Strange Fruit

1. Strange Fruit Southern trees bear a strange fruit,Blood on the leaves and blood at the root,Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze,Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees.Pastoral scene of the gallant south,The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth,The scent of magnolias, sweet and fresh,Then the sudden smell of burning flesh. Here is a fruit for the crows to pluck,For the rain to gather, for the wind to suck,For the sun to rot, for the trees to drop,Here is a strange and bitter crop.

2. Strange Fruit • Written by Abel Meeropol – Lewis Allen • Inspired by Thomas Shipp and Abram Smith • Made famous by Billie Holiday

3. Gilded Age & Progressive Era

4. Lesson of Purpose • Review problems of Gilded Age • Understand the Progressive Response

5. Gilded Age:1865-1900 “gilded” – to cover with a thin layer of gold Time of corruption, greed, poverty, weak gov. overcrowded cities, etc. Industrialization, immigration & urbanization Defining “Gilded Age

6. Defining “Progressive Era” • Progressive Era: 1890-1913 • Gradual movement towards something better • Response to the Gilded Age • Political, Economic & Social reforms

7. Main Issues • Poor working conditions • Consumer fraud • Unfair business practices • Political corruption • Environmental degradation

8. The “Progressives” • Reformers; people fighting for change • Ordinary white middle class • Accepted industrialism & urbanization • Strong belief that reform NEEDED

9. The “Progressives” • Roosevelt & Wilson - Provide leadership for Progressive cause • Roosevelt’s Cause • “The Square Deal” : 1. Regulate business 2. Consumer protection 3. Worker’s rights 4. Natural resources • Wilson’s Cause • Economic policy • Clayton Antitrust Act

11. A. “Fighting Bob” • Robert La Follette • Progressive governor Wisconsin • Later become Rep. Senator • Fought for progressive reforms • Nickname – “Fighting Bob” or “Battlin’ Bob” • Causes • Expand democracy • Increase gov. efficiency • Protect natural resources

13. B. Muckraker Ida Tarbell • Ida Tarbell • Influential journalist of Progressive Era • Defining “muckraker” • Expose problems to public • Used words & images

14. B. Muckraker Ida Tarbell • Muckraker figures: 1. Lincoln Steffens – city gov. corruption,“The Shame of the Cities” 2. Jacob Riis & Lewis Hine – took pics of lower class working & living conditions

16. B. Muckraker Ida Tarbell 3. Ida Tarbell – exposed Rockefeller business tactics, “History of the Standard Oil Company” 4. Upton Sinclair – exposes Chicago meat- packing practices, “The Jungle”

17. B. Muckraker Ida Tarbell “Therewould be meatstored in greatpiles in rooms; and the water from leaky roofs would drip over it, and thousands of rats would race about on it…a man could run his hand over these piles of meat and sweep off handfuls of the dried dung of rats. These rats were nuisances, and the packers would put poisoned bread out for them; they would die, and then rats, bread, and meatwould go into the hoppers together.”

18. YUMMY!!!

20. C. Young Coal Miner • Working Conditions • 12 hour days, 7 days a week • Textile workers (women & children): 60-84 hrs a week • No minimum wage • No unemployment insurance • No worker’s compensation

21. C. Young Coal Miner • Triangle Shirt Waist Factory • 1911 fire • No fire escapes • 100 workers dead, some leaped off burning building

23. C. Young Coal Miner • Changing Working Conditions • Roosevelt sided w/labor unions • 1902 miner’s strike PA • threatened to send troops if management didn’t negotiate • 1st time gov. power benefit labor • Dept. Commerce & Labor (1903) – activities of industry open to public

25. D. Food Inspection • Goods • Industrial age quantity up quality down • Customer no direct connection to seller • No protection from bad products • Meat packing industry • Roosevelt pressured Congress for law • Soldiers in war died from tainted meat

26. D. Food Inspection • Drugs • Companies make unproven claims • Pure Food & Drug Act 1906 • Passed by Congress • Barred use of harmful chemicals in food • Prevented misleading statements on drug ads

28. E. President Roosevelt • Monopolies • Developed in industrial revolution • Disliked by progressives – too much power • Need gov. to regulate businesses • Roosevelt – “trust buster” • Hated business who abused power • Believed gov. had right to stop illegal practices

29. E. President Roosevelt • Wilson • Hated monopolies • Federal Trade Commission 1914 • Kept large companies from destroying smaller one • Encourage competition • Clayton Antitrust Act • Stopped pricing policies that would destroy competition

31. F. Roosevelt & John Muir • Roosevelt & John Muir • Muir is a conservationist • CA’s Sierra Nevada Mt. • Roosevelt championed conservation • Preserved 5 national wilderness areas • Known as the father of national park system

33. G. W.E.B. Du Bois • Du Bois • Leader of National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) • Racial Issues • Progressives sought social justice, plights of black not a main concern • Progressives felt blacks inferior to whites • Progressives in south strengthen segregation laws & north ignored issues

34. G. W.E.B. Du Bois • NAACP • Protect rights of blacks • Defended unjust arrests of blacks • Sought anti-lynching laws • 1914 – membership at 6,000 in 50 cities • Du Bois most prominent leader • Historian • Outspoken

36. H. Suffragists • National Women’s Social & Political Union • Progressive want gov. more responsive to people’s will • expand democracy so more voters • “Political Machines” • Political power controlled by men – got bribes & favors • little accountability for actions • Progressives sought to stop this system

37. H. Suffragists • 1913 Constitutional Amendment • Direct election of U.S. Senators • Stops “political machines” • 19th Amendment ratified - 1920 • Gave women right to vote

38. Class Activity • Write acrostic • “PROGRESSIVES” • Preserved America’s national wild life • Ratified 19th Amendment giving women right to vote • O • G • R • E