Post Info TOPIC: Progressivism Research and Debate
mre

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Progressivism Research and Debate
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The Progressive movement in United States history was an attempt to address the radical changes in American politics, economics and society at the turn of the twentieth century brought on by urbanization, industrialization, immigration corruption in government, racial segregation and violence, gender inequality, a lack of worker’s rights, a need for public education and an enormous class division between rich and poor.   

Step #1
: Read the AMSCO chapter concerning 1) the Progressive Era, 2) the Wikipedia article on Progressivism (minus Progressivism worldwide), and 3) select primary sources related to Progressivism.

Step #2
:  Students will debate the following issues as if they were writing a DBQ essay.  They will make claims based on the research done (above) and the evidence gathered from the primary sources provided (DBQ’s) and other research available on the Internet.  Students will make five different claims/reasons [20 points each] supporting their position.  Each claim must consist of logical arguments supported by documented evidence.  Students can post each claim, one at a time, in order to keep up a lively online debate.  Please also state which question number you are responding to in the title of your post.  

Hint:  Remember, this is a debate, not an essay assignment.  Try to convince the other side of your position.  Use the forum to talk to your partners about your strategy.  Include information from you packets (the American People reading assignment), your text, statistical information, political cartoons and other primary sources available on the Internet. 


1)      
Progressives sought to restore economic competition, make government more efficient, and stem the tide of socialism. To what extent were progressives successful in achieving these goals?  For the DBQ, click here.

They were successful – Steven, Samantha, Jarred
They were unsuccessful – Crystal, Krystal 

2)      
Did the Progressive movement help or hinder the labor movements of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries?  For the DBQ, click here.

It helped the labor movement – Jessica, Melissa, Alex Z.
It hindered the labor movement – Leslie, Melanie, Amanda 

3)      
Between 1880 and 1925 American society remained true to its core values of liberty, equality and opportunity regarding immigration issues.  Assess the validity of this statement.  For the DBQ, click here.

It remained true – Julia, Brittney, Tanya
It did not remain true – Jillian, Milford 

4)      
The symbiotic relationship between the growing immigrant population and big city party machines during the Gilded Age was mutually beneficial.   Assess the validity of this statement.  For the DBQ, click here.

It was mutually beneficial – Alex J., Kristen, Curt
It was not mutually beneficial – Kelsey L., Kathryn  

5)      
One of the principle aims of the Progressive Era was to check the advancing power of big business.  How successful were they in achieving their goal by 1915?  For the DBQ, click here.

It was successful – Sarah, Makeda, Tom
It was unsuccessful – Kirsten, Brandi, Kelsey S.



-- Edited by mre at 03:02, 2007-02-08

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Julia

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Hey Brittney and Tanya

I'm working on my Imperialism lab right now but I'll let ya know when we're done so we can all work together, or if you want to start without me just let me know what you want me to do even though we all have to have 5 separate examples anyways.



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Jessica

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The Progressive Movement helped the labor movement.

The Federal Farm Loan Act;;Establishing 12 regional Farm Loan Banks the legislation would grant loans to farm cooperative associations. Using their land and improvements as collateral farmers could borrow from their local institution.
  

Workingmens compensation act;; the prime concern of many progressives was to ectend financial assistance to injured workers.  Legislation in 1916 extended the partial coverage to federal workers who were injured on the job.



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Jarred

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Here are my first two:

Professional Administrators – Progressives worked to make city governments be run by trained, professional administrators. They worked under the guidelines of a elected city-council. They ran the day-to-day events of the city. This was called the city manager system.

 Centralization of decision-making process – Progressives everywhere sought to make governments on every level more rational in there decision making.Governments were changed and reorganized to stop overlapping authorities of departments and to reduce the number of officials. City governments were changed to increase the power of the city-councils and reduce the power of wards. Governments started to set a budget to be spent yearly instead of spending money randomly.

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s.bailey

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some primary sources:

Wisconsin was the first state to pass a worker's compensation law, which was signed May 3, 1911, by progressive Governor Francis E. McGovern. In this article, one of the state bureaucrats charged with developing and enforcing it reviews how it was conceived, passed, and enforced in its first quarter century

 http://www.historyteacher.net/AHAP/Weblinks/AHAP_Weblinks19.htm#Docs Meat inspection act 1906,  pure food and drug act ?Naturalization Act– June 29, 1906
An Act To establish a Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization, and to provide for a uniform rule for the naturalization of aliens throughout the
United States.
“That the designation of the Bureau of Immigration in the Department of Commerce and Labor is hereby changed to the " Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization," which said Bureau, under the direction and control of the Secretary of Commerce and Labor, in addition to the duties now provided by law, shall have charge of all matters concerning the naturalization of aliens....” Adoption of arbor day

To the School Children of the United States:Arbor Day (which means simply "Tree Day") is now observed in every State in our Union--and mainly in the schools. At various times from January to December, but chiefly in this month of April, you give a day or part of a day to special exercises and perhaps to actual tree planting, in recognition of the importance of trees to us as a Nation, and of what they yield in adornment, comfort, and useful products to the communities in which you live.” THEODORE ROOSEVELT.The White House, April 15, 1907

 Sixteenth Amendment- Feb. 25, 1913
ARTICLE XVI.
The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration.
 ?Clayton Anti-Trust Act October 15, 1914
An Act to supplement existing laws against unlawful restraints and monopolies, and for other purposes.



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Tom

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The Elkins Act in 1903 ended the common practice of the railroads granting rebates to their most valued customers. The great oil and livestock companies of the day paid the rates stated by the railroads, but demanded rebates on those payments. The giants paid significantly less for rail service than farmers and other small operators.


The railroads had long resented being extorted by the trusts and welcomed the Elkins legislation. The law provided further that rates had to be published and that violations of the law would find both the railroad and the shipper liable for prosecution.



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Tom

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The Hepburn Act of 1906 strengthened existing railroad regulations in the following ways:

    1. Increased the size of the Interstate Commerce Commission from five to seven members
    2. Gave the ICC the power to establish maximum rates
    3. Restricted the use of free passes
    4. Brought other common carriers (businesses that transport goods or information for a fee), such as terminals, storage facilities, pipelines, ferries and others, under ICC jurisdiction
    5. Required the adoption of uniform accounting practices for all carriers
    6. In appeals situations, placed the burden of proof on the shipper, not the ICC; this was a major change from the previous practice in which the railroads had blunted regulations by lengthy appeals.


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Kristen,Alex and Curt

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Kristen

1.
        Many of the immigrants came to the U.S. and were given jobs in business such as coal mines, textile mills , and steel mills. Many people were needed to work these jobs because the materials were in demand greatly. These immigrants did more work as efficient as the Americans and needed the employment more because of their harsh lives. The immigrants helped gather all these raw materials to help our country out.


2.
        The government helped keep immigrants together in tiny communities to work together and become more efficient. With neighbors who spoke the native language they were able to find information about work opportunities, news in the world and information about the city. Basically it kept all the same groups together as one and allowed each to communicate and help each other out instead of putting them out there on their lonesome.


