America: Pathways to the Present

The Progressive Reform Era(1890–1920)

Copyright © 2003 by Pearson Education, Inc., publishing asPrentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey. All rights reserved.

AKA...The Gilded Age (1877-1900)

• Because when you look beyond the good things happening in society, there were many problems.

• Gilded – cheap centercovered w/ thin layer of gold (coined by Mark Twain in an 1873 book)

• Rapid Rapid industrialization, industrialization, immigration, and immigration, and urbanization led urbanization led

to national to national growth and growth and prosperity.prosperity.

Life inUrbanAmerica

•Rapid growth also caused poverty, unemployment, poor

working conditions and political corruption.

•Many Progressives believed that political

action and reform were required for progress in

society.

MUCKRAKERS• Journalists that exposed turn of the

century problems such as illegal business activities, putrid food, quack medicines, squalid living conditions, dangerous working conditions, etc.

• The uncovering of these awful truths led progressives to demand changes.

• Exposed the shameful living conditions in city tenements

• Exposed Big City Political Corruption

• Exposed the ruthless practices of big business

• Exposed the horrors of the meatpacking industry

• The Jungle

• History of Standard Oil

SOME FAMOUS MUCKRAKERS

• How the Other Half Lives

• Ida Tarbell

• Lincoln Steffens

• Shame of the Cities

• Jacob Riis

• Upton Sinclair

Progressives were not a single unified movement. Their efforts fell into four

categories:

The Progressives: Their Goals and Beliefs

Social Reform

Moral Reform

Economic Reform

Political Reform

Economic Reforms

Economic Reformers sought to curb the power and influence of wealthy interests.

Economic Reform

» Monopolies» Trusts» Gap between Rich

and Poor

An act to protect trade and commerce against unlawful restraints and monopolies.

Sherman Anti-Trust Act

16th Amendment• Income Tax!

• How can that be a good thing?How can that be a good thing?

• A “Progressive Tax” – the more income you make, the more tax you pay.

• Reduces the gap between rich and poor!Reduces the gap between rich and poor!

Moral Reforms

Moral ReformMany felt the Morals of our society were at the

root of many turn of the century problems. - Moral Reformers sought to promote Moral

Improvements:

• End Prostitution• End Gambling• End Drunkenness

• Educate Children

• Americanize and/or Restrict Entry of Immigrants

• The Evils of AlcoholThe Evils of Alcohol

Moral Reform

Carrie Nation – “Saloon Smasher”

• Extremely religious upbringing• Married a drinker

(against parents wishes) who died when their daughter was an infant• Second marriage

also unsuccessful - divorced

Carrie Nation – “Saloon Hatcher”

• Used a hatchet to meet goals of temperance movement:

1. destroy property

2. convert saloon keepers

18th amendment

• Prohibition!Prohibition!

Beginning in 1920, the Beginning in 1920, the manufacture, manufacture,

transportation and sale of transportation and sale of alcohol is alcohol is prohibited!prohibited!