Agenda 12/2/10

1. Agenda 12/2/10 • Stamp back of Ch. 5.1, section 1 Study Questions – go over the answers • Work Period: • Ch. 5.1, part 2 study questions- p. 330-335 – Due Friday • 5.2 Study Guide – Due Friday • Muckrakers reading assignment – Worth 5 bonus points in next notebook check!

2. Rise of Progressivism • The Progressive movement was an attempt to use scientific principles to improve society. • The Progressive Era spans from 1890 to 1920 • The Progressives believed that industrialization and urbanization was the root (cause) of many social problems.

3. Rise of Progressivism • Progressivism was partly a reaction to laissez-faire economics and the emphasis on an unregulated market (no gov’t interference). • Progressives believed that the government required reform due to • the poverty of the working class • the filth and crime in urban societies (cities)

4. Rise of Progressivism • The connection to science and technology: Progressives believed they could change society with science and technology. They had strong faith in things like organization, expertise…etc. • The Muckrakers were journalists who investigated and reported on social conditions and political corruption

5. Rise of Progressivism • Muckrakers focused their stories on: • Unfair business practices in large American corporations like Standard Oil and the beef packing industry • The government- how money influenced the Senate, vote stealing in urban political machines • Social problems – poverty, disease, crime in immigrant neighborhoods in NYC

6. Reading Check How did the muckrakers help spark the Progressive movement? They investigated social conditions and reported their findings. This sparked many to get involved in social change.

7. Making Government Efficient • Main Idea: One form of Progressivism focused on ways to use business practices to make government more efficient • The Progressives main argument for changing government efficiency was that they believed that many problems in society could be solved if the gov’t worked properly – just like business had become more efficient through technology.

8. Making Government Efficient • The commission plan is a Progressive idea for setting up city government. In it the city gov’t is divided into departments which are controlled by an expert commissioner. A board of commissioners or the City Manager hires the specialists for each department.

9. Reading Check Why did the Progressives want to reorganize city government? The Progressives felt that the government could not carry out all of the needed reforms unless it was first reformed.

10. Democracy and Progressivism • Main Idea: Progressive policies in Wisconsin became widespread, leading to election reforms • A direct primary is a method of voting in which all party members (voters registered to that party) may vote for a candidate to run in the general election.

11. Democracy and Progressivism • Three reforms which gave voters more power in government: • Initiative: citizens may introduce legislation (law) and legislature is required to vote on it. • Referendum: Allows proposed legislation to be submitted to the voters for approval • Recall: allows voters to demand a special election to remove an elected official from office before his/her term has expired

12. Democracy and Progressivism • 17th Amendment • Original Constitutional Method: • Senators chosen by State legislators • After 17th amendment • Voters (the people) elect the Senators directly

13. Reading Check What was the impact of the 17th amendment? What was it intended to solve? The impact of the 17th is that it allowed the people to elect senators directly, making the Senate more democratic (people rule). It was intended to end corruption, but instead it removed one of the state governments’ checks on federal power.