3.
        Many political government powers decided to help the immigrants out by improving working condition, teaching them English and actually giving them supporting their everyday lives. Many of these politicians also fought for more rights for immigrants.


4.
        Some of the politicians (such as Tweed) took money from the rich and gave it to the poor to help them benefit a bit from this money and homes. It helped them to get by a bit in their new American lives.

       
5.Many times in social disasters, such as fires, these helpful politicians helped to bring these people back to their normal lives by providing them with temporary homes, clothing and food until the homes were fixed and they were reimbursed for their losses.


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s.bailey

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also amendments 18 (prohibition), 19 (women's sufferage), 17 (direct election of senators),

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Jessica

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3. Unionization;;Providing a range of benefits Earyl trade unions insured members against
                      unemployment, ill health, old age and funeral expenses.


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sarah

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1. Banking Reform: took power over the Bank away from Wall Street. Created 12 district banks that were supervised by the Federal Reserve Board, instead of private national banks

 

2. Federal Reserve Act of 1914: created a flexible currency, Federal Reserve Notes (dollar bills) backed by gold in the U.S Treasury.

 

3. Sherman Antitrust Act: broke up an existing railroad trust, and set up laws that prohibited the formation of future trusts

 

4. Clayton Antitrust Act: strengthened the provisions of the SAA, contained a clause that kept unions from being prosecuted as trusts

 

5. Child Labor Laws: regulated the age of children who worked in factories, and prohibited the shipment of products manufactured by children under 14



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Kristen, Alex and Curt

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C. Santos


1.        As more immigrants settled in America they began to learn more about the American ways of life and their rights. Many after they became citizens tried to get involved in politics to help immigrants from their culture out a bit. Some also confined together to try improve the lifestyles and the communities of their people. By doing this they created a whole different type of political party.


2.        With this new political development, many of the immigrants would form together and unite under this political party making it well known within the immigrants. This caught the attention of others and they began to come up with ideas to support the party and help them gain more recognition and attention for their cause.


3.        Many immigrants would be able to do the same job as many Americans for lower wages that still managed to help them out in their everyday lives. These new political party was trying to develop a way to make the wages of these people better and help them out in these tough jobs because some of these jobs were very dangerous.


4.        The parties tried to moral for rights as a laborer and create a union to protect the rights of these immigrant workers in the U.S.


               5.With these better living conditions more immigrants would come in calling for more homes but they would have the job opportunities that would help them succeed much better in this country than their own.


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Butchie

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Five Facts

1.  In 1906, Thedore Roosevelt agreed to stop dicrimininating against the Japanese students and allow them to go to regular schools, if they agreed to stop all Japanese immigration to America.  America didn't stay true to its core values of liberty, equality and opportunity for all people.  They didn't allow others to come to this country to get an education and better themselves.  America was being untrue to the Decleration of Independence when it said that all men are created equal.
2.  From 1880 until 1925 immigrants were greatly discriminated against and many ended up leaving the country anyway.  From 1915-1919, 1,163,000 people arrived in America but 1,180,000 people left.  That is an astonishing 73% of the people.  America was being very discriminatory and wanted no immigrants at all.  They were even more discrimantory against certain groups like the Chiense.  From 1880-1919, 59,076 people entered our country while 76,332 people left.  More Chiense people were deported than entered, exactly 129.2%.  Americans felt threatened by the Chienese so we had to kick them out.
3. In this time period in our country, many groups of people didn't have rights even though they were citizens.  For example, women still didn't have the right to vote until 1920.  African-Americans were still being segerated against and were being discriminated against.  If the leaders in our country couldn't ensure liberty, freedom and equal opportunity to citizens of the US then how could they ensure those same rights to illegal immigrants?  They couldn't and they didn't that is why many ended up leaving or were forced to leave.
 


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Jillian

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3) Between 1880 and 1925 American society remained true to its core values of liberty, equality and opportunity regarding immigration issues.  Assess the validity of this statement.  It did not remain true. 

1)      Chinese immigrants are a prime example of false values of opportunity in the United States during the Progressive movement. Upon arrival in this country, the Chinese were discriminated against for job opportunities. There is a political cartoon in Harper’s Weekly by Thomas Nast which visually explains this discrimination. In this cartoon there is a drawbridge to the “Temple of Liberty” and a soldier with a list of people who can enter. It is apparent that the Chinese man talking with the soldier is not on the list. This symbolizes the job opportunities that were not available of people of Chinese decent from this time.

 2)      The literacy test put in place for immigrants is another example of this statement to not be valid. Although president Grover Cleveland was against this test, it is still unbelievable that our very own congress would propose this type of test to limit equality in job opportunities. The test consisted of making the immigrant read and write 25 words of our constitution. Most citizens of the US cannot even do this, never mind an immigrant that had been in the country only a few weeks. In president Grover Cleveland’s veto message in 1897 he states, “I cannot believe that we would be protected against these evils by limiting immigration to those who can read and write in any language twenty-five words of our Constitution.” 3)      The progressive Party platform in 1912 explains its views on discrimination on sex and political equality. This platform states, “The Progressive party, believing that no people can justly claim to be a true democracy which denies equal political rights on account of sex, pledges itself to the task of securing equal suffrage to men and women alike.” The only problem with this is hat the Progressive party did not win the election, which meant that these views on society were not carried out. 4)      President Woodrow Wilson’s inaugural address in 1913 explains many tings that needed to be changed in the country at the time. Among these things he says that the current government “restricts the liberties and limits the opportunities of labor.” This address makes it apparent that at that time there were problems regarding equality issues that needed to be changed.      5)Between 1910 and 1930, African Americans began to move from the south to the north because of job opportunities. Some motivations for blacks to leave the soth were deteriorating race relationships and racial tension and discrimination. The National Urban League was formed in 1911 with their motto being, “No Alms but Opportunity.” This motto reflects the battle towards economic advancement and opportunity.

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sarah

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btw:
works cited for those 5
 

http://www.engineofsouls.com/file-142.pdf



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s.bailey

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19th amendment

"The right of citizens in the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.

Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation"
It was proposed on June 4th, 1919 and ratified on august 14,1920.
House of Representatives passed the amendment by a vote of 304 to 89, and 2 weeks later on june 4th, Senate finally followed, where the amendment passed 56 to 25.


16th-
feb 3rd, 1913



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Tanya

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3) Between 1880 and 1925 American society remained true to its core values of liberty, equality and opportunity regarding immigration issues. Assess the validity of this statement.

It remained true:

“Education was free. That subject my father had written about repeatedly, as comprising his chief hope for us children, the essence of American opportunity, the treasure that no thief could touch, nor even misfortune or poverty. It was the one thing that he was able to promise us when he sent for us; surer, safer, than bread or shelter.”

