The document provides background information on the Progressive Era in the early 20th century in the United States. It describes the period as one of significant social and political reform, driven by reformers seeking to address problems that arose from rapid industrialization and urbanization, such as poor working conditions. Specific issues discussed include child labor, unsafe factories, long work hours with low pay. Events like the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire that killed 146 workers are cited as catalysts for reform efforts. The document outlines social classes at the time and growth of cities. Overall, it sets the context for understanding the rationale and need for reforms during the Progressive Era.

1. The
Progressive
Era
Unit 3
Ch. 13 & 15
#11

2. The Progressive Era
• Period in the early 20th Century that saw much
Social & Political Reform in America
Reform – making changes for the better
The Progressives were Reformers
• Reform is ongoing & still needed in our society
2 Examples of Recent Political Reform

3. Recent Political Reform in America
Examine how these are examples of Progressive
Reform in America Today
Lilly Ledbetter / Fair Pay Restoration Act – 2009
Jackson Coffman / The Affordable Care Act – 2010
Watch for this in the short videos
1. What is the issue at play in each story?
2. What happened which caused the need for reform?
3. Who are the reformers?
4. What is the reform(law passed)?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMxsYqaFwA0

4. Is more reform still needed in
our Society?
Ferguson, Missouri – August 9, 2014
Unarmed, (18)Michael Brown – shot & killed by Police
Why did this happen & can reform occur here?

5. Potential Reform/Controversial?

6. Go online & investigate recent
& potential reforms
Find / Explain Reason for Law / Controversy?
1. At least One - Recent Reform Law
2. At least One - Potential Reform Law
• Write in your notes, then compare with
your desk partner(pick 1 of each to discuss)
• When done – you and desk partner
Report findings back to the whole class

7. Reform in American
– Early 20th Century -
• Many individuals tried to deal with the
problems of our growing cities:
Industrialization & Urbanization

8. Population In U.S. 1870-1920
Population / Rural Urban
1870 33 million 25m 8m
1920 105 million 51m 54m
We will examine the new problems/challenges found in American cities
because of an increase in urban populations

9. Growth of Cities
• Immigrants – 1st from Western Europe
• African Americans:
- move north looking for better jobs
• Rural Workers:
2/3 of Homesteaders left & returned to
the East
Pictures by
Jacob Riis

10. America – Metropolis – 10min
• Jacob Riis / flash photography - 1890
• Colonel George Wearing
• Thomas Edison / light bulb – 1879 (1,093 Patents)
Triangle Shirtwaist Fire
Assignment:
The Progressive Era – City Populations (13.2)

11. The Breakdown of Class Structure
in America – Early 20th Century
• The Wealthy (Rich)
- control life in U.S.
• The Middle Class
- increasing power
• The Poor (Working Class)
- living hard lives

12. The Wealthy (Rich)
12% of pop. Control 86% of the wealth
“Robber Barons”
(Today – Wealthiest 400 families control 50%)
Several Examples:
1) Andrew Carnegie
2) John Rockefeller
3) J.P. Morgan
4) James J. Hill

13. The Middle Class
• Growing # of people gaining wealth from
the Industrial Movement
- Managers
- Doctors
- Professors
- Clerks
- Lawyers
- Small Business Owners
** Progressive Movement Begins Here **
Early X-Ray Machine

14. The Poor - (Working Class)
• Many were Immigrants
Between 1880-1920 : 25 million Arrived
- Worked Long Hours, Low Wages,
Dangerous conditions & Poor Housing
- Farmers
- Factory Workers
- Miners
- Many Children
- Women(1910 -56% still made less than $8 per week)
By 1917 –Working Class Families still only spent 2.4%
of their budget on leisure activities

15. Textile Mill
Children were hurt 3x as often
Foreman -“We don’t have many accidents, once in a while a
finger is mashed or a foot, it doesn’t amount to much”
1900 - 20% of kids worked

16. Bringing Cotton in from the Field
kids as young as 6-7 had to work to help make $

17. Child Miners
kids were better: they could fit into smaller places
Average Lifespan in 1900 – 48 yrs old

18. Jacob Riis 1849-1914
photojournalist “muckraker” NYC

19. Forced to work @ Home

20. Factory Life

21. Triangle Shirtwaist Co. fire
146 female workers died
March 25, 1911 in NYC textbook p.526
Owners – Blank & Harris
“The Tragedy that Changed America”
Is it possible
that the passage
of any laws
could have
prevented this
tragedy? List in
your Notes Workplace Safety

22. Passage of Laws Averts Disaster?
Here’s a list of 7(Can you name any?)
• Scraps of cloth need to be disposed properly
• Inspections – Make sure water hose worked
- Make sure Fire Escape is Safe
• Doors can’t be locked from the inside
• Exits must be safe / no single turnstile
• Ladders on fire trucks must go higher than six
stories
• Work Place Maximum Capacity
• No Smoking in Textile Factory

23. Could laws make this workplace safer?

24. Can Politics Fix Social Problems?
Industrialization changed Am. Society
Progressives campaigned for both
Political & Social Reforms
In Unit 3 we will investigate:
1. The Social/Economic/Political Problems
2. The Progressive Reformers
3. The Reforms(Changes)
4. The Lasting Effects of those Reforms

25. Discuss – City Populations 13.2
George Washington Plunkitt/Tammany Hall
Good Guy or Bad Guy?
Cause & Effect
“I Seen My Opportunities and I Took ’Em.”

26. CANVAS
1) Sweatshops in Modern Times
Read one of the following articles:
Sweatshops/ China Challenged to Improve Safety / Product Recalls from China
(I will pick your article to read) -- In America (Consumer Safety)
2) Pres. Obama’s 1st Law
Many workplace issues were addressed during the progressive
era & some issues are still debated today
Answer on the same sheet of paper & turn in (handwritten)
Unit 3 Quiz 1(Notes & Questions) - Tomorrow