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Reform Movements and Social Change in the Early 20th Century

Explore the challenges to the system and societal transformations during the rise of various reform movements in the early 20th century, such as the Populists and the Progressive Era. Discover the struggles, successes, and impact of these movements on American society.

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Reform Movements and Social Change in the Early 20th Century

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  1. Challenges to the System

  2. Focus Question • Identify three ways students could work to change a school policy they disagreed with. Explain which of these would be the most effective.

  3. Abuses Led to Protest • People felt powerless in face of the changes • Society was changing exceptionally fast • Control over workplace disappearing • Big business dominated politics • What direction was the country taking?

  4. Trouble on the Farm • Farmers ran into financial difficulties • Required larger farms and new equipment to compete • Took out loans to pay for this • Prices for farm goods dropped • Rates for the railroad continued to rise • Many farmers lost their family farms

  5. The Farmers Revolt • Felt captured by the railroads and the banks • Organized to fight • Grange Movement • Helped establish controls on the railroads • Farmers Alliance • Fought for a voice in Southern state governments

  6. The Populists • Farmers coalesced into the People’s Party • Organized political party to fight for the people • Promoted banking reform, rail reform • Pushed for more democratic systems • Reached a high point in the 1892 election

  7. Successes • Sherman Antitrust Act • Brought about changes in the two major parties • Faded after the Election of 1896

  8. Rise of the Progressives • First major 20th century reform movement • Umbrella label • Sought to address society’s ills • Used a variety of tactics • Reaction to changes in society • Power slipped from the hands of the people

  9. Middle Class Roots • The Progressives were largely a middle class movement • Felt caught between capitalists and labor • Power shifting toward great trusts • Disenchanted with labor violence • Wanted power returned to the people from the special interests.

  10. Muckrakers • New school of journalism • Challenged existing ideas of journalism • Bring ills of society to light • Forces public to make a change • Bold group of writers

  11. Religious Reformers • The Social Gospel Movement • Churches must address social issues • Uplift urban poor • Settlement Houses • Public Health

  12. Conservative Challenges • Urban ills arose from loss of religion • Women’s Christian Temperance Movement • Society’s ills come from the bottle • Pushed for Prohibition

  13. Promoted Democracy • Solution for societal ills was more democracy • Promoted changes in government • Promoted business regulation • Achieved success in the early 20th Century, but faded

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