This is from a passage in “The Promised Land” by Mary Antin; it is an account from a Jewish immigrant that arrived in 1894. The immigrant describes how America offered educational opportunity. Immigrants were able to attend school in America, which is keeping the value of opportunity true for immigrants. In the journal "American Quarterly," Timothy L. Smith points out that in Duluth, Minnesota, 1908, 10% of 460 teachers in the kindergarten and elementary grades were immigrants. This demonstrates that immigrants were given the opportunity to be educated because in order to be a teacher, one would need to be educated.


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melissa

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By definition progressivism aims to achieve gradual social change, and most progressives are outright opposed to any form of radical revolution. Progressives often supported such goals as the eight-hour work day, improved safety and health conditions in factories, workers compensation laws, minimum wage laws, and unionization. Progressives also support the continual advancement of workers' rights and social justice.


We pledge ourselves to work...for:
Effective legislation looking to the prevention of industrial accidents, occupational diseases, overwork, involuntary unemployment, and other injurious effects incident to modern industry;
The fixing of minimum safety and health standards....
The prohibition of child labor;
Minimum wage standards for working women, to provide a "living wage" in all industrial occupations; The general prohibition of night work for women and the establishment of eight hour day for women and young persons;
One day's rest in seven for all wage workers;
The eight hour day in continuous twenty-four-hour industries;
The abolition of the convict contract-labor system....
Standards of compensation for death by industrial accident and injury and trade disease which will transfer the burden of lost earnings from the families of working people to the industry, and thus to the community....
Establishing...schools for industrial education under public control and encouraging agricultural education and demonstration in rural schools;
The establishment of industrial research laboratories to put the methods and discoveries of science at the service of American producers;
We favor the organization of the workers, men and women, as means protecting their interests and of promoting their progress....

- Progressive Party Platform, 1912



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CRYSTAL

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1)            Progressives sought to restore economic competition, make government more efficient, and stem the tide of socialism. To what extent were progressives successful in achieving these goals?

 

·        Progressives were unsuccessful in achieving goals to make government more efficient in which politics and the way of running the government were more corrupt.
The dull, purblind folly of the very rich men; their greed and arrogance...and the corruption in business and politics, have tended to produce a very unhealthy condition of excitement and irritation in the popular mind, which shows itself in the great increase in the socialistic propaganda.” by Theodore Roosevelt, stating that greed and arrogance of rich men and corruption of business and politics were influential to the people.


·         Early in the century, people were not successful in approaching the government with proposals to improve the lot of factory workers, farmers, and small businessmen. Most significantly at the local and state levels of government, lawmakers were controlled by political machines and special interest groups. Greed, corruption, and bribery were common among many politicians.
A New York Times editorial of July 3, 1911, complained that "Respectable and well-meaning men all over the State and especially in this city, are going about saying: 'What is the use? You only replace one lot of rascals by another, generally worse."' Across the country in California, the Southern Pacific Railroad controlled the state legislature and dictated how the state should be run. This was always to the benefit of the railroad. In many states at this time, railroads and other large corporations saw to it that legislatures did nothing to interfere with their profits, power and privilege.

to be continued…


http://www.crf-usa.org/election_central/election_progressive.htm

    

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L. Gonzalez

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My five facts showing how the Progressive Era hindered the labor movement are:1.) The actual progressives were middle-class so they didn’t really know what it was like to live in a poor lifestyle. They were trying to help without knowing first hand what it was like to be a minority and deal with the racism and discrimination because you were a minority.  There was a section in the packet given to us by Mr. E that read “Progressivism for Whites only.” That right there showed that even though they seemed to be trying to help, with the creation of the IWW they weren’t being successful in it.  There was still that state of mind of white supremacy over all the immigrants and minorities that were coming into the United States.2.) Prostitution was another very big reason why the Progressive Era was hindering the labor movement. During the time of progressivism, prostitution was becoming very well known and practiced by many women. This was a way of women getting the money that they needed since at their jobs they were only given about six dollars a day. This, to them, was another good way of them getting money.  They would end up receiving about twenty five dollars by selling their bodies to men, which would almost quadruple what they would get by working in factories.  The progressives realized how much this was becoming a way of life for many women and decided to try and act on it and see if they could put an end to this.  Their efforts failed and they were unsuccessful in ending prostitution. Also in the packet there was an actual quote that was said by a former prostitute.  She asked an investigator “‘Do you suppose I am going back to earn five or six dollars a week in a factory when I can earn that amount any night and often much more?’”  That right there shows that obviously the progressives in that time weren’t doing enough to help out the problem in the economy because women were turning to other remedies to get the money they needed.3.) Women were also trying to take advantage in the changes that were being looked at, but their efforts also changed.  No matter what, the progressives didn’t necessarily think that anything was wrong with the American system. That’s why even though they were indeed trying to help; their efforts weren’t strong enough to do what they had to do in order to help the women get their rights to vote. Women were still not granted the passage of a women’s suffrage agreement.  They were desperately trying to get their rights.  Another effect that goes with this point is the fire that took place in the Triangle Shirtwaist Company.  This was a fire that was very devastating during this time in history.  This was a company that was full of women employees. The women that worked in this company had recently formed a group that was composed of women that were trying to fight for better working conditions to work in. That group that was formed was called The International Ladies’ Garment Workers Union (ILGWU).  The fire was caused because of the dangerous working conditions they were forced to work in.  4.) During Woodrow Wilson’s presidency, he ordered the segregation of blacks in many federal departments.  The Progressive Era was a time in history that was supposed to face these problems in history.  This was definitely one of the problems that was supposed to be faced and dealt with.   The issue of racism and discrimination was one that was very much still around in the United States during this time.  Many new minorities were coming into the United States and were experiencing very bad treatment.  Wilson ordered blacks to be segregated in many of the federal departments.  No matter what was happening during this era in time, the matter of racism and discrimination was one that was still very much around.  It was being made even more public as the times went on because as we can see in this situation, it was being said by a president.  This definitely hindered the labor movement because it made it that much more difficult for minorities to get anywhere in the workforce.

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L. gonzalez

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My last reason for explaining why the Progressive Era hindered the labor movement was: 5.) In document A of the documents, a businessman is explained as a bad citizen.  This is probably because people who were in business were much better off and would take advantage of that when it came to those who were socially under them.  It goes on to explain how they are sort of a reason of the corruption going on in the world.


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Amanda

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2.) The Progressive movement hindered the labor movement:




The I.W.W. (Industrial Workers of the World) was too radical to actually help the labor movement. The immigrants and other workers that they were trying to help had no interest in getting involved in conflict and social politics.

“Many American workers struggled with their managers over control of the workplace, and workers occasionally went on strike for better wages and working conditions. Immigrants often did not join in these actions. Some immigrant workers, intent on earning enough money to go back home, had no time to join the conflict. Most of those who stayed in the United States held fast to the dream of a better job or moving up into the middle class. They avoided organized labor militancy.”
from Radical Labor from the packet on progressivism

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mre

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Good job collecting information , everyone!  Now, the next step for many of you is to conduct the debate by trying to persuade your opponents of your position and its validity and crediblity in historical context.  Gather each member's claims together into one big post, argue it out, and good luck!

