Give Thanks To Those Darn Muckrakers
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The progressive movement was an attempt to make right all the issues the American Society faced during the industrial growth.(“The Progressive Movement"). After the Civil War the frontier had been settled, America had emerged as the world's greatest agricultural and industrial power, great cities had developed, and huge numbers of immigrants were accepted. An overpopulated America faced poor housing, poor sanitation and health care, as well as unfair treatment of child labor in both factories and at home. A widespread of these kinds of acts became arguments for Muckrakers(“American Political Movement: American Progressive History”) . Muckracker were people who were displeased with the unsafe working conditions, corruption in politics and government, and social injustices during industrial growth. Muckrackers paved the way for other citizens to let their voices be heard. They published newspapers, magazines, and articles on these complications. Most of these Muckrackers actually lived in poor communities they wrote about or even worked in the buisnesses they wrote about. Through these newspapers, magazines, and articles, the citizens get to see and hear these people’s first hand experiences in these situations as well as encouragement to lead others to speak out(Click ”The Muckrakers of the Progressive Era” ).
The progressive movement was an attempt to make right all the issues the American Society faced during the industrial growth.(“The Progressive Movement"). After the Civil War the frontier had been settled, America had emerged as the world's greatest agricultural and industrial power, great cities had developed, and huge numbers of immigrants were accepted. An overpopulated America faced poor housing, poor sanitation and health care, as well as unfair treatment of child labor in both factories and at home. A widespread of these kinds of acts became arguments for Muckrakers(“American Political Movement: American Progressive History”) . Muckracker were people who were displeased with the unsafe working conditions, corruption in politics and government, and social injustices during industrial growth. Muckrackers paved the way for other citizens to let their voices be heard. They published newspapers, magazines, and articles on these complications. Most of these Muckrackers actually lived in poor communities they wrote about or even worked in the buisnesses they wrote about. Through these newspapers, magazines, and articles, the citizens get to see and hear these people’s first hand experiences in these situations as well as encouragement to lead others to speak out(Click ”The Muckrakers of the Progressive Era” ).
What's the Real "Square Deal"
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When Theodore Roosevelt took office he favored the expansion of businesses but also felt that they needed to be watched closely to prevent corporations from becoming too greedy("The Progressive Era"). Many trusts lowered their prices to drive competitors out of the market and then took advantage of the lack of competition to jack prices up even higher. The President's weapon was the Sherman Antitrust Act, passed by Congress in 1890. However it was very seldom for this Act to be enforced by the courts. United States courts routinely sided with business when any enforcement of the Act was attempted. Roosevelt soon ordered the Justice Department to sue the Northern Securities Company. Winning a number of the 144 antitrust suits, some of these trust start breaking up, it was unable to slow the merger movement in business(Danser"The Americans ch.17 p.525). Because of a strike in Pennsylvania, the country faced a shortage in coal. Roosevelt knew that he didn’t have the power to stop the strike so he thought of a way to use government power as a scare tactic. Roosevelt called both the mine owners and the representatives of labor together at the White House. When management refused to negotiate, he thought of a plan to force the two sides to talk: Roosevelt threatened to use troops to take the mines and run them as a federal operation. Faced with threats from the Federal Government, both mine owners agreed to cooperate(" American President: Theodore Roosevelt: Domestic Affairs"). Roosevelt's actions brought forth a new principle that when a strike threatened the public welfare, the federal government could intervene. Roosevelt attacked issues on railroad regulations. Passing a series of Acts to prohibit and limit wealthy railroad owners from conspiring to fix high prices by dividing the business in a given area. Roosevelt main goal was to protect the conservation of natural resources, control of corporations, and consumer protection("The Progressive Era").
Dear Editor......... Dear Editor...........
