The Progressive Era

The Progressive Era• 1890-1920• Political and social reform movement• Did not seek to overthrow

capitalism, but rather address the massive problems of urbanization and industrialization

• Mainly a white, middle-class movement. Did NOT address racial issues.

The Muckrakers• Journalists who exposed social

problems and political corruption but did not propose solutions– Thomas Nast – cartoonist known for

exposing Boss Tweed– Upton Sinclair – His book The Jungle

exposed unsanitary conditions in the meatpacking industry

– Ida Tarbell – journalist who wrote about the Standard Oil Company

– Lincoln Steffens – exposed corruption in city government in St. Louis

Progressive Reforms—Political

• Problem: Politics controlled by political machines (bosses)

• The most famous political machine, Tammany Hall, was brought down by the most famous political cartoonist, Thomas Nast.

• Political cartoons are often most effective because they inspire emotion and reach populations of all educational levels

•Solutions:–17th Amendment: people, NOT state legislatures elect senators–Recall: Remove a corrupt elected official–Referendum: Allows voters to approve/reject a law (taxes)–Initiative: Allows voters to propose laws–Secret ballot: end control of bosses

Progressive Reforms—Social

• Problem: child labor, working conditions, women’s lack of the right to vote, domestic violence

These mill girls are in their early teens

These are Bobbin Boys; small children could fit into small places.

These boys work in a canning factory; note the condition of their hands.

This young man is 5 years old. He is a shrimp picker.

The whole family was important as far as income; note the four year old girl standing on

the board and the child care.

These Breaker Boys work in the coal mines

These young ladies are fruit pickers

This family is doing piece-work, as is the next.

This newsie is 5 years old and 41 inches tall.

This young man is 8 years old. He has just recovered from his second bout with

pneumonia.

Labor Reform• Workers quickly realized

that they must join together to protect themselves

• Sought to eliminate horrific sweatshop conditions – public attention drawn to the issue by the 146 deaths, mostly of teenage girls, in the 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire

• Limits placed initially on the child labor (under 14) and the hours of women

Family members try to identify fire victims in the morgue.

These families are trying to identify victims of the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire

(1912)

• Solutions:– 16th Amendment: legalized income

tax– 18th Amendment: Prohibition (no

alcohol)– 19th Amendment: Women’s

Suffrage– Newlands Act: Protect Environment

Progressive Reforms—Economic

• Problem: trusts and monopolies controlling the economy

• Solutions:– Sherman Anti-Trust Act: made monopolies/trusts

illegal—1st enforced in 1902– Hepburn Act: created Interstate Commerce

Commission—controlled interstate trade– Pure Food and Drug Act: established FDA truth in

labeling– Meat Inspection Act: Government inspection of

meat (The Jungle)– Federal Trade Commission: Regulated unfair

business practices

Legal Weapons of the Progressives

• Sherman Anti-Trust Act (1890)– Outlawed monopolies– First used by T. Roosevelt—”trustbuster”

• Northern Securities Company (1902)– 1st case brought by TR– TR started 44 anti-trust lawsuits– Made him very popular

• United Mine Workers Strike (1902)– TR mediated strike– “Square Deal” each side receive fair treatment

and consideration

Legal Weapons

• Department of Commerce and Labor elevated to Cabinet Level (1903)

• Hepburn Act (1906)– ICC created—to set “just and reasonable

RR rates”– Can investigate/regulate

express/sleeping car co.s, oil pipelines, ferries, terminals, and bridges that cross state lines

– Limited ability for RR to give free passes

Legal Weapons

• Meat Inspection Act (1906)– Direct result of The Jungle– Government inspectors check all meat

crossing state lines

• Pure Food and Drug Act (1906)– FDA– Direct result of The Jungle– Banned manufacture, sale, or shipment of

impure meat or mislabeled food/drugs across state lines

Legal Weapons

• 16th Amendment (1913)– Established Federal Income Tax

• 17th Amendment (1913)– Popular election of senators

• Federal Reserve Act (1913)– Required federal and asked state

banks to put their $ in district banks– Government control of the money

supply

Legal Weapons

• Federal Trade Commission (1914)– Prevented unfair business competition in

interstate commerce

• Clayton Anti-Trust Act (1914)– Different stock prices for different people– “tying contract”– Interlocking directories– Stock purchases lessened competition– Later Outlawed

Legal Weapons

• 18th Amendment (1919)– Forbid manufacture, sale, or

transportation of alcohol—prohibition

• 19th Amendment (1920)– Women’s Right to Vote