-- Edited by mre at 10:23, 2007-02-09

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s.bailey

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16th amendment-
feb 3rd, 1913

"

The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration."- the amendment

"

The Amendment -- which overrules the effect of Pollock -- essentially means that when imposing an income tax, the Congress may impose the tax on income from any source without having to apportion the total dollar amount of tax collected from each state according to each state's population in relation to the total national population.

The Supreme Court's interpretation of the Sixteenth Amendment has evolved and adapted considerably over time. Many disputes about the applicability of the amendment to specific types of income spring from reliance on the language of out-dated interpretations and overturned decisions."-wikipedia



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L. Gonzalez

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Jessica wrote:

3. Unionization;;Providing a range of benefits Earyl trade unions insured members against
                      unemployment, ill health, old age and funeral expenses.



Even though this was true, there was still a lot of white supremacy that was going on.  No matter what good this was going to be for it was only going to be of a benefit mainly to the whites in society.  I don't think the purpose of this was actually met.



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melissa

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my third point:

The Five Original goals of Progressivism:
 Democracy – Many progressives hoped to make government in the U.S. more responsive to the direct voice of the American people by instituting reforms such as initiative, and direct primary. Social Justice and equality – Many progressives supported both private and governmental action to help people in need  (such action is called social justice). They embraced welfare, Prohibition of Alcohol, and women’s suffrage. 

Creating economic reform – Through regulation of large corporations and monopolies by actions such as trust busting, many progressives hoped that they could liberate human energies from the restrictions imposed by industrial capitalism.

 

Fostering the Efficiency Movement – Many progressives hoped to make American governments better able to serve the peoples needs by making governmental operations and services more efficient and rational.

 

Environmentalism - made great strides under progressive President Theodore Roosevelt.



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Brandi

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1) Primary Source Document: If the anti-trust people really grasped the full meaning of what they said, and if they really had the power or the courage to do what they propose, they would be engaged in one of the most destructive agitations that America has known. They would be breaking up the beginning of collective organization, thwarting the possibility of cooperation, and insisting upon submitting industry to the wasteful, the planless scramble of little profiteers.

Walter Lippman, 1914

Walter Lippman knew that the anti-trust people had not been successful in destroying the trusts because he claims that IF they had the power or courage to do what they proposed, then they would really be able to make a difference, but they had not been able to pull through with their ideas of destroying the trusts. He even stated that they would be breaking up the beginning of collective organization, not that they were.

2) During the Progressive Era people were not successful in destroying trusts. If they had been successful then the Great Depression would have not occurred because there would have been more competition. Everything would not have been connected to one huge corporation. Therefore, when that one big business fell, it affected mostly everyone. The crash of the stock market in 1929 had such a huge effect on the people who were involved in these big businesses due to the fact that not all the trusts were destroyed. When businesses lost money in the crash they lost large lump sums which caused the Depression and made it as extreme as it was. People who invested their money into these huge businesses lost everything due to the fact that they invested all their money into one stock because other stocks weren’t available.


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Alex, Kurt, Kristen

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1. Mayor James Curley and an associate took the civil service exams for postmen for two men in their district to help them get jobs with the federal government. His reputation grew to be that of a person for the working class and poor people.

http://www.ibew103.com/IBEWLocal103Story/GrowthOfALocal/Mayor_Curley

2. June 1922 – Mayor Curley calls a meeting at City Hall between the B.T.E.A. and building of trade unions. He eventually paved the way for a settlement in the year and half strike in the policemen’s strike and the Building Trades strike.

3. In exchange for votes, the Irish Catholic provided money and food. From 1872 onward, Tammany had an Irish "boss." They played an increasingly important role in state politics, supporting one candidate and feuding with another. The greatest success came in 1928 when a Tammany hero, New York Governor Al Smith, won the Democratic presidential nomination.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tammany_Hall 

4. The strength of the machine was found in both the personal allegiance and the local neighborhood identity of the people involved. A “precinct captain” ran each neighborhood of vote giving employees. The immigrant would see the captain for the initial job, go to them for advice, let them adjudicate complaints and controversies and, most important, to secure other jobs for members of the immigrant family. On Election Day, the precinct captain would make sure the voter turnout was 100 percent.

http://www.albany.edu/~dkw42/s1_immigrants.html

  5. Political Machines were supported by the people. The boss of a political machine needed the support of the working class people which was a majority of the population. Alot of money was taken from the government and given to the people as bribes. Many people who were given bribes had managment jobs and jobs that were higher up than that of an unskilled worker, in return the working  class man was given opportunities that normally wouldnt come there way.

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Amanda

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The Progressives hindered the Labor Movement

The progressive reformers worked harder to better the lives of white Americans than they did for immigrants or blacks, when they were a majority of the workers that the progressives said they were trying to help.
 “The Progressive era coincided with the years of greatest segregation in the South, and in southern states, progressivism meant keeping blacks outside the political process.  Even the most advanced progressives seldom included blacks in their reform schemes.”
                                                                                        From Progressivism for Whites Only 
                                                                                     from the packet on progressivism


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melissa

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my fourth and final point:

Article 23
 

1.      Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favorable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.

2.      Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.

3.      Everyone who works has the right to just and favorable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection.

4.      Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.

   Article 24
  1. Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.


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s.bailey

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so, debating is really not my favorite....

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L. Gonzalez

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OH Yeah!! I forgot to say where I got my information from. I used the internet cites and the packet on Progressivism.

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Butchie

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Other 2 Facts

4.  On the tablet of the Staute of Liberty it states, "With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"  Yet we continue to discriminate against the immigrants in our country.  We blame them for every little thing wrong with our country.  We agrue that they shouldn't have rights because they aren't in our country legally but neither did we when we first came to the country.

5.  Many immigrants come to this country to find freedom and a new beginning.  Our country isn't perfect but it is better than most other countries. Immigrants come here for a new beginning but we just deport them or give them no rights at all.  For example, "Don't condemn me, For leaving my country, Poverty and necessity, Are at fault. Good-bye, pretty Guanajuato, The state in which I was born. I'm going to the United States, Far away from you." was written by a Mexican immigrant trying to explain to his country why he was going to the US.  They want to live here and be part of our country but we don't let them.


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Amanda

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The Progressive Movement hindered the labor movement:

The Progressive Movement did not do enough to end child labor, more emphasis was placed on wages and working hours than on the treatment of children.

                       

“Like other progressive reform efforts, the battle against child labor was only partly successful.  Too many businesses, both small and large, were profiting from employing children at low wages.  Too many politicians and judges were reluctant to regulate the work of children or adults because work seemed such an individual and personal matter.  And some parents, who often desperately needed the money their children earned in the factories, opposed the reformers and even broke the law to allow their children to work.”

