the progressive era. a period during the late 1800’s, early 1900’s. progressives wanted to...
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The Progressive EraThe Progressive Era
The Progressive EraThe Progressive Era
• a period during the late 1800’s, early 1900’s.
• Progressives wanted to reform government and business.
Problems in SocietyProblems in Society
• Industrialization1. unemployment
and labor unrest 2. wasteful uses of
natural resources 3. abuses of power
Problems in SocietyProblems in Society
• Growth of cities magnified problems of:
1. poverty2. disease3. crime4. government corruption
Urban Growth: 1870 - 1900Urban Growth: 1870 - 1900
Tenement Slum Tenement Slum LivingLiving
Jacob Riis was a photographer who captured the images of poverty in American cities in his book “How the Other Half Lives” (1890)
Men’s LodgingsMen’s LodgingsMen’s LodgingsMen’s Lodgings
Tenement LifeTenement Life
””Bandits’ Roost”Bandits’ Roost”””Bandits’ Roost”Bandits’ Roost”
Mullen’s Alley ”Gang”Mullen’s Alley ”Gang”Mullen’s Alley ”Gang”Mullen’s Alley ”Gang”
Problems in SocietyProblems in Society
• Influx of immigrants and rise of new middle class upset traditional social class structure
Problems in SocietyProblems in Society
• economic depression (period of low economic activity and high unemployment) from 1893-1897
Who were the Who were the Progressives?Progressives?
• New middle class comprised of young professionals1. Sought to apply principles of professions
(medicine, law, business, teaching) to problems in society
2. strong belief that education could solve the problems of society; wanted to provide education to the all citizens
3. created volunteer organizations designed to solve problems (American Bar Association, NAACP, U.S. Chamber of Commerce)
Who were the Who were the Progressives?Progressives?
• Muckrakers: – journalists who wrote articles
exposing corruption in government and business1. Lincoln Steffens: exposed
government corruption in his book “The shame of the Cities
2. Ida Tarbell: exposed Standard Oil Trust abuses
3. Upton Sinclair: wrote “The Jungle” (1906) reveled horrible conditions in the handling of food in the meat packing industry
Who were the Who were the Progressives?Progressives?
• Political reformers: wanted to limit the power of political party “bosses” and backroom deals
Who were the Who were the Progressives?Progressives?
• Socialists: – Frustrated
workers who wanted to change capitalism.
1. led by Eugene Debbs
2. rejected by many progressives as being too extreme in their goals