locked to prevent theft, the flimsy fire escape broke under pressure, and the fire was too high for fire truck ladders to reach.

• More than 140 women and men died in the fire, marking a turning point for labor and reform movements.

• With the efforts of Union organizer Rose Schneiderman and others, New York State passed the toughest fire-safety laws in the nation, as well as factory inspection and sanitation laws.

• New York laws became a model for workplace safety nationwide.

The Triangle Shirtwaist Company Fire

The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire--

Video

Election Reforms

• Progressives wanted fairer elections and to make politicians more accountable to voters.

– Proposed a direct primary, or an…

– Backed the Seventeenth Amendment, which …

• Some measures Progressives fought for include

Direct primary: 17th Amendment: secret ballot:

initiative: referendum: recall:

Inspiration for Reform

Progressive Journalist were responsible for spreading the reform

McClure’s Magazine

Muckraking Journalism- Focused only on events which they saw as corrupt & harmful

Ida Tarbell: “History of the Standard Oil Company”

-wrote articles to criticize Rockefeller.

Exposed unfair business Practices and corruptpoliticians

Muckraker

Standard Oil Co.Standard Oil Co.

Pair Share—Analyze this Political Cartoon

Pair Share—Analyze this Political Cartoon

Jacob Riis

Pair Share—Analyze this Political Cartoon