Misorah for Assesment

The Progressive Era- Essay

"This country will not be a good place for any of us, unless it is a reasonably good place for all of us."         Theodore Roosevelt

Directions: Using The Progressive Era essay as well as what you know about this period in history (1890-1920), determine to what extent the Progressive Era addressed the concern of Theodore Roosevelt. Feel free to quote or paraphrase parts of The Progressive Era essay to support your position. Be sure to include people, specific changes, living and working conditions, etc.

The Progressive Era

Many advancements in the quality of life were made in American society during the Progressive Era., and in that sense the title of the era was correctly identified. There were improvements in technology because of new inventions, improvements in health and safety because of new laws, and improved protection for the environment because of new attitudes toward conservation. Many of the flaws in free enterprise capitalism and democracy were highlighted by social reformers and the "muckrakers" who revealed the inequities and hazards of American society at that time. Nonetheless, despite the overall benefits of the period, Blacks, women, and immigrants could not enjoy the full extent of the benefits of the Progressive Era because they were held back from gaining full access to democracy and capitalism. Thus, for many, " progress" had a disengenuous sound.

Prodded on by such women as Susan B. Anthony and Jane Addams, women did eventually get the right to vote at the tail end of the Progressive era. Although there were women such as C. J. Walker in cosmetics, Nellie Bly in journalism, and Frances Johnston in photojournalism, women generally were limited to jobs as secretaries or workers in the sweatshops. There were women like Carrie Nation who protested the sale of alcohol, but basically women maintained the home.   Limited in business opportunities and the right to own land, women could not fully explore the opportunities offered in America in the early twentieth century.

Not all immigrants gained the wealth and recognition afforded to the Scottish naturalist John Muir, the Scottish steel magnate and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, or the Hungarian transplant and pioneer journalist, Joseph Pulitzer. Even with the expose of slums by photographer and Danish immigrant, Jacob Riis, most urban immigrants lived in rat infested slums and worked twelve hour days, seven days a week, in poorly ventilated and unsafe factories.. Upton Sinclair's book, The Jungle, may have produced federal food and drug laws, but it did little to alleviate the harsh conditions in the nation's factories. Improvements were made in transportation, communication, and leisure activities, but few immigrants had the time and money to take advantage of these newconditions.

Many Afro-Americans could take heart from the writings of the accommodationist, Booker T.Washington, or the philosopher and reformer, W.E. B. Dubois, or marvel at the achievements of the agricultural scientist George Washington Carver and businesswoman Madam C. J. Walker. But this did not remove the problems of segregation brought on by the Plessy v. Ferguson decision or the widespread lynchings of Blacks throughout the South. Democracy seemed to exclude people of color in the early twentieth century. Even President Woodrow Wilson did not help when he signed an order to segregate the public buildings of Washington, D. C.  Booker T. Washington would have settled for equal economic opportunities and Du Bois would have taken every right of Americans, but by the end of the era neither man really gained what he wanted. In America, Black Americans would have to wait for another leader at another time.

In the early years of the twentieth century, America had spread into two oceans. Railoads linked the continent. Inventors and businessmen had produced and made available more foods, better means of communication, and a new means to light homes and factories. America was on the move, in the skies, in the oceans, and on the ground. In theory, at least, capitalism and democracy offered hope to many Americans with a desire to fully live out the American dream in business, in politics, and in social status. The struggle for women, Blacks, and immigrants to fully enjoy these opportunities would be harder and take longer. They had to overcome racism, gender discrimination, and ethnic prejudice first. But in America, it could be done and it has been done by millions.

203 Stamp Project-PROGRESSIVE ERA

Susan B Anthony-Susan B. Anthony Was born in 1820 and she was a woman who dedicated her life to woman’s rights, especially their right to vote. In 1869, after Anthony  published a paper on women’s suffrage, she and her friend, a fellow suffragist, Elizabeth Cady Stanton created the National Women’s Suffrage Association. Unfortunately, Susan B. Anthony never saw women vote in her lifetime despite her many protests, speeches, and her own arrest. Nevertheless, she fought for women all over America, which shaped the way the country is today.  