                        From Child Labor from the packet on progressivism

           

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melissa

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By definition progressivism aims to achieve gradual social change, and most progressives are outright opposed to any form of radical revolution. Progressives often supported such goals as the eight-hour work day, improved safety and health conditions in factories, workers compensation laws, minimum wage laws, and unionization. Progressives also support the continual advancement of workers' rights and social justice.

We pledge ourselves to work...for:
Effective legislation looking to the prevention of industrial accidents, occupational diseases, overwork, involuntary unemployment, and other injurious effects incident to modern industry;
The fixing of minimum safety and health standards....
The prohibition of child labor;
Minimum wage standards for working women, to provide a "living wage" in all industrial occupations; The general prohibition of night work for women and the establishment of eight hour day for women and young persons;
One day's rest in seven for all wage workers;
The eight hour day in continuous twenty-four-hour industries;
The abolition of the convict contract-labor system....
Standards of compensation for death by industrial accident and injury and trade disease which will transfer the burden of lost earnings from the families of working people to the industry, and thus to the community....
Establishing...schools for industrial education under public control and encouraging agricultural education and demonstration in rural schools;
The establishment of industrial research laboratories to put the methods and discoveries of science at the service of American producers;
We favor the organization of the workers, men and women, as means protecting their interests and of promoting their progress....
-          Progressive Party Platform, 1912 

The Five Original goals of Progressivism:
 

Democracy –
Many progressives hoped to make government in the U.S. more responsive to the direct voice of the American people by instituting reforms such as initiative, and direct primary. 
Social Justice and equality – Many progressives supported both private and governmental action to help people in need  (such action is called social justice). They embraced welfare, Prohibition of Alcohol, and women’s suffrage. 
Creating economic reform – Through regulation of large corporations and monopolies by actions such as trust busting, many progressives hoped that they could liberate human energies from the restrictions imposed by industrial capitalism.
Fostering the Efficiency Movement – Many progressives hoped to make American governments better able to serve the peoples needs by making governmental operations and services more efficient and rational.
Environmentalism - made great strides under progressive President Theodore Roosevelt    

Article 23 
1.      Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favorable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.
2.      Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.
3.      Everyone who works has the right to just and favorable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection.
4.      Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.

Article 24
 
Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours   and periodic holidays with pay.

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Tom

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The Hepburn Act of 1906 strengthened existing railroad regulations in the following ways:

    1. Increased the size of the Interstate Commerce Commission from five to seven members
    2. Gave the ICC the power to establish maximum rates
    3. Restricted the use of free passes
    4. Brought other common carriers (businesses that transport goods or information for a fee), such as terminals, storage facilities, pipelines, ferries and others, under ICC jurisdiction
    5. Required the adoption of uniform accounting practices for all carriers
    6. In appeals situations, placed the burden of proof on the shipper, not the ICC; this was a major change from the previous practice in which the railroads had blunted regulations by lengthy appeals.
 

The Elkins Act in 1903 ended the common practice of the railroads granting rebates to their most valued customers. The great oil and livestock companies of the day paid the rates stated by the railroads, but demanded rebates on those payments. The giants paid significantly less for rail service than farmers and other small operators.


The railroads had long resented being extorted by the trusts and welcomed the Elkins legislation. The law provided further that rates had to be published and that violations of the law would find both the railroad and the shipper liable for prosecution.

 

The Federal Trade Commission was designed to enforce the Clayton Act and regulate business’s to protect consumers.

 

The Industrial Commission was a United States government body in existence from 1898 to 1902. It was appointed by President William McKinley to investigate railroad pricing policy, industrial concentration, and the impact of immigration on labor markets, and make recommendations to the President and Congress.

 

Though the Pure Food and Drug Act was initially concerned with making sure products were labeled correctly, the labeling requirement gave way to efforts to outlaw certain products that were not safe, followed by efforts to outlaw products which were safe but not efficacious.



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Kirsten, Curt and Alex

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The symbiotic relationship between the growing immigrant population and big city party machines during the Gilded Age was mutually beneficial forThe United States as a whole. The points are that the immigranst helped our economy grow greatly and politcis were gettign involved in their rights. Politics began thinking about ideas to improve life for these immigrants and in return have the back up support of the immgirants to push their issues.Many of the immigrants came to the U.S. and were given jobs in business such as coal mines, textile mills , and steel mills. Many people were needed to work these jobs because the materials were in demand greatly. These immigrants did more work as efficient as the Americans and needed the employment more because of their harsh lives. The immigrants helped gather all these raw materials to help our country out.The government helped keep immigrants together in tiny communities to work together and become more efficient. With neighbors who spoke the native language they were able to find information about work opportunities, news in the world and information about the city. Basically it kept all the same groups together as one and allowed each to communicate and help each other out instead of putting them out there on their lonesome.Many political government powers decided to help the immigrants out by improving working condition, teaching them English and actually giving them supporting their everyday lives. Many of these politicians also fought for more rights for immigrants.Some of the politicians (such as Tweed) took money from the rich and gave it to the poor to help them benefit a bit from this money and homes. It helped them to get by a bit in their new American lives. Many times in social disasters, such as fires, these helpful politicians helped to bring these people back to their normal lives by providing them with temporary homes, clothing and food until the homes were fixed and they were reimbursed for their losses.

As more immigrants settled in America they began to learn more about the American ways of life and their rights. Many after they became citizens tried to get involved in politics to help immigrants from their culture out a bit. Some also confined together to try improve the lifestyles and the communities of their people. By doing this they created a whole different type of political party. With this new political development, many of the immigrants would form together and unite under this political party making it well known within the immigrants. This caught the attention of others and they began to come up with ideas to support the party and help them gain more recognition and attention for their cause. Many immigrants would be able to do the same job as many Americans for lower wages that still managed to help them out in their everyday lives. These new political party was trying to develop a way to make the wages of these people better and help them out in these tough jobs because some of these jobs were very dangerous. The parties tried to moral for rights as a laborer and create a union to protect the rights of these immigrant workers in the U.S. With these better living conditions more immigrants would come in calling for more homes but they would have the job opportunities that would help them succeed much better in this country than their own.

Mayor James Curley and an associate took the civil service exams for postmen for two men in their district to help them get jobs with the federal government. His reputation grew to be that of a person for the working class and poor people. June 1922 – Mayor Curley calls a meeting at City Hall between the B.T.E.A. and building of trade unions. He eventually paved the way for a settlement in the year and half strike in the policemen’s strike and the Building Trades strike. In exchange for votes, the Irish Catholic provided money and food. From 1872 onward, Tammany had an Irish "boss." They played an increasingly important role in state politics, supporting one candidate and feuding with another. The greatest success came in 1928 when a Tammany hero, New York Governor Al Smith, won the Democratic presidential nomination. The strength of the machine was found in both the personal allegiance and the local neighborhood identity of the people involved. A “precinct captain” ran each neighborhood of vote giving employees. The immigrant would see the captain for the initial job, go to them for advice, let them adjudicate complaints and controversies and, most important, to secure other jobs for members of the immigrant family. On Election Day, the precinct captain would make sure the voter turnout was 100 percent. Political Machines were supported by the people. The boss of a political machine needed the support of the working class people which was a majority of the population. Alot of money was taken from the government and given to the people as bribes. Many people who were given bribes had managment jobs and jobs that were higher up than that of an unskilled worker, in return the working  class man was given opportunities that normally wouldnt come there way.

