The Progressive Era

1. The Progressive Era The Progressive Era lasted from approximately 1890 to 1920. It’s named after something called, “Progressivism,” a plan to make a more balanced, perfect and fair society. During the late 1800’s in America, there were many problems. These included: negative effects from industrialization and monopolies; unequal distribution of wealth/money, abuse of workers and unequal rights for some groups including African Americans and women.

2. The Progressive Era, cont. Progressives thought about and worked towards changing these and other problems. Many different leaders thought of themselves as Progressives but they often had very different ideas about how to fix the problems that faced American society.

3. The Progressive Era, cont. In this activity, we’ll be putting many of the leaders of the Progressive Era in the same room together to hear how they planned to rebuild society. It’s very possible some of them will disagree, perhaps strongly. Sparks (but not shoes) could fly! Even today, some people consider the Progressives to be radical and dangerous leaders because of their beliefs.

4. The Progressive EraPress Conference press conference: “an interview given to journalists/writers/reporters by (a) prominent figure(s) to make an announcement or answer questions” (It can also seem like a debate with a lot fewer rules.)

5. The Progressive EraPress Conference, cont. For this activity each group will be assigned a different leader from the Progressive Era to represent. Someone from your group will portray the person while others in the group will have supporting roles to play. Two students from each group, the leader and his public relations agent will be on stage at the press conference. Others from the group will have roles to play in the audience.

6. The Progressive EraPress Conference, cont. To begin the activity students will need to: decide on what role they’ll play for the press conference learn some new vocabulary then study their Progressive Era leader. Success/winning the press conference will be determined by how well your group knows your assigned Progressive Era leader.

7. The Progressive EraPress Conference, cont. You will be in groups of four students for the press conference activity. You have your choice of these four roles: Actor Historian Public Relations Agent Investigative Reporter (Check your handout to learn what each of these roles require you to do before making your choice.)

8. The Progressive EraPress Conference, cont. • democratic • force-fed • constitutional amendment • discriminate • philosophy • philanthropy • expose’ • revolution • economic • industrialist • capitalist/capitalism • free enterprise • socialist/socialism • political • exploitation

9. The Progressive EraPress Conference, cont. • revolution: the forcible overthrow of a government or social order in favor of a new system • economics: thinking about how people , companies and countries get and spend money • industrialist: owners of factories and businesses-capitalists • capitalist/capitalism: the private ownership of business and desire for individual gain through high profits • free enterprise: private businesses operating without control by governments

10. The Progressive EraPress Conference, cont. • socialist/socialism: system based on worker-owned businesses and shared political power • political: relating to government and public affairs • force-fed: made to take liquid food through a tube inserted in the nose • constitutional amendment: official change in the law by which the country is run • discriminate: unfairly treat a group of people who are different • philanthropy: desire to help other by donating large sums of money to good causes

11. The Progressive EraPress Conference, cont. • exploitation: unfairly gain from the work of someone else by underpaying or overworking them • democratic: a system of equality where all people share power and advantage • philosophy: a particular set of beliefs about how the world works • expose’: a newspaper/media report that tells something scandalous/shocking