Alexander Graham Bell-He created the first telephone by mistranslating a German science book (he thought it said that vowels could be conveyed through electricity). He also had an interest in deafness since he mother was deaf and for a lot of his life he worked with deaf people, trying to teach them to speak. Also credited with metal detector. First words said on the telephone: "Mr. Watson - Come here - I want to see you."

Andrew Carnegie-Carnegie was a businessman, industrialist, and entrepreneur who led the expansion of the steel industry. Carnegie was born in Scotland and his family worked in the linen industry. His family migrated to America for a better life. He started by working as a factory worker, then bill logger, and then messenger boy. He progressed in the ranks of a telegraph company and he came to build Carnegie steel company, which merged with other steel companies to form what is today US steel. He was known as one of the captains of industry and was considered to have gone from rags to riches. Before he died, he heard a saying that if you die with money you die in disgrace so he wanted to use his money to better mankind. Therefore, he created many libraries, halls, science centers and much more.

George Eastman-he was the founder of Kodak. he invented the snapshot camera. eastman kodak company created roll film helping bring photography to the mainstream.You press the button, we do the rest- was the kodak slogan. he committed suicide at the age of 77 

Thomas A. Edison-1847-1931. inventor and scientist. 3 most famous inventions: incandescent light bulb (he did NOT create the light bulb! it was created before by many ppl but edison's was the first one that stayed lit for hours at a time), motion picture machine(movies), and phonograph (recording device that could play back sounds/music). called "Wizard of Menlo park"by newspaper reporter (menlo park=edison, nj). credited with having the first industrial research labratory cuz he was one of the first investors to apply principle of mass production(aka a lot of ppl working together in factories). made so many inventions (1,093 patents- world record) tht became the 3rd most accomplished inventor.

W.C. (William Christopher) Handy-Born in 1873 in Florence, Alabama, Handy, also known as the "Father of the Blues" introduced blues music in the form of sheet music to the world. Although Handy's father who was a minister wanted W.C.  to follow in his footsteps, Handy, an African American, wrote a total of five books, all having to do with music. One of his famous pieces is known as "Memphis Blues."

William Randolph Hearst- in 1887 he acquired from his father his first newspaper, the san francisco examiner and shortly afterward he purchased the new york journal. in his lifetime he owned over twenty eight newspapers. hearst is most famous for his competition with joseph pulitzer and what became known as yellow journalism. hearst started many magazines that are now well known and started one of the first radio stations and produced over 100 films.  the famous Hearst Castle which was built under eoropean influence in california is home to an impressive art collection.

Henry Heinz-Henry J. Heinz was 6 when he started selling vegetables from his mothers graden. Then when he was 10 he grew and packaged and sold his own horseradish sauce. He grew up and started Heinz & Noble Co with a friend but after it went bankrupt he started F & J Heinz with a brother and cousin. He eventually bought them out and renamed it H.J. Heinz which now has many different products (ketchup being the most famous). Their slogan is 57 varities even though they have way more products than that

Milton Hershey-made the first affordable chocolate. born in pennsylvania and lacked a formal education-went to 7 different skools in his 8 yrs of skooling bc moved alot. when he was 14 he started working in a candy store. first 3 times he started his own caandy shop it didnt work but then he learned the secrets of caramel making and realized that he should do chocolate too and he finally got his business up and running. first to make affordable chocolate. built a community around his factory with affordable housing for workers and made a trolley system for them too. philanthropist and made orphanages for little kids.

Scott Japlin-Scott Joplin was super cool. He was the "king of ragtime"- ragtime being a jazzy kind of music they played in black neighborhoods, usually with pianos. What defines ragtime in music language is a syncopated melody line and accents in the harmony (if u wanted 2 kno). 