In Document C, its shows the mentality of the politics at the time that were actually tryign to come together and help immigrants who had bad living conditions.The politics would actually rally to help them in times of need and in some ways get them soem jobs. In Document A, it gives the general idea of what a political machine is and describes it as a cycle in which the workers and the boss are equal in terms with politics and that they should have rights to help them alot (work conditions, income tax, increased wages). Finally in Document H, it shows the influx of immigrants coming into the country and these reasons were bascially for the need of unskilled labor and better life in America. In conclusion the gorwing immigrant population and the political party machines were mutually beneficial for the U.S. during the Gilded Age.


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Brandi

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Sherman Antitrust Act 

The act provided that “Every person who shall monopolize, or attempt to monopolize, or combine or conspire with any other person or persons, to monopolize any part of the trade or commerce among the several States, or with foreign nations , shall be deemed guilty of a felony”.  But this did not pull through.  Roosevelt used the Act extensively in his antitrust campaign, but when he actually came into office he did not use it.  The Sherman Antitrust Act did not improve the competition or benefit consumers.  Alan Greenspan wrote an essay called “Antitrust” which puts down the Sherman Antitrust Act.  He referred to it as a stifling innovation and said it harmed society.  In his essay he stated, “No one will ever know what new products, processes, machines, and cost-saving mergers failed to come into existence, killed by the Sherman Act before they were born. No one can ever compute the price that all of us have paid for that Act which, by inducing less effective use of capital, has kept our standard of living lower than would otherwise have been possible.”  For the consequences of going against the act, some violations were not even prosecuted criminally as it explained in the act.  The Act didn’t stop existsing monopolies but instead helped benfit them.  The Act put a stop to new uprising monopolies which in return gave the power that they would have had back to the existing monopolies. This caused already large monopolies to grow.



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kathryn

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4)            The symbiotic relationship between the growing immigrant population and big city party machines during the Gilded Age was mutually beneficial.   Assess the validity of this statement.  For the DBQ, click here.

It was mutually beneficial – Alex J., Kristen, Curt
It was not mutually beneficial – Kelsey L., Kathryn  
  

1.     
Big city party machines consist of an unauthorized political system.  It is based on patronage, spoils system, “money given under the table”, control and a great deal of political relations amongst leaders in democracy.  These machines can be easily compared to loyalty amongst gangs, specifically the Mafia.   There is usually a head boss with great political power and influence, who has his ‘little men’ do all his work for him. There influence was not good, in which many were suspected of immbessilment and other corrupt ways of obtaining money.  Some of these people were arrested, such was William M. Tweed who would later flee to Europe and come back to be relected back into city government.  Their ability to steal money and increase their political stance allowed them to increase their profits and power.  Their corrupt actions are mentioned in “The New York City Ring” by Samuel Tilden in 1873, in which these “men who in public push to extremes the abstract ideas of their respective parties, while they secretly join their hands in schemes for personal power and profit.”  A good leader is not a corrupt leader.   

2.     
 Many of the people who took part in these big party machines would imbessile and rob factory working immigrants from their money unknowingly.  These political machines had many immigrant allies who were blinded by their social status.  After all, many immigrants who arrived in America had no money and no jobs.  These political machines could employ people by doing “under the table” business.  But the work that the political machines offered were extremely hard jobs consisting of poor working conditions and low wages.  Their pay checks were even more decreased when these political machines imbessiled and robbed the immigrants of their money. Document C greatly displays why many immigrants liked the political machines, in which their political power in society gave them the power to employ many immigrants who had no jobs or money.  The document states that “The poor are the most grateful people in the world…” however that does not mean they aren’t desperate.  The poor maybe grateful, but when you have no money or job, desperation starts to kick in and they will go to anyone with political power in order to get a job to make a living. 

3.     
Once people began to discover the dirty business which these political machines were running, they began to protest.  People such as the Mugwumps tried demolishing and help expose the corrupt business of big city party machines.  Some noteworthy mugwumps are: Charles Francis Adams, Jr (General of the union army and railroad executive), Henry Adams (an author), and Thomas Nast (A cartoonist who drew the Tammy Hall Tiger, a symbol of Boss Tweeds Political Machine). 

4.      
There is evidence that the growing immigrant population and big city party machines during the Gilded Age was NOT mutually beneficial and was undemocratic.  Big city party machines like William M. Tweed was not an honest man.  He was arrested several times for embezzlement, later fleeing to Europe.  He then came back to America to be reelected into New York City government.  He had such great influence, but was a sneaky person behind the scenes, stealing millions of dollars from the city through graft.

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Julia

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American society remained true to its core values of liberty, equality and opportunity regarding immigration issues during the years of 1880-1925. Reasons why:

*Liberty
 -Immigrants were free

"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me.
I lift my lamp beside the golden door."

- Inscription on Statue of Liberty

http://www.zyra.org.uk/liberty1.htm

*Jobs
Immigrants were offered many job opportunies, and could even have the same jobs as average Americans, maybe even better

http://www.americanparknetwork.com/parkinfo/content.asp?catid=85&contenttypeid=34#1580
Name (Date of Birth-Death)Native CountryArrivedField
Charles Atlas (1894-1972)Italy1903BodybuildingIrving Berlin (1888-1989)Russia1893MusicFrank Capra (1897-1991)Italy1903FilmClaudette Colbert (1903-1996)France1912Film/TheaterXavier Cugat (1900-1990)Spain/Cuba1915MusicKarl Dane (1886-1934)Denmark1920FilmFather Edward Flanagan (1886-1948)Ireland1904ReligionFelix Frankfurter (1882-1965)Austria1894LawMarcus Garvey (1887-1940)Jamaica1916PoliticsKahlil Gibran (1883-1931)Lebanon1895LiteratureArshile Gorky (1904-1948)Armenia1920ArtBob Hope (1903- )England1908Show BusinessSol Hurok (1884-1974)Ukraine1906TheaterAl Jolson (1886-1950)Lithuania1894Show BusinessElia Kazan (1909- )Turkey1913Film/TheaterRuby Keeler (1909-1993)Canada1912DanceJohn Kluge (1914- )Germany1925BusinessAlfred Levitt (1894- )Belarus1911ArtBela Lugosi (1882-1956)Hungary1921Film/TheaterHyman G. Rickover (1898-1986)Russia1904ScienceEdward G. Robinson (1893-1973)Romania1903FilmKnute Rockne (1888-1931)Norway1893SportsLee Strasberg (1902-1982)Austria1909TheaterArthur Tracy (1899-1997)Russia1906Music/FilmRudolph Valentino (1895-1926)Italy1913FilmBaron von Trapp & FamilyAustria1938Music

Tanya and Brittney, I'm still working on finding information on my other points but they are:

*Education
*
Gained Citizenship
*Cheaper Land

I'll finish as soon as I can!

