Progressive Era

THE PROGRESSIVE ERA

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Vocabulary 1. 2. 3.

4. 5. 6. 7.

Labor Class – the level of society that includes people who work for a living Consumer – anyone who buys things Fraud – intentional lying for personal gain (usually financial - $$) Corruption – a breakdown of morality (usually in government) ex: bribery Muckraker – A progressive journalist/author Monopoly – AKA TRUST – domination of an industry (ex: oil) by ONE company Era – A period of time with certain similar characteristics 2

The Gilded Age 

The “Gilded Age” is another way of describing the “Industrial Revolution” period of American History when industrialization caused:       

The U.S to grow and become wealthier Increased pollution Increased child labor Mass production and factories Unsafe factory conditions Great wealth for some citizens Poverty for many citizens

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What was Progressivism? A response to the “Gilded Age”  Characterized by individuals who fought for better treatment of people  A call upon government to protect people against the problems of the Gilded age 

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Quick Quiz 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

What is a monopoly? What is a consumer? What is fraud? What do you think consumer fraud is? What are SIX important aspects of the “gilded age” of American history What was the Progressive Era?

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Gilded Age Problems 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

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Unfair Treatment of Labor Class Consumer Fraud/Unsafe Products Unfair Business Practices Political Corruption Environmental Damage In the following slides we will look at these Gilded Age problems and the Progressives who tried to solve them. 6

Problem #1 Unfair Treatment of Labor Class 

No Safety Laws 

Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire (1911) is an example of problems (148 died)

Low Wages  No worker’s right organizations  Anti-union laws (laws against forming unions) 

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Progressive Problem Solver: Jacob Riis Muckraker  Photographer who captured city-life  “How the Other Half Lives”  Also took pictures of workers in living quarters  Pictures showed rest of society how bad conditions were 

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Problem #2 Consumer Fraud/Unsafe Products Products did not live up to basic honesty standards  Meat packing industry- horribly unclean and unsanitary  No accountability for bad products 

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Progressive Problem Solver: Upton Sinclair A Muckraker  He wrote a book called “The Jungle”  Exposed the Chicago meat-packing industry as being dirty and unclean.  Harsh response from public in favor of food safety laws after book was published 

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An excerpt from “The Jungle” 

“There would be meat stored in great piles 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 meat would go into the hoppers together.”

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Upton Sinclair – The Jungle 11

Problem #3 Unfair Business Practices Monopolies eliminated competition  Large companies like Standard Oil Company took over all little companies in its way  Then they could raise prices and charge consumers more.  Other Monopolies included Carnegie Steel, Cornelius Vanderbilt and his Railroads and JP Morgan of the Financial World 

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Standard Oil Political Cartoon

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Progressive Problem Solvers Ida Tarbell & “Fightin” Bob Lafollete

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Ida Tarbell Muckraker Exposed John D. Rockefeller corruption Wrote “A History of Standard Oil”

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Robert Lafollette Governor of Wisconsin Fought against companies controlling the government and abusing consumers 14

Problem #4 Political Corruption 

“Political Machines” 

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Areas of government/political parties that gained support of immigrants

Positions filled by incompetent officials Government officials would take bribes from large corporations Boss Tweed (pictured) is an example of a Political Machine. 15

Progressive Problem Solver Lincoln Steffens Muckraker  “Shame of the Cities”  Exposed the corruption of local government and corporations  Known to scare his interviewees into answering truthfully 

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Problem #5 Environmental Damage Railroads started to web across country  Mines blew up mountains  Oil drills ruined landscape  Water was becoming polluted 

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Progressive Problem Solver - John Muir Environmentalist from California  Helped create the National Park System  Preserved the Sierra Mountain Range 

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National Park System

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Quick Quiz 1. 2.

What was progressivism EXPLAIN ①each of the five major progressive era problems each in your own words, ②who attempted to solve the problem, and ③how? a. Unfair Treatment of the Labor Class b. Consumer Fraud/Unsafe Products c. Unfair Business Practices d. Political Corruption e. Environmental Damage

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The greatest progressive problem solver of all was…

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Message from President T. Roosevelt 

“Here is your country. Cherish these natural wonders, cherish the natural resources, cherish the history and romance as a sacred heritage, for your children and your children's children. Do not let selfish men or greedy interests skin your country of its beauty, its riches or its romance.”

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Theodore Roosevelt on Mt. Rushmore

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President Theodore Roosevelt The Progressive President 

Problem #1- Poor Working Conditions 

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Before Roosevelt, when workers would strike the government and their bosses would use force to make them continue working. Roosevelt was first president to send in National Guard to protect workers.

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Teddy Roosevelt (cont.) 

Problem# 2Consumer Fraud 

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Created Food and Drug Administration to regulate food companies and create food safety laws Signed the meat inspection act of 1906 to provide for safer meat.

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Teddy Roosevelt (cont.) 

Problem #3- Unfair Business Practices 

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The Square Deal- new laws that prevented monopolies Known as a “trustbuster” someone who breaks up monopolies

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Teddy Roosevelt (Cont.)  Problem

#4- Political Corruption

Supported secret ballot system to protect voters  Before this sometimes voters decisions could be known by those working at the voting booth and voters faced intimidation. 

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President Theodore Roosevelt (cont.) 

Problem #5Environmental Degradation 

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Teamed up with John Muir to create Yosemite National Park Also created the National Park system which still exists today. 28

Other Progressive Presidents 

William Howard Taft  

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Was president after Roosevelt Developed Foreign Policy based on U.S. economic interests Later disagreed with Roosevelt on which monopolies to break up

Woodrow Wilson 

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Was President After Taft Believed in more trustbusting than T. Roosevelt but less other rules for business 29

Quick Quiz 1.

How did Teddy Roosevelt help solve each of the following Gilded Age problems with Progressive Era Solutions? a.

b. c. d. e.

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Unfair Treatment of Labor Class Consumer Fraud Unfair Business Practices Political Corruption Environmental Damage

Who were the other two progressive Presidents, and what do you know about them?

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