Progressive era information video
what is progressivism?
Progressivism is known as the reform movement that addressed many of the social problems that industrialization created. There were reformers called progressives, they sought to improve the living conditions the urban poor. Many ideas came from the fact that there was a major difference in social classes. There were the big businesses and their workers. The progressives questioned the power and practices of these business, encouraging the government to intervene. Many of those who sought reform would criticize many of the corrupt social problems with the power of writing, many called these hero's muckrakers.
Housing reforms
Sanitation was a major problem with big cities, cities would be littered with the garbage of the many who live in it. People saw this and would work extremely hard to expand public health services for the poor. There would be a small victory for the progressives when the Tenement Act of 1901 was passed, forcing all landlords to install lighting in all public hallways and to provide at least one toilet for every two families.
fighting for civil rights
Activists would gain much advancement on this subject. Many new groups arose to stop the social criticism on civil right, some of the groups included the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). They were made to fight the right of African Americans, also to fight discrimination of the Jewish peoples.
Reforming the workplace
Some of the many places that were in need of reform would be the occupation field. Many of the workers were paid unbelievably small amounts of money for the long excruciating hours they worked. These same workers also working in horrible working conditions, these conditions were unsanitary and unsafe. Reformers sought to fix these problems of all the working class Americans. These problems did not just include the many adults, but also children to. The children had to also provide for the family for each worker received a tiny pay. Reformers would focus to eliminate child labor, get equal pay, less hour for more money, and improve working conditions. Many of the reformers brought working condition up yet again when a horrific event happened, it was called The Triangle Shirtwaist Company Fire. Many businesses owned shops in tenements. These managers of the women workers did not trust them, the managers would lock the doors to stop theft. So on this day a fire would start in this building of about 500 women. The women had no escape, the stairwells were overcrowded, the doors were lock, many would come to a end on this day. In the end more than 140 women had died, and in this it would set new standard for work safety.
Reforming government
There would be many large improvements in government. Much support came from the reformers for the 17th amendment which gave voters the ability to directly elect U.S. Senators. Direct primaries have also been brought upon us, this would also fuel the secret ballot. Now many could vote for who they truly believed in. Also initiative was brought about that allows voters to put a proposed law on the ballot for public approval. The recall which allows voters to remove an elected official from office would be used in the years to come. Lastly the referendum with allows citizens to vote on a proposed or existing law.
WOMEN rights
Women would be discriminated severely, and many knew that it had to come to a end. Women would be held back on education, for many believed that women should not attend higher education. The first college to accept women would be Oberlin College, Ohio. Also women had many new employment opportunities, now instead of women working as the typical jobs many had now come into the business world, become artist, and journalists. Women would become a figure of strength and become the supporters of the new 18th amendment. The 18th amendment would start a period know as the prohibition, this prohibited the manufacture, sale and distribution of alcohol. Women in the end would gain the the right to vote, one of the largest achievements at the time. It would be the 19th ammendment that granted them the right.
theodore roosevelt
As Roosevelt rose to become the governor of new York the political machines smelled trouble. They would nominate Roosevelt to a position with little power, this position would be know as the vice president. After Roosevelt had become the vice president a shock came to all when current president McKinley was shot, leaving Roosevelt as the president. Roosevelt would bring a new and fast paced change with progressivism. One of the first thing that had happened during his term was the coal strike of 1902. Some 150,000 coal workers went on strike, as this happened Roosevelt saw the problem presented if no coal was being mined for the winter. Knowing the predicament at hand Roosevelt knew change was need, so he urged the miners to accept arbitration. The workers accepted, but the owners would not agree so Roosevelt threatened he would use force. In the end the workers received more pay for working less hours. This led to The Square Deal, Roosevelt's campaign slogan saying that he would make sure everyone will get everything they deserved, no less or more. One of Roosevelt's largest achievements began with trust busting. He would sue the so called bad trusts and sue them. After Roosevelt read The Jungle, that exposed the horrors of sanitation condition with food companies, he would work hard to make a more safe and sanitary way of protecting the consumers. He would bring the Meat Inspection Act and Pure Food and Drug Act about. Roosevelt also saw that we needed to conserve for the generations to come. So he would set aside many reserves of land to protect the wildlife. He would set up the Newlands Reclamation Act preserving much dying land for many.
WOODROW WILSON vs william howard taft
Taft faced a three time Democratic candidate and win the election with electoral and popular vote. Taft would be credited the 16th amendment, granting Congress the power to levy Taxes based on an individuals income. Taft would loose the support of most Progressive Republicans when he signed a bill permitting lower tariffs on imported goods. The republican party would soon split when Roosevelt would run for the Progressive Republicans, but soon Taft would be nominated for Republican party and Roosevelt would begin the new Progressive Party. In the end neither had won for the fact of a split republican vote. This would lead to Woodrow Wilson, the Democratic nominee wining the election. Wilson ran on a reform plan called the New Freedom, calling for tariff reduction, banking reform, and stronger antitrust legislation. Wilson would introduce the Underwood Tariff Act, which set tariffs lower. This would make the government receive less money, to fix the problem the bill would also include a graduated income tax, this would set tax rated depending on the persons income. He would also come up with the Federal Reserve act, allowing banks to borrow to prevent collapse during a financial panic. Wilson would help stop trust when he urged the Congress to pass the Clayton Antitrust Act, extending the Sherman Antitrust Act much further.
Lastly Wilson would help women's rights when he supported the passing of the 19th amendment, allowing women to vote.
Lastly Wilson would help women's rights when he supported the passing of the 19th amendment, allowing women to vote.