Ch. 19 Sect. 1
The Origins Of Progressivism
Objectives:
1.  Describe the new reform ideas that took hold at the turn of the
century.
2.  Summarize the methods muckrakers used to bring about reform.
3.  List the goals that most progressive reformers had in common.
Main Idea:
At the end of the 1800s, many citizens recognized the need to solve
problems resulting from rapid industrialization and urban growth.
The appearance of many reform movements caused historians to refer
to the period as the Progressive Era.
The Need For Change
  The late 1800s saw massive problems
resulting from rapid urbanization.
  Unemployment, unsafe working
conditions, poverty, and political
corruption were some of the problems
that citizens believed should be fixed
and should be fixed by the
government.
The Need For Child
Labor Reform
Uniting For Change
  Progressivism was created from several smaller
movements in the U.S. (prohibition, nativism,
women suffrage, Socialists, labor movement,
municipal reform, and Populists).
  Progressives did not agree on everything and
they formed temporary alliances to meet
common goals.
  Most progressives were well-educated, upper
and middle class citizens. They did not want to
lose what they had but they feared revolution.
They believed in a more active government.
Muckrakers
  Progressives used research and testimony to put
pressure on legislators to make changes or enforce
laws in existence.
  Muckrakers created the most change. They were
journalists who wrote about problems in both
government and business.
  Muckrakers exposed problems with government
corruption, Standard Oil trust, and meat packing
industry (The Jungle). The Jungle will pressure
Congress to pass the Pure Food and Drug Act of
1906 and the Meat Inspection Act.
President T. Roosevelt &
Meat Packing Scandal
The Progressive Era
  The Progressive Era (1890 – 1920) pushed for
government help in the economy and human
welfare.
  Progressives wanted government control of
essential services (water, electricity, and
transportation).
  They also wanted the government to start social
welfare programs to ensure all citizens a basic
standard of living.
  This led to the creation of unemployment,
accident, and health insurance.
Women In The Progressive Era
  Women in the Progressive Era supported
prohibition, improved working conditions, but
mainly the right to vote.
  Alcohol manufacturers will lobby Congress to
prevent women from voting.
  Florence Kelley was a leader for work and labor
reform. She promoted child labor laws, work safety
laws, and consumer protection laws on both the
state and federal level.
Florence Kelley
1859-1932