The Progressive Movement began in the late 19th century and continued until the 1920’s. It was a time of great social change, when people began to address their concerns about unchecked corruption in the U.S. government and problems facing society. One of the earliest signs of social change was the founding of the American Federation of Labor (AFL) by Samuel Gompers. As one of the first labor unions to pop up in the late 19th century, the AFL fought for fair wages, and eight hour work day, better overall working conditions, and an end to child labor. While labor unions were fighting against corporations and big business on one side of the field, the government was laying the groundwork for having more direct control over monopolies and corporations
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These journalists, or Muckrakers as they were more commonly known as, worked to expose abuses of corporate power, and helped to gather public support for regulation and reform during the Progressive Era. These Muckrakers, such as Ida Tarbell and Upton Sinclair, worked tirelessly to provide knowledge to the general public through journalism. Sinclair with his book “The Jungle” which brought to light the unruly conditions people worked in at meat packing facilities, and almost directly brought about the passing of the Pure Food and Drug Act as well as the Meat Inspection Act. Tarbell with her pieced together research trying to shine light on the unfair business practices of Standard Oil, which would ultimately lead to the dissolvement of the company. These investigative journalists would be the first of many to begin paving the way for others to delve deep into the pit of corporate corruption that was strangling America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Throughout the Progressive Era, there were also activists for women’s suffrage working to have a “pure” voice in American politics. The fight for women’s suffrage was spearheaded by Carrie Chapman Catt, president of the National American Women’s Suffrage Association, as well as Alice Paul, known for her protests and hunger strikes. These two women were a couple of the notable suffragists that ultimately led to the passing of the 19th amendment in 1920 allowing women the right to
These journalists, or Muckrakers as they were more commonly known as, worked to expose abuses of corporate power, and helped to gather public support for regulation and reform during the Progressive Era. These Muckrakers, such as Ida Tarbell and Upton Sinclair, worked tirelessly to provide knowledge to the general public through journalism. Sinclair with his book “The Jungle” which brought to light the unruly conditions people worked in at meat packing facilities, and almost directly brought about the passing of the Pure Food and Drug Act as well as the Meat Inspection Act. Tarbell with her pieced together research trying to shine light on the unfair business practices of Standard Oil, which would ultimately lead to the dissolvement of the company. These investigative journalists would be the first of many to begin paving the way for others to delve deep into the pit of corporate corruption that was strangling America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Throughout the Progressive Era, there were also activists for women’s suffrage working to have a “pure” voice in American politics. The fight for women’s suffrage was spearheaded by Carrie Chapman Catt, president of the National American Women’s Suffrage Association, as well as Alice Paul, known for her protests and hunger strikes. These two women were a couple of the notable suffragists that ultimately led to the passing of the 19th amendment in 1920 allowing women the right to