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Inspiration for Reform
Popular magazines began publishing stories discussing political and business corruption. Social problems like slums and child labor were also mentioned. McClure's Magazine was founded this year by the reform-minded Scots-Irish immigrant S.S. McClure. -
The Progressive Spirit
The United States began to grow economically and transform industrially. This growth led to gapping between the rich and poor classes, and industrialization caused unsafe working conditions and crowded cities. Progressivism swooped in and reformed the country though and attempted to put an end to the unfairness by the government and businesses. -
Writers and Social Problems
Jane Addams wrote a book on social issues title Democracy and Social Ethics. It urged private citizens to show more social responsibility. She tried to transform the U.S. and its values but they remained committed to democracy. -
Ida Tarbell and Standard Oil
She was an avid writer. She began writing for the magazine series McClures. While working there she was assigned to investigate Standard Oil. Her writings about it were harsh, but true. She then was labeled a muckraker. -
Women and Progressivism
Women had been searching for a way to become involved in politics and society and when progressivism came along it allowed women to participate to a certain extent in the community. Organizations began offering college educated women work. Some of the womens best fields were medicene, psychology, sociology, and other common-knowledge subjects for women. -
The Muckraking Press
Muckrakers got there name because they "raked up" and exposed the muck and filth of society. Walter Lippman, a young progressive, said that muckraking was what people wanted to hear. Theodore Roosevelt describe them as someone who fixes his eyes only on that which is vile and debasing [harmful and corrupt]. -
Ella Flagg Young
She became Chicago's superintendant of schools. She was the first woman to hold such a job in a major city. She promoted public education by raising teacher's salaries. -
Progressive Issues
Progressives focused on how the corporate America did business. They wanted to change the dangerous conditions that workers faced everyday for an unreasonable ammount of hours. 70% of American workers worked an average of 54 hours a week. -
Female Laborers
Almost half of the women that worked average jobs in factories and store clerks earned less than $6 a week . Women tried working harder to get more cash but it backfied and business managers actually lowed their pay! Big business men felt that women earning more than $25 a week was just outrageous. Confitions in the jobs were awful as well. -
Progressive Party Convention
Women participated in this convention.The party's platform supported woman's platform woman's suffrage and an end to child labor. Women enjoyed this convention and were happy to be involved