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Jessica !

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The Progressive Movement helped the labor movement.

The Federal Farm Loan Act; Establishing 12 regional Farm Loan Banks the legislation would grant loans to farm cooperative associations. Using their land and improvements as collateral farmers could borrow from their local institution.
  

Workingmen’s compensation act; the prime concern of many progressives was to extend financial assistance to injured workers.  Legislation in 1916 extended the partial coverage to federal workers who were injured on the job.  Eight-Hour-Days; in 1864 it became a general demand of the Chicago labor movement.  The National Labor Union at Baltimore continuously said “The first and great necessity of the present to free labor of this country from capitalist slavery, is the passing of the law by which eight hours shall be the normal working day in all states of the American Union…” May 1st 1886 Albert Parsons with his family led approximately 80,000 people down Michigan Avenue, creating the first-ever modern May Day Parade, thus supporting the eight-hour day demand. 

Prostitution; the rates of infection and disease were drastically increasing if they didn’t put a stop to it.  Findings about sexually transmitted “social Disease” were a particular nightmare for the eugenic movement which emerged in the 1880s, and which feared the long-term consequences for racial progress.  Most women and men who were involved in the feminist movement were against prostitution due to their newly inquired interest in social hygiene.  Prostitution became a regular crime advocating against political reform and a clean government.  Although the United States wasn’t able to put a complete stop to prostitution, they number of females in prostitution minimized when they were exposed to the harsh truth of disease and infections.  

 Triangular Shirtwaist Company; shorty after the fire many unions began to plan relief works for the survivors and the families of the deceased.  The executive Committee supervised and now cared for young workers lending large weekly pensions.  The American Red Cross on March 25, 1911 donated around 3.1 Million dollars.

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melanie<3

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2) Did the Progressive movement help or hinder the labor movements of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries?


My argument is it hurt the labor movement.

The progressive movement did nothing but hinder the Labor movement in many ways. There intentions were to help but that was the last thing they did. The first reason it worsened the Labor Movement was because 1) improvements were not made. Although they tried and had intentions, nothing was done. The
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire is one example in which the Progressives did nothing to help or stop a situation. In this situation women were locked in the building in order for them not to take breaks and just continue to work. When a tragic fire happened, 146 women died from either the fire or jumping to their death. Where were the progressive people then huh? Second reason the Progressives hindered the Labor movement was 2) they supported many strikes. This just made the situation worst and most of the time didn’t work. It caused people to get fired and back-ups in the factory supplies. Most the time other people were called in to do the protestors jobs so they had no effect. Products were still made and the bosses were happy. Now the workers not only were complaining about wages or conditions, but also had no job. Strikes had almost no affect. 3) Another reason was riots. Riots were coming up everywhere. People were dieing because progressives thought they could change the world in one day. Because of protests and strikes, police had to often come in and riots broke out. Starting calm and peaceful strikes was very hard to do and was also very rare. They didn’t work because differences in union leadership, divisions between skilled and unskilled workers, and ethnic and racial tensions. The riots of 1892 at Carnegie's steel works in Homestead, Pennsylvania was one of many riots during this time. A group of 300 Pinkerton detectives the company had hired to break a bitter strike by the Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel and Tin Workers were fired upon and 10 were killed. The National Guard was called in as a result, non-union workers hired and the strike broken. Unions were not let back into the plant until 1937. In conclusion to the strikes, Progressives caused deaths and people getting fired from their jobs whether they meant to or not. Thanks a lot! They would have been better off staying out of the factories business. Which brings me to my next pint, point 4). Most of the people saying they have sympathy and caring about workers, the progressives, yea they have no idea how those people felt. They were mostly white and middle class. How did they know how it was to work in a factory if they never worked in one? They didn’t know how it was to be a 16-year-old girl or an immigrant from Ireland. They said they knew but they didn’t. They tried to help but they hurt.

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Alex Z.

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 L. Gonzalez wrote:

My five facts showing how the Progressive Era hindered the labor movement are:1.) The actual progressives were middle-class so they didn’t really know what it was like to live in a poor lifestyle. They were trying to help without knowing first hand what it was like to be a minority and deal with the racism and discrimination because you were a minority.  There was a section in the packet given to us by Mr. E that read “Progressivism for Whites only.” That right there showed that even though they seemed to be trying to help, with the creation of the IWW they weren’t being successful in it.  There was still that state of mind of white supremacy over all the immigrants and minorities that were coming into the United States. ...



1.
True, the Progressives were mostly made up of members of the middle-class, but lacking the true experience of a lower-class worker by no means discredits efforts to help such folk.
Progressives made an effort to achieve protective legislation - that is, federal laws to ensure their well-being - for women and children. Given that without such efforts of the progressives, big business would have continued on without any limits (e.g. trust-busters) as they had been after Reconstruction. Any and all results of the progressive movement (e.g. labor unions, etc.) surely must be accredited to those who went out of their way to help the common worker.
 

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Kristen, Alex, and Curt

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kathryn wrote:

   

1.     
Big city party machines consist of an unauthorized political system.  It is based on patronage, spoils system, “money given under the table”, control and a great deal of political relations amongst leaders in democracy.  These machines can be easily compared to loyalty amongst gangs, specifically the Mafia.   There is usually a head boss with great political power and influence, who has his ‘little men’ do all his work for him. There influence was not good, in which many were suspected of immbessilment and other corrupt ways of obtaining money.  Some of these people were arrested, such was William M. Tweed who would later flee to Europe and come back to be relected back into city government.  Their ability to steal money and increase their political stance allowed them to increase their profits and power.  Their corrupt actions are mentioned in “The New York City Ring” by Samuel Tilden in 1873, in which these “men who in public push to extremes the abstract ideas of their respective parties, while they secretly join their hands in schemes for personal power and profit.”  A good leader is not a corrupt leader.   



It is true that there were many corrupt officials who went to jail but there were some who actually used the money taken to actually help out the community. James Curley was an official who indeed took money from the city but used the money to help imporve living conditions and used the money to start a movement to try and improve working conditions for the Irish community.



