Making Progressive Changes

Making Progressive Changes SWBAT: recognize the ways politicians tried to make reforms at the state level of government Homework: Vocabulary notecards Do Now: SWBAT: identifythe ways progressives tried to make reforms at the state and national level of government. Homework: Vocabulary notecards Do Now: How would you describe the scene in the picture to the right?

The Triangle Factory Fire • 1. How many people died in the fire? Describe the victims (i.e. gender, age, nationality, etc.). • 2. What precautions did the owners of the building take to keep its workers safe? What other precautions might the owners have taken that would have saved more lives? • 3. What happened to the owners of the building? • 4. In what ways might a story like this have influenced politicians to make laws to keep workers safe?

Before the Progressive Era • There were no laws to protect children or adults from unsafe working conditions. • Big factories could demand workers to do what they wanted, for as long as they wanted, in any kind of conditions they wanted.

Problem 1: Child Workers • Businesses often hired children because: They could pay them less than adult workers Little hands were able to reach tiny parts inside machines Why is this a problem? Were tired from being overworked which led to accidents Developed health problems Stunt growth

Fixing the Problem The National Child Labor Committee conducted investigations. Lead to an exhibition documenting the horrors of child labor. Caused enough pressure on politicians to ban child labor in most states.

Problem 2: Long hours • Workers could be work 12 hour long days 6-7 days a week. • No laws limiting how much both young adults (16-18 year olds) or adults could work.

Fixing the Problem • At the Supreme Court, a lawyer argued the women needed protection from powerful employers and should have a limit on the # of hours they could work. • The Supreme Court agrees and caps the # of hours at 10 per day. • Eventually, the ruling would be extended to men as well.

Problem 3: Workers Compensation • Factories were so unsafe that workers were often injured or even killed on the job. • This left families poor and destitute, especially if that family member was the bread winner.

Fixing the Problem • Progressive reformers worked to push legislation forcing companies to provide workers’ compensation. • In the case of an injury preventing future work or a death, the company had to: pay that injured person or pay remaining family members

Vocab Activity • Progressive Movement • Florence Kelley • Muckraker • Suffrage • Square Deal • The Jungle • William Howard Taft • Federal Reserve System • Federal Trade Commission • Nineteenth Amendment • Using your book and the notecards provided, begin copying down the following vocab words. • Remember: • Blank side = vocab word • Lined side = definition

Making Progressive Changes