Origins of Progressivism Industrialization urbanization and immigration brought benefits and challenging social problems A movement called Progressivism the belief that new ideas and honest efficient government could bring about social justice began in the 1890s ID: 1012290
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1. The Progressive EraThe Drive for Reform and Labor
2. Origins of ProgressivismIndustrialization, urbanization, and immigration brought benefits and challenging social problemsA movement called Progressivism (the belief that new ideas and honest, efficient government could bring about social justice) began in the 1890s
3. Origins of ProgressivismProgressives came from all political parties, social classes, ethnic groups, and religionsMany leaders came from the growing middle classDissatisfied industrial workers also joined them movement as well as a few wealthy Americans drive by a desire to act in the public good
4. Sharing Common BeliefsProgressives shared a common belief in the problems created by industrialization and urbanizationWanted to bring about reforms that would correct social and political problemsWanted to get rid of corrupt government officials and make government more responsive to public needsSought to eliminate the abuses of big business
5. Targeting a Variety of ProblemsDifferent progressives thought different issues were the most importantPolitical reformFor women, the right to voteHonest governmentReforms of city lifeBig business reforms
6. LaborAs industrialization grew, businesses relied more on workers, however struggles between owners and workers intensifiedWorkers began rebelling against low pay and unsafe working conditions
7. Enduring HardshipsIndustrialization brought great wealth for owners of factories, mines, railroads, and large farms Brought higher standards of living, cheap goods, and access to public institutions like museums and schoolsThe laborers struggled to survive
8. Factory WorkFactory owners sought to increase profits by hiring workers willing to work for low wages (often immigrants)Worked long hours, usually six days a weekMany women worked in sweatshops, which required them to work for long hours on machines
9. Factory WorkFactory work often dangerous and accidents were commonDespite harsh conditions, factories faced no labor shortage as there was always more people than jobsSince wages were low and women were working, many parents brought their children to keep them off the streets and to earn wages as well
10. Labor Unions FormAlthough industrialization did lower the price of goods, many factory wages were not enough to buy themWorkers began taking their complaints directly to their employersEmployers generally opposed the labor movement, seeing it as a threat to business and profits
11. Labor Unions FormAs early as the 1820s, workers attempted collective bargaining (negotiating as a group for higher wages or better working conditions)Workers would strike, or refuse to work until certain demands were metFirst national labor union was founded in 1834: National Trades Union
12. Labor Unions FormAlthough first union did not last long, gradually national unions began to appear1869: Uriah Smith Stephens founded the Knights of Labor, a union that allowed membership to anyone working in any trade, skilled or unskilledOperated as a secret society devoted to broad social reforms such as replacing capitalism with workers cooperatives
13. Labor Unions Form1886: Samuel Gompers formed the American Federation of Labor (AFL) a craft union made up of skilled workers from some 100 local unions dedicated to craft or tradeSet high dues to create a strike and pension fundFocused on specific workers’ issues such as wages, working hours, and working conditionsNot as successful as the Knights because not as inclusive
14. StrikesFirst major strike occurred in the railroad industry in 1877Striking workers, responding to wage cuts, caused massive property destruction in several citiesState militias called in to protect strikebreakers and federal troops eventually called in to restore order
15. Haymarket Square RiotMay 1, 1886: Thousands of workers mounted a national demonstration for an 8-hour workdayStrikes erupted in cities and fights broke out between strikers and strikebreakers
16. Haymarket Square RiotMay 4, 1886: Protesters gathered at Haymarket Square in ChicagoA frenzy broke out when a protester threw a bomb killing a policemanDozens of people were killed and four anarchists were executedLeft an unfortunate legacy, Knights of Labor fizzled out as people shied away from radicalism and employers became even more suspicious of unions
17. Coal Creek Labor SagaIn 1891 coal mine owners in Anderson County, Tennessee fired all of their miners and leased out convicts from the Tennessee to work in the coal minesFor over a year, the displaced miners attacked and burned prison stockades and company buildings and many were killed in skirmishes
18. The Homestead StrikeSummer of 1892 a Carnegie Steel plant cut workers wages, resulting in a strikeHenry Frick, Carnegie’s partner, responded by bringing in the Pinkertons (a private police force known for breaking up strikes)
19. The Homestead StrikePinkertons killed several strikers and wounded others in a 2 week standoffEventually, when public opinion began turning against the union, the union called off the strike in NovemberDuring each strike, militia and troops were called in to suppress the unrest
20. Eugene Debs and PullmanIn 1893, the Pullman Car Company laid off workers and reduced wagesOwner of the company required workers to live in the company town and controlled their rents and prices of goodsMay 1894: workers sent representatives to negotiate with the company which resulted in the firing of 3 employees and shutting down the plant
21. Eugene Debs and PullmanWorkers turned to the American Railway Union led by Eugene DebsDebs organized the ARU as an industrial union, grouping all railway workers togetherBy June 1894, the ARU led a strike in which 300,000 railworkers had walked off their jobs
22. Eugene Debs and PullmanPullman Strike escalated, halting both railroad traffic and mail deliveryOn July 4, President Cleveland sent in troops to break up the strikeDebs was imprisoned for refusing to end the strike and though he appealed the governments authority to halt the strike, the Supreme Court upheld the ruling
23. Effects of the Labor MovementOutcome of Pullman set trends that employers would appeal for court orders against unions citing the Sherman Antitrust ActFederal government regularly approved these appealsLimited labor gains for more than 30 yearsDebs eventually became a socialist, running for President in 1900