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Tanya

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3)            Between 1880 and 1925 American society remained true to its core values of liberty, equality and opportunity regarding immigration issues.  Assess the validity of this statement.  2.  In “Songs of Mexican Migration” by Paul S. Taylor, the song states, “Don't condemn me For leaving my country, Poverty and necessity Are at fault.” Immigrants came to America to better their lives.  In their home countries, most of the immigrants were poor, as this song indicates as a reason for them coming to America; to have more economic opportunity.  The song then goes on to say, “I go to the United States to seek to earn a living.” This also supports that this immigrant went to the United States to become wealthier than he was in his home country.  Along with the Mexicans, were the Italians, who also came to America seeking a better lifestyle.  Judy Baehr, staff writer for “The Daily Journal,” points out that by 1890, half of the men who worked on the railroad between Philadelphia and New York were Italian immigrants.  They were able to acquire the same types of jobs as American unskilled laborers. 3.  In a poem written by Emma Lazarus in 1883, she describes the Statue of Liberty as follows:“From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command”She then goes on to say:"Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!" This description indicates that America is welcoming immigrants.  The Statue of Liberty in the United States, is also for immigrants.  Lazarus is saying that America welcomes immigrants and treats then as though they belong.  America will allow the immigrants to be free once they were in America, keeping its core values of liberty in American society. 4.  W. F. Warde in “John Dewey’s Theories of Education,” stated that:  The immigrants, working and middle classes regarded education, not as an adornment or a passport to aristocratic culture, but as indispensable equipment to earn a better living and rise in the social scale. They especially valued those subjects which were conducive to success in business.” Immigrants wanted to come to America to get and education to better their lives.  Private business colleges were set up in the nineteenth century, where immigrants with previous education could attend.  These business colleges taught, the mathematics, bookkeeping, and knowledge of English needed to succeed in the business field.  This supports that American society remained true to its core values of equality and opportunity.

I'll try finding a fifth arguement tonight.


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Amanda

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Progressive movement hindered the labor movement:

The fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory was due to poor safety standards that reformers had failed to address in the garment industry.  Reformers did not do enough for the health and safety of workers.                    The conditions of the factory were typical of the time. Flammable textiles were stored throughout the factory, smoking was common, illumination was provided by open gas lighting, and there were no fire extinguishers. […] The ninth floor had only two doors leading out. One stairwell was already filling with smoke and flames by the time the seamstresses realized the building was ablaze. The other door had been locked, ostensibly to prevent workers from stealing materials or taking breaks and to keep out union organizers. […]The death toll was 146.”

                                                                             -Wikipedia




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Alex Z.

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Amanda wrote:

Progressive movement hindered the labor movement:

The fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory was due to poor safety standards that reformers had failed to address in the garment industry.  Reformers did not do enough for the health and safety of workers.                    The conditions of the factory were typical of the time. Flammable textiles were stored throughout the factory, smoking was common, illumination was provided by open gas lighting, and there were no fire extinguishers. […] The ninth floor had only two doors leading out. One stairwell was already filling with smoke and flames by the time the seamstresses realized the building was ablaze. The other door had been locked, ostensibly to prevent workers from stealing materials or taking breaks and to keep out union organizers. […]The death toll was 146.”

                                                                             -Wikipedia





It helped the labor movement

First off, the debate was over whether the Progressive movement helped or hindered the labor movement, not over how efficient (or inefficient) those involved were. This may affect other arguments as well…

Now…

2.

Although the fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory was tragic, it followed the so-called “uprising of the twenty-thousand” - a major step in the journey to effective labor unions, especially for women. Middle-class progressives and some upper-class reformers and public officials supported young girls from Jewish, Italian, and other ethnic groups in a struggle for factory improvements. Despite the limited victory and ultimate catastrophe, the uprising had left its mark. After the fire, the government intervened and set up laws to improve hours and conditions for women and children. This was done partly thanks to senator Franklin Delano Roosevelt.


 



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Alex Z.

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melanie<3 wrote:


2) Did the Progressive movement help or hinder the labor movements of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries?


My argument is it hurt the labor movement.

The progressive movement did nothing but hinder the Labor movement in many ways. There intentions were to help but that was the last thing they did. The first reason it worsened the Labor Movement was because 1) improvements were not made. Although they tried and had intentions, nothing was done. The
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire is one example in which the Progressives did nothing to help or stop a situation. In this situation women were locked in the building in order for them not to take breaks and just continue to work. When a tragic fire happened, 146 women died from either the fire or jumping to their death. Where were the progressive people then huh? Second reason the Progressives hindered the Labor movement was 2) they supported many strikes. This just made the situation worst and most of the time didn’t work. It caused people to get fired and back-ups in the factory supplies. Most the time other people were called in to do the protestors jobs so they had no effect. Products were still made and the bosses were happy. Now the workers not only were complaining about wages or conditions, but also had no job. Strikes had almost no affect. ...


It helped the labor movement

This isn’t another point, but may I advise you to read my numero dos above? ^



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Alex Z.

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melanie<3 wrote:


2) Did the Progressive movement help or hinder the labor movements of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries?


My argument is it hurt the labor movement.

...
3) Another reason was riots. Riots were coming up everywhere. People were dieing because progressives thought they could change the world in one day. Because of protests and strikes, police had to often come in and riots broke out. Starting calm and peaceful strikes was very hard to do and was also very rare. They didn’t work because differences in union leadership, divisions between skilled and unskilled workers, and ethnic and racial tensions. The riots of 1892 at Carnegie's steel works in Homestead, Pennsylvania was one of many riots during this time. A group of 300 Pinkerton detectives the company had hired to break a bitter strike by the Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel and Tin Workers were fired upon and 10 were killed. The National Guard was called in as a result, non-union workers hired and the strike broken. Unions were not let back into the plant until 1937. ...



It helped the labor movement

3.
This statement may seem harsh, but the Progressive movement was about preventing corporations from taking overwhelming advantages over common workers. My point in respect to that thought is that the lives lost through those riots are far less than the amount of lives that could have potentially been lost had the riots never taken place.

Simple observation of the world around us can lead us to conclude that poverty-stricken countries have child labor and visa versa, and that health issues entail as well. Thanks to the sacrifices of those involved in the labor movement (as well as the Progressive movement), our country has avoided the aforementioned, widespread atrocities thus far.



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Amanda

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Alex Z. wrote:

Amanda wrote:

Progressive movement hindered the labor movement:

The fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory was due to poor safety standards that reformers had failed to address in the garment industry. Reformers did not do enough for the health and safety of workers. The conditions of the factory were typical of the time. Flammable textiles were stored throughout the factory, smoking was common, illumination was provided by open gas lighting, and there were no fire extinguishers. […] The ninth floor had only two doors leading out. One stairwell was already filling with smoke and flames by the time the seamstresses realized the building was ablaze. The other door had been locked, ostensibly to prevent workers from stealing materials or taking breaks and to keep out union organizers. […]The death toll was 146.”

-Wikipedia





It helped the labor movement

First off, the debate was over whether the Progressive movement helped or hindered the labor movement, not over how efficient (or inefficient) those involved were. This may affect other arguments as well…





 


Well Alex, if the people involved in the progressive movement weren't efficient enough then they would not have been able to accomplish their goals in the labor movement, which were higher wages, shorter working days, and safer conditions for workers. So the efficiency of the people involved in the Progressive movement does have an effect on whether the Progressive movement helped or hindered labor movement.

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