He wanted to make it "big" as a composer, but being born in Texas, no one wanted him. Then he decided to start traveling and composing for people- maybe the North would accept him, but he didn't and had an extremely short career, but he did compose 44 pieces including the famous "The Entertainer" (the ice cream song) and "Maple Leaf Rag" 

Francis Benjamin Johnston-Frances Benjamin Johnston was a very famous woman photographer and phtojournalist. When she was young she took pictures of friends and family, and she received training in photography and dark room techniques. She photgraphed many famous people in action and in portraits such as Susan B Anthony, Mark Twain, Rosevelt, and McKinley. She inspired many other women to pursue a career in photography. She is often refered to as America's first female phtojournalist.

Mary Harris “Mother” Jones-led protests against child labor (marches). Led strikes for and protests for minors as well.

Emma Lazarus-was an American Jewish poet born in New York City.an American poet, best known as a spokesperson for the Jewish people. one of her poems is inscribed on the Statue of Liberty in New York. The turning point in Lazarus's life was the outbreak of violent anti-Semitism in Russia and Germany during the early 1880s. When a writer defended these activities in the Century Magazine, Lazarus wrote the angry reply "Russian Christianity versus Modern Judaism" in the next issue. From this moment on she began a private crusade for her people. Her verse took on a new tone of urgency, a call for Zionism

Thomas Nast-A German-born American caricaturist and editorial
cartoonist. He was known as "The Father of the American Cartoon". He
created Snata Clause, Uncle Sam, and the democratic and republican
symbols. He worked for Harper's Weekly. His most famous accomplishment
was taking down the  Tammany Society run by William Tweed. It was an
orginazation that controlled most of New York, making people bribe
them in order to do buisness. Nat created a visual cartoon displaying
Tweed's dishonesty and cruelness and finally had him and his gang put
in jail or on the run.

George Washington Roebling-He was a civil engineer who was most famous for building the Brooklyn bridge. His father, John A. Roebling, made the design, but when his father died, George Washington roebling took over the project. The bridge was finished in 1883 and connects Manhattan and Brooklyn which are separated by the East River

Upton Sinclair-Said the words “Social Justice” were written on his heart. Socialist-ran for Congress, Senate, and governer of CA as in socialist party, lost all. Wrote around 90 books. Wrote The Jungle, Oil!, King Coal, (Roman Holiday)… novels. Most of his books were propaganda and not really read any more, bc they were more about the politics than the book interest.

Ida Tarbell-she mas a muckraker=private investigative reporter, she became famous by writing articles on President Lincoln.  she wrote for Mc clure magazine where she had published articles she wrote on Rockefeller and his oil company becoming a monopoly, and the ways he closed down other oil companies.  these articles were later published into THE HISTORY OF THE STANDARD OIL COMPANY.

Progressive Era stamp people (202)

1.      Ida Tarbell- muckraker- investigative journalist. Attacked Rockefeller’s company in The History of the Standard Oil Company in McClure Magazine, which contributed to the government’s antitrust action.

2.      Carrie Nation- temperance movement. Known because used vandalismà attacked bars with hatchet.

3.      W.E.B. Du Bois- first Af. Am. to get doctorate at Harvard. head of NAACP. Opposed Booker T. Washington, said blacks need political reps in order to get civil rights.

4.      Jane Addams- Founded Hull House in Chicago, a settlement house that provided services to all poor ppl of any race and especially immigrants. Suffragette. prominent reformer.

5.      Susan B. Anthony- dedicated her life to woman’s rights, especially their right to vote. In 1869, after Anthony published a paper on women’s suffrage, she and her friend Elizabeth Cady Stanton created the National Women’s Suffrage Association. Unfortunately, Susan B. Anthony never saw women vote in her lifetime despite her many protests, speeches, and her own arrest. Nevertheless, she fought for women all over America, which shaped the way the country is today.

6.      Samuel Gompers- labor union leader.

7.      Christy Mathewson- amazing baseball pitcher. “The Christian Gentleman.” Showed athletes weren’t all uneducated thugs.

8.      William R. Hearst- first owned The San Francisco Examiner and then purchased The New York Journal (which blamed Spain for the explosion of the USS Maine). competed with Pulitzer. Yellow journalist.

