PROGRESSIVE

ERA
1890s-1920s
Progressivism
● Political movement in support
of reform (progress).
● Favors running things with
experts.
● Dealt with social, industrial
and political problems
Muckrakers
• Journalism was important to
promote progressivism
• “Muckrakers” exposed
corruption (“muck”).
• Ida Tarbell (lynching), Jacob
Riis (urban problems) and
Upton Sinclair (meatpacking)
were muckrakers
Politics
● Progressives opposed
corruption is politics
● Boss Tweed was a political
“boss” and very corrupt
● Progressives wanted to limit
the excesses of democracy
Progressive Politics
● The Seventeenth Amendment
allowed the people to elect U.S.
senators.
● “Recall” allowed the people to
vote remove corrupt people from
power.
● “Referendum” allowed people to
directly pass legislation.
 City Life
• Urbanization, the growth of cities,
led to many problems
• A large increase of immigrants led to
many people needing to adapt to the
U.S.
• Public education helped to make new
Americans citizens
• Settlement Houses provided support
for urban poor (Jane Addams)
Economic Reforms
● Taxing income was seen as a fair
means to fund government programs
but opposed by the rich.
● The courts often protected property
rights (Lochner v. N.Y.)
● Sixteenth Amendment (1913) was
ratified to allow a federal income tax.
Federal Regulation of the
Economy
● Federal Reserve Act
(Banking)
● Sherman Antitrust (Too
Powerful Businesses)
● Pure Food and Drug Act
 Women’s Rights
• Women often took part in the
Progressive Movement
• The Nineteenth Amendment
(1920) gave women the vote.
• “Suffragists” supported giving
women the right to vote
(suffrage).
Prohibition
● Alcohol was seen as a major societal
problem
● It harmed women, health and workers’
efficiency
● The 18th Amendment (1919) prohibited
the sale of alcohol.
● The 21st Amendment (1933) repealed
(overturned) this ban.