Poor housing Political corruption Industrial disorder

1
The Origins of Progressivism
2
Progressivism

• Movement that wanted to build on existing
  society, making moderate political changes and
  social improvement through government action.

3
What reforms were needed?

• Shame of the city
• Overpopulation
• Xenophobia
• Gambling
• Robbery
• Extortion
• Prostitution
• Drug use
• Not enough police officers and firefighters
• Inadequate sanitation (sewer/garbage service)
• Poor housing
• Political corruption
• Industrial disorder (poor working condition,
  child labor, long hours, low pay)

4
What were the goals of the progressives?

• Prevent businesses from treating competing
  companies unfairly
• Improve safety and working conditions for workers
• Outlaw child labor
• Create programs to help the sick, unemployed, and
  elderly
• Reduce government corruption
• Give women the right to vote

5
What were the leading reform idea?

• Socialismwanted to end capitalism, equally
  distribute wealth and nationalize industry
  (Socialist Party 1901)
• The Labor MovementUnion membership went up.
  Called for reduced hours, better pay and better
  conditions.
• Public EducationHorace Mann was the 1st to lead
  the crusade for universal public education.

6
What were the issues of African Americans during
the progressive movement?

• Niagra MovementBroke away from the Afro-American
  Council led by Booker T. Washington because they
  wanted more aggressive resistance to racism.
• W.E.B. Dubois led the Niagra Movement
• later became the NAACP, an interracial
  organization that calls for political equality
  for people of color.

7

• Atlanta Exposition/CompromiseBooker T.
  Washingtons views of accommodation to a racist
  society.
• Acquire useful vocational skills
• Prove economic worth
• Racism would fade away

8

• Tuskegee Institute
• 1st called Tuskegee State Normal School
• For the education of teachers and farmers
• Booker T. Washington was president
• Dr. George Washington Carver headed the
  Agricultural department
• Famous for experiments with southern plants such
  as the peanut and sweet potatoe

9
Who were the progressives?

• Middle class U.S. citizens
• Henry George
• Progress and Poverty (Why is there poverty in an
  advanced civilization? Ans. Speculation
  Proposal single tax)
• Edward Bellamy
• Looking Backward (Proposal Harsh work, poverty,
  political corruption should be replaced by
  government control of business Human needs over
  profit)

10
Who were the muckrakers and what methods did they
use to bring about reform?

• Muckrakers were called such by Theodore Roosevelt
  because they were journalist who alerted the
  public to wrongdoing in politics and business

11

• Muckrakers used a method called systematic
  change
• Combined careful research with sensationalism
• Investigation of concerns (expert
  testimonies/scientific data)
• Publicize results
• Readers pressure legislators to make new laws

12

• Famous muckrakers include
• Lincoln Steffens (St. Louis) The Shame of the
  Cities
• Ida Tarbell (Standard Oil Trust)
• Upton Sinclair (meat packing industry) The Jungle