The Progressive Reform

1. The Progressive Reform By: Jack Whitten & Cameron Ray

2. What is the Progressive Reform? The Progressive Reform, or the Progressive Era, was a time in American history ranging from around the 1890’s to the 1920’s. It was during this time period the Prohibition of alcohol, and the legalization of women’s right to vote occurred.

3. The Prohibition The Prohibition was a 14 year attempt during the Progressive Era to make alcohol illegal. This was strongly supported by women (below), who claimed that alcohol was behind the majority of crime, abuse of children and women, and wasted money for those who struggled to obtain basic living needs. The law was broken so often one Washington citizen claimed he was shocked to find an honest lawman. This rule was Broken in Washington most often due to ‘Rumrunners’ buying booze legally over the northern border and bringing it to private clubs called ‘blind pigs’

4. Women’s Right to Partake in Government Activities One of the best things (in my opinion, at least) to come out of the Progressive Era was the legalization of female participation in government activities, like voting or running for office. This movement was started by women who after leading the Prohibition so far they believed that they would do well in office, so they pushed for it, and Washington became the fifth state to legalize this, ten years before it was signed into national law.

5. Labor Laws Before the Progressive Reform, children were forced to work all day in factories or mines for little pay. This was all changed when labor laws were issued. These helped ensure the safety and rights of workers, and children under 16 could not be made to do hard labor. Instead, they went to school.

6. Labor Unions During the Progressive reform, some workers known as the IWW came up with the idea of “One Big Union.” They were very anti-capitalist, specifically against government regulation of business. In the IWW’s union, workers would strike if conditions were unfair or unsafe. These people became known as ‘Wobblies.”

7. Labor Unions Continued One of the more depressing moments of the Progressive Era arose from here, the Centralia Massacre. The Centralia Massacre took place in Centralia, Washington, where one day some Wobblies were speaking publically against capitalism and supporting other ideals of theirs. Some were arrested, but more Wobblies showed up, and suddenly a firefight broke out, leaving 5 Wobblies and 2 Vigilantes dead. No one knows who started the fight.

8. Sources Green, Michael K., and Laurie Winn Carlson. "The Progressive Reform." Trans. Array Washington in the Pacific Northwest. Salt Lake City: Gibbs-Smith Publisher, Print. Lutz, Alexandra. "Reform Movements of the 19th Century."Education Portal. Education Protal. Web. 18 Nov 2013. <http://education-portal.com/academy/lesson/the-transcendentalism-movement-and-social-reform.html Muncy, Dr. Robyn . "Women In The Progressive Era." nps.gov. N.p.. Web. 19 Nov 2013. <http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/pwwmh/prog.htm>. "Progressive Reform Era." Regents Prep US History. N.p.. Web. 19 Nov 2013. <http://regentsprep.org/Regents/ushisgov/themes/reform/progressive.htm>. Washington. Secretary of State. Voting Rights for Women, Womens Suffrage. Print. <http://www.secstate.wa.gov/elections/timeline/suffrage.htm>. "u-s-history.com." u-s-history. N.p.. Web. 19 Nov 2013. <http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1061.html>. "The Progressive Movement 1900-1918." PBS. N.p.. Web. 19 Nov 2013. <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/general-article/eleanor-progressive/>. Mintz, Steven. "Reform Movements of the Progressive Era." The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. N.p.. Web. 19 Nov 2013. <http://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-by-era/politics-reform/resources/reform-movements-progressive-era>. "The National Women's History Muesuem." Reforming Their World: Women In The Progressive Era. N.p.. Web. 19 Nov 2013. <http://www.nwhm.org/online-exhibits/progressiveera/home.html>.