How long do we have to suffer and live in such atrocities before Government takes a stand and change? We have an overpopulated America that has it’s citizens facing poor housing, poor sanitation and health care, unfair treatment of women and children in both factories and at home, and corruption in politics and government. I will no longer live in such grim conditions. Progressive reform is inevitable and will ultimately suppress the chaos going on in America. My dear friend Bertha Miller recalls her and her sister’s work experience at a cotton mill “We worked twelve hours a day for fifty cents. When paydays come around, I drawed three dollars. That was for six days, seventy-two hours"(Byerly 48–50). We need to implement rules and regulations to better such harsh, unethical, unjustifiable labor conditions. Businesses owners are acting in such barbaric manners fighting over monopolies and lowering wages to compete with one another. Monopolies are fearful evils and growing in their devilish power all over the country... no wonder that such a terrible problem stands before the country to be solved; peaceably; if possible—by force if it must be—but to be solved(Dewey,”Philosophy and Democracy). Government needs to step in and do what is in the best interest of the country.“Listen to the cry of our children.... Seeking no favors because of our color, nor patronage because of our needs, we knock at the bar of justice, asking an equal chance"(Mary Church Terrell,”National American Woman's Suffrage Association speech”). Progressive reform aims to protect welfare, promote moral improvement, create economic reforms, and cultivate efficiencies(Danzer,Alva,Wilson,Woloch”The Americans ch.17 p.513).
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These foolish, brainless, idiotic reformers have no intent to actually help America. They are sabotaging the U.S government through strikes and protest. These protesters are being greedy liars who want more money out of us business owners and sympathy from the government. They are senseless excuses for employers. Many of these participants argue that us business owner are overworking them. We have policy of getting the job done even if that requires a little extra time on the job. If you can not handle the pressure of being a hard worker and is willing to put in the extra time to accomplish the job then I don’t want you working for me anyways. We are essentially assisting the workers to gain more money, by giving them extra hours. We even provide finances to children of all ages. Now these Muckrakers and former works claim the at factory owners are bribing health inspector. If this is so true then my friends, your problem is not with the factory owners, it is with government who hires these inspectors(“Progressive Era). I will not stand and let these ungrateful, selfish, unappreciative, thoughtless workers come in between the flourish of this nation. America is finally industrializing and improving. Why stop that and make new rules that will change everything. We as a nation can’t let setbacks from these workers distract us from moving ahead. The best way to deal with this issue is to let these business owners get the job done(“The Progressive Movement”). These business are essential to the flourishment of the economy and reforming policies will hinder us from moving and growing. And besides are we really going to reform the whole entire country based on the fact that a few dissatisfied workers want to be lazy and do nothing but get paid? Progressive Reform is a senseless tactic that if implemented will stop the progress of industrialization.
~enraged Factory owner |
And the Award goes too......
Through this Progressive Era we have many types of reformers stepping up and advocating change. They all contribute to the well being of the citizens of the country. Ultimately the progressive reform that had the most impact on society would have to be the Muckrakers. They had a great amount of influence, often resulting in the passage of laws designed to reform the abuse that they reported. I applaud these people for having the courage and braveness to speak out about these big name businesses. We have Jacob Riis write a book, How the Other Half Lives, explaining the poor living conditions of the urban community. In publishing this NYC passed building codes to promote safety and health. Ida B. Wells provided statistics on the lynching of African-Americans in, “ A Red Record”, as a result NAACP joined the fight for Federal anti-lynching legislation(Progressive Era Reform). We have actual ex-factory workers discussing their personal experiences for example, Bertha Miller informing the public about the cruel and extraneous hours her and her sister had to endure(Byerly 48–50). In her “History of the Standard Oil Company”, Ida M Tarbell describes the methods the companies used in order to eliminate competition(Danzer,Alva,Wilson,Woloch”The Americans ch.17 p.514). Muckrakers were the people who began the progressive movement and by doing the simple task of talking and writing, impacted the whole entire country. They gained sympathy from anyone who read their stories and tried to push for change. I commend them on a job well done.
Work Cited PAge
~"American Political History:Progressive Movement." Research. Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. Web. 8 Mar. 2015
http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/teddyrooseveltmuckrake.htm.
~Click, Laurel. "The Muckrakers of the Progressive Era: Definition and Influence." Study,com. Web. 8 Mar. 2015. <http://study.com/academy/lesson/the-muckrakers-of-the-progressive-era-definition-and-influence.html>.
