Chapter 15

Political Reform & the Progressive Era

p. 514-539During the late 1800s and early 1900s,

Americans organize to press for reforms in many areas of government and society.

Chapter 15, Section 1

The Gilded Age & Progressive Reformp. 518-522

Reformers known as Progressives try to end government corruption and limit the influence of big business.

15.1 SECTION FOCUS QUESTION:

How did reformers try to end How did reformers try to end government corruption and limit the government corruption and limit the influence of big business?influence of big business?

Reform in the Gilded AgeMain Idea: Many Americans seek to fight corruption by ending the spoils system and controlling big business.

• Period after the Civil War called the Gilded Age– coated in a thin layer of gold

• Civil Service jobs given out through the ‘spoils system’.– a system that includes most

Federal jobs in the executive branch

– Wealthy are enriching themselves at public’s expense

• Civil Service Commission fills federal jobs based on merit– Job applicants have to pass a

test to be considered for the position.

Calls for Civil Service Reform(see cartoon on p. 519)

Fighting Corporate Corruption!• Big business exerts

influence on government.– Americans demand that

federal government limit the power of the railroads and other monopolies!

• To curb the influence of the railroad: President Cleveland signs the Interstate Commerce Act– Set up a commission to

oversee railroads and fight corruption.President #22 AND #24:

Grover Cleveland signs Interstate Commerce Act

Fighting Corruption in Cities!• Corruption a serious

problem in local government– Political bosses take bribes

from big business– Local bosses popular with

poor workers

• William (Boss) Tweed cheats New York City out of $100 million (1860s-1870s)– New York journalist exposes

Tweed’s corruption– Tweed dies in prison in 1878

Boss Tweed and the corrupt “Tammany Hall” ring

Progressives and Political ReformMain Idea: Political reformers called Progressives work to give more power to voters and expose social problems.

What the Progressives Wanted!

• The Wisconsin Plan: Governor Robert La Follette opposes political bosses, fights the railroad, and reforms the electoral process

• Voters get more power: • primary, recall, initiative,

and referendum• Constitutional Amendments:

– 16th: Progressives support graduated income tax - a method of taxation that taxes people at different rates depending on their income

– 17th: the people elect U.S. Senators directly.

p. 521

The MuckrakersMain Idea: By exposing corruption and other problems, journalists win public support for Progressive reform.

Puck Magazine asks America, “Who is really in charge?

• muckrakers – crusading journalists who expose abuse to the general public

• Ida Tarbell: accused John D. Rockefeller & Standard Oil of unfair business practices.

• Jacob Riis photographed and wrote about the poverty in the slums of America.

- How the Other Half Lives• Upton Sinclair writes the novel,

The Jungle.– Exposes abuses in the meat

packing industry– See p. 528-529

15.1 SECTION FOCUS QUESTION:

How did reformers try to end How did reformers try to end government corruption and limit the government corruption and limit the influence of big business?influence of big business?

Reformers passed laws to limit corruption Reformers passed laws to limit corruption and give people (voters) more direct political and give people (voters) more direct political power. They also used the press power. They also used the press (muckrakers)to expose government (muckrakers)to expose government corruption and the abuses of big business.corruption and the abuses of big business.