9.      Frances B. Johnston- very famous woman photographer and photojournalist. When she was young she took pictures of friends and family, and she received training in photography and dark room techniques. She photographed many famous people in action and in portraits such as Susan B Anthony, Mark Twain, Roosevelt, and McKinley. She inspired many other women to pursue a career in photography. She is often referred to as America's first female photojournalist.

10.   Scott Joplin-(1867-1917). “King of Ragtime.”  He studied and developed a music genre known as ragtime, a unique blend of classic European styles with jazzy African American rhythm and harmony. He exposed young European Americans to African American music. He changed America's music taste. Had a very short career, but composed 44 pieces including, “The Entertainer” and “Maple Leaf Rag.”

11.   John Mitchell- president of the United Mine Workers, (150,000 miners in it). TR called him to the White House with the mine owners to negotiate.

12.   John Muir- preservationist. “Father of the National Parks.” Convinced TR to put Yosemite under government control. Fought the damming of Hetch-Hetchy Valley but Wilson authorized it anyway.

13.   Dr. Water Reed- army surgeon.  discovered that flies carried typhoid fever and that mosquitos carried yellow fever; these discoveries helped control the spread of these diseases in army camps. also helped in rebuilding Cuba because the people were getting sick with yellow fever and in the building of the Panama Canal because the workers were contracting yellow fever so they couldn’t work.

14.   Jacob Riis- muckraker. published pictures of starving children in slums to expose bad living conditions of poor people.

15.   Lillian Wald- nurse who changed the face of public nursing forever. she was a Jewish woman who started the visiting nurse service (which is what it sounds like) and wrote two books about her experiences.

16.   Upton Sinclair- Said the words “Social Justice” were written on his heart. Socialist. Wrote 90-100 books. Wrote The Jungle attacking unregulated capitalism, but Ams were shocked by the unsanitary and inhumane conditions described in the meatpacking industry, causing the Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act. "I aimed at the public's heart, and by accident I hit it in the stomach."

17.   Lincoln Steffens- muckraker. “pioneer investigative reporter” (textbook).  Wrote “The Shame of the Cities” about public corruption in cities, in order to promote reform. It showed hardships of immigrants.

18.   Alexander Graham Bell- credited with invention of first telephone. He also had an interest in deafness since he mother was deaf and for a lot of his life he worked with deaf people, trying to teach them to speak.

19.   JP Morgan- financier. Banker. formed GE. Helped form US Steel Corporation. helped form Northern Securities Company, a railroad trust. Shocked when TR sued, told him to send man to his man to work something out- "Mr. Morgan could not help regarding me as a big rival operator who either intended to ruin all his interests or could be induced to come to an agreement to ruin none" (TR said). The company was dissolved by Supreme Court ruling.

20.   William Jennings Bryan- Democratic politician. Ran for prez 3 times and lost. “The Great Commoner”- believed in goodness of common people. Prohibitionist.

21.   Thomas A. Edison- inventor and scientist. The “Wizard of Menlo Park.” 3^rd most accomplished inventor- 1093 patents! Including, incandescent light bulb (first one that stayed lit for hours at a time), motion picture machine (movies), and phonograph (recording device that could play back sounds/music). credited with having the first industrial research laboratory- first to mass-produce his inventions.

22.   Clara Barton- healed soldiers during the civil war, thus earning the nickname “Angel of the Battlefield. “ Later, she founded the American Red Cross

23.   John D. Rockefeller- oil magnate. Formed Standard Oil Company, the first trust. helped form Northern Securities Company along with Morgan. First Am worth more than $1 billion. Philanthropist. Founder of U of Chicago and Rockefeller U.

24.   Andrew Carnegie- went from “rags to riches.” businessman, industrialist, and entrepreneur who led the expansion of the steel industry. Built the Carnegie Steel Company, which merged with other steel companies to form what is today US steel. used his money to better mankindà created libraries, halls, science centers, etc. including Carnegie Hall.

25.   Mary Harris “Mother” Jones- labor organizer. encouraged workers all over the US to strike for better working conditions. co-founder of Industrial Workers of the World. organized Children's March from Philly to Pres. TR's house in NY to bring attention to child labor. Very effective orator. "The grandmother of all agitators." "The most dangerous woman in America." pretended to be 7 yrs older than she actually was.

