The Muckrakers During the Progressive Era journalists and other writers began dramatizing the need for reform Their sensational reporting uncovered many ills afflicting America Theodore Roosevelt called these writers ID: 1012291
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1. The Progressive EraThe Muckrakers and Reforming Government
2. The MuckrakersDuring the Progressive Era, journalists and other writers began dramatizing the need for reformTheir sensational reporting uncovered many ills afflicting AmericaTheodore Roosevelt called these writers Muckrakers (writer who uncovers and exposes misconduct in politics or business) though Roosevelt agreed with much of what they said
3. Lincoln SteffensLincoln Steffens- managing editor at McClure’s magazine known for uncovering social problems1903: published a collection of articles on political corruptionExposed how the government of Philadelphia allowed utility companies to charge customers high pricesShowed how corrupt politicians won elections by bribing and threatening voters and how political corruption affected all aspects of life in the city
4. Jacob RiisPhotographer for the New York Evening SunBetween 1890 and 1903 published several works including How the Other Half LivesShowed the crowded, unsafe, rat-infested, unsanitary living conditions of the urban poorShocked the nation’s conscience and led to reforms
5. Upton SinclairProlific American novelist and socialistSpent 7 weeks undercover working in a Chicago stockyard the result of which was the novel The JungleOriginally intended to raise sympathy for poor working conditions of immigrant workersAroused widespread concerns about impurities in processing and packaging meat leading to regulations in the industry
6. Ida TarbellInvestigative journalist best known for her 1905 work The History of Standard Oil CompanyBecame the most thorough account of the rise of business monopolies and the use of unfair practices
7. Reforming GovernmentProgressives realized in order to reform society, they would need to reform the political processWanted to free government from political bosses and powerful business interestsWanted to give the people more power over their government
8. Robert M. La FolletteProgressives pushed for election reformsTraditionally, party leaders picked candidates for state and local officesReform Wisconsin governor Robert M. La Follette established the direct primary (an election in which the citizens vote to select nominees for upcoming elections)
9. Reforming GovernmentProgressives wanted to make sure elected officials would follow citizens’ wishesThe worked for three other political reforms:The initiative- gave people the power to put a proposed new law on the ballot by collecting signaturesThe referendum- allowed citizens to approve or reject laws passed by a legislatureThe recall- gave voters the power to remove public servants from office before their terms ended
10. Government Reforms BusinessThe Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890: first attempt by Congress to limit concentrations of power that interfere with trade and reduce economic competitionAct was actually used to in corporations’ favor to claim labor unions were restraining tradeDid begin a trend toward federal limitations on corporate power
11. Government Reforms BusinessThe Clayton Antitrust Act- enacted by Congress in 1914 to clarify and strengthen the Sherman Antitrust ActMade practices that are conducive to the formation of a monopoly illegalAttempted to close the loopholes businesses used to create monopolies
12. Regulating FarmingIn 1867 Oliver H. Kelley organized the Grange- an organization with goals to teach new farming techniques and call for regulation of railroad and grain elevator ratesIn 1870s, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota enacted laws setting max rates on shipping freight and grain storageAlthough railroad challenged these “Grange laws” the Supreme Court upheld them
13. PopulismAlthough the Grange began to decline in the late 1870s, farming protests continuedFarmers began to form Alliances or Co-ops to band together and sell crops and push the prices of doing business down and the price of crops upEventually the spread of Farming Alliances lead to the formation of the Populist Party
14. The Populist PartyPopulist Party or People’s Party sought to build a new political party from the grass roots upPopulist platform spoke out against political corruption, an inadequate monetary supply, and unresponsive governmentWished to fight low prices with the coinage of silver and fight high costs with government ownership of the railroad
15. The Populist PartyThe Populist Party made some gains in the elections of 1892 and 1894During the presidential election of 1896 the Populist Party made the decision to back William Jennings Bryan (Democrat) for president rather than nominate their own candidateWhen Bryan lost the election to William McKinley in 1896 the Populists lost a lot of support and eventually disappeared