Progressivism: Muckrakers & Reformers

Rise of Progressivism• New reformers

emerge as a reaction to the nation’s rapid industrialization, immigration, and urbanization.– What were the

negatives of these?– Believed private

charity could not do enough to help.

• Progressive Era– 1890-1920

• Many plans produced with how to bring about progress.

Goals and Beliefs• Progressivism was not a

unified movement.– Included Republicans and

Democrats

• All Progressives held four basic beliefs in common:

– Government should…1) …be more accountable

to its citizens.2) …curb the power and

influence of wealthy interests.

3) …be given expanded powers so that it could become more active in improving the lives of its citizens.

4) …become more efficient and less corrupt so that they could competently handle an expanded role.

Igniting Reform• At first, journalists

and other writers had enormous influence on public opinion.– Muckrakers

• Journalists alerting the public to wrongdoing in politics and business.

• Many Americans were inspired to take action through reform.– To put or change into

an improved form or condition.

Muckraker: Upton Sinclair• Author – The Jungle

– Graphic account of filthy handling, spoiled meat, and generally unsanitary conditions in stockyards.

– Socialist?

"I aimed at the public's heart, and by accident I hit it in the stomach."

Muckraker: Ida Tarbell• Author – The History

of the Standard Oil Company– Condemnation of

Standard Oil’s monopoly.

“Rockefeller and his associates did not build the Standard Oil Co. in the board rooms of Wall Street banks. They fought their way to control by rebate and drawback, bribe and blackmail, espionage and price cutting, by ruthless ... efficiency of organization.”

Muckraker: Jacob Riis• Photographer – How

The Other Half Lives– Startling print and

photographic exposés of conditions in New York City's slums.

“The slum is the measure of civilization.”

Reformer: Jane Addams• Established the Hull House

in Chicago.– Located in poor neighborhood– Middle-class, college-educated

women shared skills with less fortunate women and children.

• Sanitation, hygiene, English, etc.

• Art exhibits, poetry readings, concerts, and theatrical events

"America's future will be determined by the home and the school. The child becomes largely what it is taught, hence we must watch what we teach it, and how we live before it."

Reformer: John Muir• Naturalist,

explorer, and author

• Major figure in the forest conservation movement – Muir Woods

"In God's wildness lies the hope of the world—the great fresh, unblighted, unredeemed wilderness."

Reformer: Susan B. Anthony• Led the fight for

women's suffrage for more than 50 years.

"The true republic: men, their rights and nothing more; women, their rights and nothing less." "It may be delayed longer than we think; it may be here sooner than we expect; but the day will come when man will recognize woman as his peer, not only at the fireside but in the councils of the nation.”