The progressives fought against labor strife and towards women’s rights. Because of the poor working conditions suffered by many, the progressives joined with the working class in the fight against the power-hungry leaders of America, fixing many of the problems and standing up for what they believed in. For the most part the majority of the progressive movement was comprised of middle class, white, Protestant women. Since they were Protestant, they believed that it was their duty to not only bring people to God, but to also help all individuals who were not as fortunate as themselves (Drake). These women joined with the working class in the struggle against the power-heads, as seen in Triangle when von Drehle expresses how “…Immigrant workers
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The rich were richer and the poor were poorer. The big companies had a pyramid effect – with a boss at the top, managers running the branches, and poor citizens working in the factories. Countless workers were immigrants from differing countries, so a common language hardly existed in the factories. Conditions were bad for the workers: numerous workers were under-aged, the hours were maliciously long, and the pay was minimalistic. Von Drehle exemplifies this by saying, “A laborer might agree to stitch linings into suit jackets for five cents per dozen, and work sixteen hours a day stitching a lining every five or six minutes – nearly a dozen an hour,” (42). When investigating factories in the early 1900s, “they saw dirt floors, rats, cats giving birth on the breadboards, bakers dripping sweat into their dough, sick children coughing beside the ovens,” (von Drehle 199). Because of the working environment, American workers were enraged and trying to fight against the corporate leaders who were forcing these lives of long hours and little pay upon them. The workers formed unions and went on strike, but no conditions improved; in fact, several even worsened due to increased anger of the corporate heads. This is when the progressives noticed the need to step in and offer a helping …show more content…
In the short term, little reform was made toward fixing labor conditions. Child labor was abolished, pay was raised slightly, and workers were not required to work twelve-hour days. A commission met to discus new laws, such as “new laws covering fire safety, factory inspections, employment rules for women and children,” of which eight of the fifteen passed (Triangle 214). Unions grew due to the progressive movement; for example, the “International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union had grown from an insignificant few members to tens of thousands,” (Triangle 172). Not all progressive demands were met at the time, although, in the long run, the progressive movement was quite efficacious. In 1919, the nineteenth amendment was passed, finally allowing women to vote in America (Exploring American Histories
The rich were richer and the poor were poorer. The big companies had a pyramid effect – with a boss at the top, managers running the branches, and poor citizens working in the factories. Countless workers were immigrants from differing countries, so a common language hardly existed in the factories. Conditions were bad for the workers: numerous workers were under-aged, the hours were maliciously long, and the pay was minimalistic. Von Drehle exemplifies this by saying, “A laborer might agree to stitch linings into suit jackets for five cents per dozen, and work sixteen hours a day stitching a lining every five or six minutes – nearly a dozen an hour,” (42). When investigating factories in the early 1900s, “they saw dirt floors, rats, cats giving birth on the breadboards, bakers dripping sweat into their dough, sick children coughing beside the ovens,” (von Drehle 199). Because of the working environment, American workers were enraged and trying to fight against the corporate leaders who were forcing these lives of long hours and little pay upon them. The workers formed unions and went on strike, but no conditions improved; in fact, several even worsened due to increased anger of the corporate heads. This is when the progressives noticed the need to step in and offer a helping …show more content…
In the short term, little reform was made toward fixing labor conditions. Child labor was abolished, pay was raised slightly, and workers were not required to work twelve-hour days. A commission met to discus new laws, such as “new laws covering fire safety, factory inspections, employment rules for women and children,” of which eight of the fifteen passed (Triangle 214). Unions grew due to the progressive movement; for example, the “International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union had grown from an insignificant few members to tens of thousands,” (Triangle 172). Not all progressive demands were met at the time, although, in the long run, the progressive movement was quite efficacious. In 1919, the nineteenth amendment was passed, finally allowing women to vote in America (Exploring American Histories