The Origins of Progressivism

1. The Origins of Progressivism America chapter 18 section1

2. The Jungle • Published by Upton Sinclair in 1906 • Based on investigation of Chicago meatpacking industry • Novel opened the nation’s eyes to 2 things: • Accidents, violence, sickness, death, rape • How the “meat” they ate for dinner was made

3. The Jungle • “They use everything about the hog but the squeal.” • “At the end of the week he will carry home $3 to his family, being his pay at the rate of $0.05 an hour.” • Quick Math: 60 hours!

4. The Roots of Reform • Reformers were reacting to the impact of Americas rapid growth: • Slums & overpopulation in urban areas • Low wages, horrible living conditions, etc. • Gov’t expanded services, but corruption often kept them limited • The public debate about what to do to help the urban poor sparked an era of reform from 1890-1920 – The Progressive era

5. Who were the Progressives? • NOT a single unified movement • Did NOT all share the same views • Goals fell into four categories: • Social • Moral • Economic • Political • Goals overlapped, sometimes conflicted

6. Who were the Progressives? • People of average wealth with 4 basic beliefs: • Government should be more accountable to its citizens • Government should curb the power and influence of wealthy interests • Government should be given expanded powers to become more active in improving citizens’ lives • Government should be more efficient & less corrupt

7. Reasons for Reform

8. Reasons for Reform

9. Reasons for Reform

10. Writers Spark Reform! • Journalists & other writers had tremendous influence on public opinion • Relied on scientific data • Investigate an issue • Get expert testimony • Publish the results of the investigation to get the public to pressure the gov’t to deal with the issue

11. Muckrakers Nickname given to journalists like Upton Sinclair who exposed wrongdoing and the ills of society through their work & writings Lincoln Steffens: exposed corruption in St. Louis & other cities Ida Tarbell: The History of Standard Oil Their works inspired Americans to join reform groups

12. Upton Sinclair & More Jungle Pics

13. Ida Tarbell & Lincoln Steffens

14. Slow progress for unions… • Employers discouraged unionization. Preferred to deal with employees one on one • Owners could often count on their buddies in the court to file an injunction against a union • Court orders that prevent a certain activity, in the case of labor unions, going on strike • Unions continued to fight for their workers through collective bargaining

15. Socialism vs. Progressivism • Socialism: econ. And pol. Philosophy favoring government control of property & income • Favored an end to capitalism, equal dist. Of wealth, government ownership of industries • Progressives did NOT favor total political & economic change • They wanted to end corruption and refocus the gov’t on helping the workers and poor

16. Florence Kelley • Investigated labor conditions in Chicago • Her efforts led to reforms: • No child labor • Limited working hours for women • Led the National Consumers’ League (NCL). A women’s group that investigated the conditions in which goods were made & sold • Campaign to outlaw child labor, protect workers

17. Florence Kelley & the NCL

18. Mother Jones Irish immigrant who joined the reform movement after losing her family to yellow fever…after rebuilding her life she lost it all again in the Chicago fire of 1871 Best known for organizing unions in the coal mines of West Virginia National speaker for unions & child labor laws

19. Mother Jones

20. West Virginia Coal Mines

21. Resistance to Progressives • Progressives wanted an increased role for government in peoples’ lives • Often met resistance from the very people progressives were trying to help: the poor! • Ex: progressives fought hard to eliminate child labor, but poor families needed the income from their working children to survive

22. Child Labor

23. Child Labor… is school that bad?