Download Chapter 19 section 1

Chapter 19 section 1
Origins of the Progressive Movement
Background info to the Progressive Movement
1. Industrial Revolution had caused rapid urbanization
2. Open immigration led to overcrowded, unsanitary, and dangerous cities
3. Working conditions in factories were unsafe
4. Businesses grew powerful and often influenced government
5. Conditions for the working class were poor
Progressive Movement: The belief that society needed to be reformed as a result of the
corruption caused by the Industrial Revolution. Progressives believed that the
government should work to protect the interest of the people and regulate business and
society.
Muckrakers: Authors, reporters, and journalists who exposed corruption in government,
business and society. Their writing lead to a popular call for reform.
1. Upton Sinclair: wrote “The Jungle” a novel that showed how unsanitary the meat
packing industry was.
a. Lead to the Meat Inspection Act 1906
b. Pure Food and Drug Act 1906
2. Ida Tarbell: wrote “The History of Standard Oil”
a. Exposed the power of J.D. Rockefeller and the impacts of trusts and
monopolies
3. Lincoln Stephens: wrote “The Shame of the Cities”
a. Showed the horrors of the inner cities
b. Showed conditions of poor and immigrants
c. Showed abuses of children by the industrial society
Expanded Role of Government
1. Local and Municipal governments begin to work on behalf of the community
a. Government regulation of essential services, water, electric, sanitation and
transportation
2. Progressives called for more government protection for workers
3. Progressives called for more regulation of business
a. Sherman and Clayton anti-trust acts to regulate business
Jane Addams: Created Hull House, which was a settlement house to help the inner city
poor.
Many people resisted the progressive movement because they thought it violated Laissezfaire economics and promoted socialism.