Progressivism Problems caused by Industrialization and Immigration and America’s Solutions

Progressivism Defined: Large movement in society from the

mid 1890s-WWI. Progressivism reflected worry about

the state of society due to the effects of industrialization and urbanization social disorder, political corruption, and a host

of other issues.

What are the issues? Activity

Government Corruption Political Machines- Political

bosses showing favoritism in return for votes Ex: Boss Tweed

Business leaders having monopolies and trusts- one company controlling market Ex: JD Rockefeller, Andrew

Carnegie

How Did America Discover Problems? Muckrakers:

Theodore Roosevelt coined the unflattering term in 1906 to describe the practice of exposing the corruption of public figures.

Examples of articles are:Ida Tarbell’s scathing “History of the Standard Oil

Company”

Lincoln Steffen’s “The Shame of Minneapolis”

Upton Sinclair’s “The Jungle”

Lincoln Steffen’s “Tweed’s days in St. Louis “

Economic Issues Unequal

distribution of wealth- huge difference between the rich and the poor Large gap between rich

and poor

Business practices- Increase production

Social Issues Child labor Women’s Rights Workplace

conditions Moral decision

making High crime rate Excessive drinking to

mask “tough times”

Environment and Living Conditions Pollution in society

Air pollution, trash, harmful land usage

Poor food and water quality No government

regulations

Living conditions in the slums Tenement housing Fires

Overcrowding in cities

How Will the Progressives Respond?