Download The Progressive Era

The Progressive Era
Review of Previous Unit:
Immigration and Urbanization
• In the period after the Civil War, the country
became urbanized because of:
– Immigration
– Technological advances
Review of Previous Unit:
Immigration and Urbanization
• This growth of the cities led to problems such
as:
– Overcrowding
– Poor housing (tenements)
– Poor sanitary conditions
– Sickness
– Unemployment
Review of Previous Unit:
Immigration and Urbanization
• The services provided were often lacking – not
provided or inefficient
• Social Darwinism – The idea that only the
strong survived – and any means or methods
were acceptable to gain money and power
• Results were graft, corruption, and abuses of
power by government and businesses
Review of Previous Unit:
Immigration and Urbanization
• Government abuses:
– Political machines – an organize group that
offered services to citizens and businesses in
exchange for political or financial support
– Political bosses – a powerful man who essentially
controlled the political machines – often the
mayor of a city
– Graft – doing favors for citizens or businesses in
return for money or other gain
Review of Previous Unit:
Immigration and Urbanization
• Business abuses:
– Businesses could provide money or favors to
national politicians to pass laws favorable to them
– Businesses did not want to be regulated because
it interfered with their profits
• Few laws to protect individuals
• If were laws, were not strictly enforced
– This approach by government sometimes called
“laissez faire” – French for “hands off”
Review of Previous Unit:
Immigration and Urbanization
• This meant rich got richer and lived luxurious
lifestyles while most people suffered
• What happens when people are abused over a
period of time?
– Become unhappy
– Become angry
– Push back
• In America, led to Progessive Movement
The Progressive Movement
Definitions
Look in your book on pages 306 through 312 to define the
following terms:
• Progressive movement (page 307) ( Be sure to include the
four goals)
• Florence Kelly (page 307)
• Prohibition (page 307)
• Muckrakers (page 308)
• Robert M. LaFollette (page 310)
• Initiative (page 310)
• Referendum (page 310)
• Recall (page 310)
• Seventeenth Amendment (page 312)