~Danzer, Gerald A., J. Jorge Klror De Alva, Larry S. Krieger, Louis E. Wilson, and Nancy Woloch. The Americans. Orlando, FL: Holt McDougal, 2012. Print.
. http://blog.chron.com/txpotomac/files/legacy/SQUARE%20DEAL.jpg
<http://millercenter.org/president/roosevelt/essays/biography/4>.
http://therealsingapore.com/content/singapore-needs-political-reform-and-not-new-social-compact
<http://www.eagleton.rutgers.edu/research/americanhistory/ap_progressive.php>.
http://www.muson.info/images/5780pbx39ff18o.jpg
"Mary Church Terrell: Online Resources." : (Virtual Programs & Services, Library of Congress). Web. 13 Mar. 2015. http://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/terrell/.
~"Miller Center." American President: Theodore Roosevelt: Domestic Affairs. University of Virginia. Web. 6 Mar. 2015
"Teddy Roosevelt's New Nationalism." The Heritage Foundation. Web. 13 Mar. 2015. <http://www.heritage.org/initiatives/first-principles/primary-sources/teddy-roosevelts-new-nationalism>..
~"The Progressive Era (1890 - 1920)." The Progressive Era (1890 - 1920). Web. 8 Mar. 2015. <http://www.gwu.edu/~erpapers/teachinger/glossary/progressive- era.cfm>.
~"The Progressive Movement." The Progressive Movement. Web. 8 Mar. 2015. <http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1061.html>.
"The Progressives." The Progressives. Web. 13 Mar. 2015. <http://2012books.lardbucket.org/books/united-states-history-volume-2/s07-02-the-progressives.html>.
"Theodore Roosevelt - The Man with the Muck-rake." Theodore Roosevelt - The Man with the Muck-rake. Web. 13 Mar. 2015.
http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/teddyrooseveltmuckrake.htm.
~Click, Laurel. "The Muckrakers of the Progressive Era: Definition and Influence." Study,com. Web. 8 Mar. 2015. <http://study.com/academy/lesson/the-muckrakers-of-the-progressive-era-definition-and-influence.html>.
~Danzer, Gerald A., J. Jorge Klror De Alva, Larry S. Krieger, Louis E. Wilson, and Nancy Woloch. The Americans. Orlando, FL: Holt McDougal, 2012. Print.
. http://blog.chron.com/txpotomac/files/legacy/SQUARE%20DEAL.jpg
<http://millercenter.org/president/roosevelt/essays/biography/4>.
http://therealsingapore.com/content/singapore-needs-political-reform-and-not-new-social-compact
<http://www.eagleton.rutgers.edu/research/americanhistory/ap_progressive.php>.
http://www.muson.info/images/5780pbx39ff18o.jpg
"Mary Church Terrell: Online Resources." : (Virtual Programs & Services, Library of Congress). Web. 13 Mar. 2015. http://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/terrell/.
~"Miller Center." American President: Theodore Roosevelt: Domestic Affairs. University of Virginia. Web. 6 Mar. 2015
"Teddy Roosevelt's New Nationalism." The Heritage Foundation. Web. 13 Mar. 2015. <http://www.heritage.org/initiatives/first-principles/primary-sources/teddy-roosevelts-new-nationalism>..
~"The Progressive Era (1890 - 1920)." The Progressive Era (1890 - 1920). Web. 8 Mar. 2015. <http://www.gwu.edu/~erpapers/teachinger/glossary/progressive- era.cfm>.
~"The Progressive Movement." The Progressive Movement. Web. 8 Mar. 2015. <http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1061.html>.
"The Progressives." The Progressives. Web. 13 Mar. 2015. <http://2012books.lardbucket.org/books/united-states-history-volume-2/s07-02-the-progressives.html>.
"Theodore Roosevelt - The Man with the Muck-rake." Theodore Roosevelt - The Man with the Muck-rake. Web. 13 Mar. 2015.