Transcript The Progessives

IMPROVEMENTS
Working Harder, to
make AMERICA Better!!
Problems in America
• Corruption in government
and business.
• Sweatshops
• City slums
• Child labor
• Disease
• Prejudice
Progressive
•A person who
wanted to fix
America and make
it a better place.
The Government
• Many felt that the rich had too
much power.
• Many feared that bankers and
industrialists were controlling
government.
• Corruption
• Bribes
• Voter fraud!
• Spoils System
Problem:
Spoils System
• Patronage/ nepotism/
spoils system.
• Government jobs given
to loyal supporters.
• People were not
qualified for their jobs!
Reforming the Spoils System
• 1881 Pres. James Garfield
wanted to base jobs on merit
(ability).
Garfield Assassinated by Charles Guiteau
Solution
• Civil Service Commission
instituted exams for nonelected federal jobs.
• Jobs now based on MERIT
Problem: Big Business
MUST be controlled!
Members of
Congress
bribed by
businessmen
Large gap
between rich
and poor
Solution to Railroads:
Interstate Commerce Act
• The Federal
government
has the right to
regulate the
movement of
people and
goods across
state lines.
Solution: Sherman AntiTrust Act
• Makes it
ILLEGAL to
try to limit
or destroy
competition!
Problem: BOSS RULE
• Powerful politicians
who came to rule
many cities.
• Controlled all work
done in cities
– Used corruption to
make $