26.  Joseph Pulitzer- yellow journalistà sensational, scandalous stories, which were often exaggerated and used many more illustrations in newspapers than had been done before, all to accrue readers. owner and publisher of New York World newspaper, which blamed Spain for blowing up the Maine. Involved in circulation war with Hearst. Sponsored the Pulitzer prizes- awarded to ppl who excel in journalism, literature, music, drama. Funded Columbia School of Journalism.

27.   Horatio Alger- (1832-1899). An influential author in the 19th century. Alger’s juvenile novels motivated many homeless children to become honest and ambitious. His books proved to society that the poor too can rise from “rags to riches” and can actualize the American Dream. His most famous book was "Ragged Dick."

28.   George Eastman- founder of Kodak. invented the snapshot camera. Eastman Kodak Company created roll film, helping bring photography to the mainstream. “You press the button, we do the rest”- Kodak slogan. committed suicide at age 77

29.   Madam CJ Walker- Af Am businesswoman, hair care entrepreneur, and philanthropist. Developed beauty and hair products for black women. Madam C.J. Walker Manufacturing Company.

30.   Helen Hunt Jackson- Am writer who became an activist for Native Ams. Wrote Ramona, showing government’s mistreatment of them in SoCal.

31.   George Washington Carter- Af Am scientist. A “Black Leonardo”- because of his many talents. Promoted planting other crops, not cotton, that were good for the soil. 100 recipes with peanuts and 100 products made from them to get people to plant them.

32.   John L. Sullivan- Boxer, first Am sports hero to be a national celebrity. First am athlete to earn over $1 million.

33.   Henry J. Heinz- poor Jewish immigrant who made money by selling his mother’s veggies in the local market. Became owner of HJ Heinz, which made many different products, ketchup being the most famous. his company had fair treatment of workers and extremely safe conditions. Fun fact- there are way more than 57 varieties but he just liked the number so that's why it’s the slogan!

34.   Washington Augustus Roebling- named after his father’s role model, GW. John Roebling was the designer for the Brooklyn Bridge (over the East River) and when he died his son took over and became chief engineer for the 13 year long process. The bridge was finished in 1903 and made a big impact because it connected Manhattan and Brooklyn, making travel easier and shorter.

35.   WC Handy- (William Christopher). "Father of the Blues." introduced blues in the form of sheet music to the world. Af Am. wrote five books, all having to do with music. One of his famous pieces- "Memphis Blues.”

36.   Robert LaFollette- Progressive politician.  Governor of Wisconsin. “Battling Bob”. Brought state legislature under his power, made primary to choose candidates for offices, established commission for railroads, civil services, restrictions on lobbying. Made laws for conservation, overseeing state banks, raise taxes on corporations. 

37.    john spargo was a leader of the conservative wing of the American Socialist Party and a union organizer who wrote “The Bitter Cry of the Children” about children working in the mines. more info: http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/5571

38.   Gustavus Myers- muckraker

39.   Burton J. Hendrick- muckraker. Expose called “The Story of Life-Insurance” which lead to laws in NY regarding big insurance companies

40.   Finley Peter Dunne- writer whose “Mr. Dooley” sketches talked about political and social issues. (Such a good litmus test of public opinion that they were read at Cabinet meetings each week!)

41.   Milton Hershey- Lacked a formal education. The first 3 times he started his own candy shop it didn’t work but then he learned the secrets of caramel making and realized that he should do chocolate too. and he finally got his business up and running. made the first affordable chocolate. built a community around his factory with affordable housing for workers and made a trolley system for them too. Told his workers to leave the wrappers on the ground as advertising. philanthropist and made orphanages for little kids.

