At the turn of the twentieth century, United States became industrialized and wealth became centralized to a new breed of elite. This was the beginning of the Progressive Movement. The Movement began as a social response to the political and corporate abuse. For California, it began with the state 's rapidly drafted constitution. In 1849, the state 's constitution allowed only white males who were over the age of 21 and had lived in California for at least six months the right to vote (Anagnoson). Not only did our state constitution deny citizenship to African Americans, Chinese Americans and Native Americans, they were also prohibited from testifying against whites in court (Anagonson). This opened the door to corporate greed and exploitation.
…show more content…
In 1871, in Los Angeles, a group of Anglo-Americans lynched 18 Chinese men, including a 14 year old, and afterwards, proceed to loot the Chinese section of town (Anagonson). By 1877, over 150,000 people had migrated to California for work, the unemployment rate in San Francisco sky rocket. On July 23, 1877, 8,000 disgruntled unemployed, mostly white, citizens gathered in San Francisco and committed ethnic violence against the Chinese (Revolvy). These 8,000 disgruntled unemployed citizens would form the Workingmen 's Party with their rally theme of "denouncing the capitalistic system and the railroads in particular with the emphasis on Chinese labor. …show more content…
1906, in San Francisco, President Theodore Roosevelt working with James D. Phelan, former mayor of San Francisco, sent in federal agents led by William J. Burns to investigate bribery and corruption charges (Anagonson). This resulted in 17 indictment including the resignation of Mayor Eugene Schmitz. Abraham Reuf, the henchman to the mayor, implicated officials of the Southern Pacific Railroad and several utility companies (Anagnoson). This was a huge step in breaking up the power of the Southern Pacific Railroad and its political allies. The Non-Partisan Committee of One Hundred was formed in 1906 in Los Angeles to combat the strong hold of the Southern Pacific Railroads. The party selected reformed candidates and placed them onto the ballot. 17 out of the 23 reformed candidates was elected into office. This was a step towards removing the Southern Pacific Railroad from the local government in Los
In 1871, in Los Angeles, a group of Anglo-Americans lynched 18 Chinese men, including a 14 year old, and afterwards, proceed to loot the Chinese section of town (Anagonson). By 1877, over 150,000 people had migrated to California for work, the unemployment rate in San Francisco sky rocket. On July 23, 1877, 8,000 disgruntled unemployed, mostly white, citizens gathered in San Francisco and committed ethnic violence against the Chinese (Revolvy). These 8,000 disgruntled unemployed citizens would form the Workingmen 's Party with their rally theme of "denouncing the capitalistic system and the railroads in particular with the emphasis on Chinese labor. …show more content…
1906, in San Francisco, President Theodore Roosevelt working with James D. Phelan, former mayor of San Francisco, sent in federal agents led by William J. Burns to investigate bribery and corruption charges (Anagonson). This resulted in 17 indictment including the resignation of Mayor Eugene Schmitz. Abraham Reuf, the henchman to the mayor, implicated officials of the Southern Pacific Railroad and several utility companies (Anagnoson). This was a huge step in breaking up the power of the Southern Pacific Railroad and its political allies. The Non-Partisan Committee of One Hundred was formed in 1906 in Los Angeles to combat the strong hold of the Southern Pacific Railroads. The party selected reformed candidates and placed them onto the ballot. 17 out of the 23 reformed candidates was elected into office. This was a step towards removing the Southern Pacific Railroad from the local government in Los