The Origins of Progressivism TEKS 1(A), 2(B), 4(A), 20(A), 24(C) 3 Listen at the Turn of the Century, Many Americans Hoped to Change American Society for the Better
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1 Warm-up Most Progressives wanted government to exert more control over businesses that affected the public interest. The Hepburn Act of 1906 enabled the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) to regulate railroad shipping rates so that companies could not give preferential treatment to certain customers. 1. How are the railroads portrayed in this cartoon? 2. Who are the cowboys, and how are they depicted? 3. What is the message of the cartoon? 2 The Origins of Progressivism TEKS 1(A), 2(B), 4(A), 20(A), 24(C) 3 Listen At the turn of the century, many Americans hoped to change American society for the better. These reform-minded citizens, who were called Progressives, worked for many different causes at the national, state, and local levels. Many of their reforms had lasting effects on American society. 4 Listen During the Progressive Era, the period from about 1890 to 1920, reformers tried to alleviate the effects of industrialization, immigration, and urbanization. Their goals were to make government responsive to its citizens’ needs; curb the power of wealthy interests; expand the power of government; and make government more efficient and less corrupt. 5 Listen Among reformers were leading journalists and writers, whose work influenced public opinion. Sometimes called muckrakers because they dug up “muck” about wrongdoing among businesses and politicians, they investigated terrible conditions in slums and sweatshops. Upton Sinclair exposed the filthy conditions in the meatpacking industry. Ida Tarbell revealed the abuses of the Standard Oil Company. Many outraged readers joined reform groups and demanded government action. 6 Listen Reform organizations included many socialists who favored public control of property and income. They hoped to bring about economic and political reform by ending the capitalist system. Unlike socialists, Progressives did not support ending the capitalist system. Instead they sought to reform it. 7 Listen Women and women’s groups played an active role in the Progressive movement. Florence Kelley’s efforts helped limit child labor and regulate sweatshop conditions. Mary Harris “Mother” Jones fought for unions and child labor laws, campaigning nationwide for these things in the mining industry. She helped found the International Workers of the World (IWW) in 1905. 8 The Origins of Progressivism Begin Taking Notes 1. What were the key goals of Progressives? 2. How did the ideas of Progressive writers help to inspire new reform movements? 3. What reform organizations and what women reformers took up Progressive causes? 4. Why did Progressive reforms meet with resistance? 9 The Progressive Era 1 Rapid industrialization, immigration, and urbanization in the late 1800s led to national growth and prosperity. The rapid growth also caused poverty, unemployment, deplorable working conditions and political corruption. Many Progressives believed that political action and reform, not private charities, were the methods to bring about progress in society. Historians call the period from about 1890–1920 the Progressive Era. 10 The Progressives: Their Goals and Beliefs 11 Igniting Reform: Writers and Their New Ideas The ideas of many writers and journalists influenced public opinion about how to reform society. Journalists investigated and publicized conditions in certain industries, slums, tenement houses, and sweat shops. Theodore Roosevelt called the journalists “muckrakers.” Upton Sinclair, Lincoln Steffens, and Ida Tarbell were respected writers and muckrakers. 12 Progressive Reform Organizations 13 14 The Pressure to Expand—Assessment Which of the following was a goal of the Progressives? (A) Government should be more accountable to its citizens. (B) Government should curb the power and influence of wealthy interests. (C) Government should be given expanded powers so that it can become more active in improving the lives of its citizens. (D) All of the above Which of the following was a Progressive reform organization? (A) The Labor movement (B) The Socialists (C) The National Consumers’ League (D) All of the above 15 The Pressure to Expand—Assessment Which of the following was a goal of the Progressives? (A) Government should be more accountable to its citizens. (B) Government should curb the power and influence of wealthy interests. (C) Government should be given expanded powers so that it can become more active in improving the lives of its citizens. (D) All of the above Which of the following was a Progressive reform organization? (A) The Labor movement (B) The Socialists (C) The National Consumers’ League (D) All of the above 16 Work Look over your notes from today. 1. Answer the 4 questions from today’s lecture. 2. In five sentences, write a brief summary of what we went over in class today. Use the highlighted key terms in your summary! Title the paper the same as the Lecture Notes. Make sure to put your Name , Date , and Period in the upper right hand corner of your page. Turn this in at the beginning of class tomorrow – put it in the hand-in/collection basket. Worth 25 out of 100 points for this week’s Daily grade. 2 ERROR: undefined OFFENDING COMMAND: STACK:.