42.   Louis Brandeis- the first Jewish Supreme Court Justice. He fought for individual rights, and was very powerful because of his incorruptibility and intelligence. He fought trusts and big banks and established the Brandeis Brief, which called in specialists to testify in court (like a doctor for a medical case). He also introduced the concept of privacy, that any evidence taken from a house without a warrant was invalid in court. Helped Wilson establish Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

43.   Booker T. Washington- fought for equal social rights but said have to cooperate with whites to overcome racism, cant attack or confront. Said blacks should get educated. “His work greatly helped blacks to achieve higher education, financial power and understanding of the U.S. legal system. This led to a foundation of the skill set needed to support the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s and further adoption of important federal civil rights laws” (Wikipedia).

44.   Hetty Green- “The Witch of Wall Street.” Am businesswoman, very stingy. First Am woman to make significant impact on Wall Street. Worth $100-200 million at her death, which would equal $1.9 – $3.8 billion in 2006 dollars.

45.   Leo Frank- Jewish American businessman who was lynched in 1915. This drew attention to anti-Semitism in Am and led to the founding of the Anti-Defamation League.

46.   Thomas Nast- "The Father of the American Cartoon." caricaturist and editorial cartoonist. Created images of fat Santa Claus, Uncle Sam, and the democratic and republican parties' symbols. worked for Harper's Weekly. took down the Tammany Society run by William Tweed, an organization that controlled most of New York, making people bribe them in order to do business. Nast created a visual cartoon displaying Tweed's dishonesty and cruelness and finally had him and his gang put in jail or on the run.

47.   Emma Lazarus- an American Jewish poet born in New York City. one of her poems, “The New Colossus,”  is inscribed on the Statue of Liberty in New York. Spokesperson for the Jewish people. Forerunner of Zionism.

Progressive Era ( I 890- 1 920)

Why do you think it was called "The Progressive Era?"

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Progressive Era Presidents

Theodore Roosevelt ( 1 90 1 -1 909)

William Howard Taft (1909-1913)

Thomas Woodrow Wilson (1913-1921)

1. tmlhy do you think the dates of the presidents do not match up

with the beginning and end of the Progressive Era?

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3. Why do you think the Progressive Era ended?

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Progressivism Kr'J"**.* u,eor (fill in X for the true statments)

-f- o 13.X_ Workers comp€rsatio& crsetd by President Roq$velt was a government

1._ College lacrossewas a bnrtal game what President Roosevelt tbreatened to abolish

2. ' The Dnrg Enforce,ment Agency (DEA) was created to check sanitation.

3- John D. Rockefeller worted closely with FresideNrt Roosevelt to destroy the 'bad

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4.lL The Ptessy vs. Ferguson court case made segregation legal within the l-Inited

. 5. X John Mitchell coordinated the coal miners shike in weste,mPA

6._ Jobn Muir worted very had to mend the erdls of racism that existed in America

7. _ Tbe lv{uckrakers wsre a group ofnen that supported hlsts and monoipolies.

8.f lJpton Sinclairnnote tltr boob The Jrmgle which ercposed the filth of the meat

. 9. Y By the yer 1900 itrmigration to America had bcgtn to-florish b Anerica

. 10.X_ Vf.E.B.-Dubois disagred very strongly with both the Supreme Court and Booker

T. Washington oa how the Afticau-Asericms should be tratd in America

ll.X_ President Roosevelt was a coss€ryationist and worked bard to establish national

. 11_ The coal miner"i tmioawas recognized by theU.S. govemm€nt and J.P. Morgan

program ftat finenciallyhelped disabledwortgs.

15.X_ Jme Adams was a women's rights activist tbat seated the Hull House locatd in

16.1_ Duxing this em, many reforms were nade to improve the lives and workplaces

17._ The "Circle Deal" was tbe name of Presidmt Roosevelt's progrpssive &merrort

l8.le Ida Tarbell nrhs a strong oppone,nt of monopolies especially lobn D. Rockefeller.

lg.J* Susm B. Antbony worted hd for wome,n's.iights, in particular the wome,n's '

2g. X Lynching was an act of terrorism that repressed Africa-Americans in the *ntb.

zlf,The Progressive Era attacked the flalrs in the American Syste,m such as food md

medicine, Iabs and &s environmenl