American Identity during the Progressive Era
In the late 19th century, a growing railroad system, new production technologies, a laissez-faire economic policy, and the "gospel of wealth" ideology combined to raise industry to become one of the most powerful part of American society, with the result of a wage slave system, with a struggling working class and a very wealthy class of capitalists. Despite the power of these capitalists and their trusts, government finally came in by the start of the 19th century to make things better for the working class. Much of this new government intervention came from the actions of the muckrakers. They wanted to tell the public about the living and working conditions of the working class, the poor, and recent immigrants. Some were socialists, some were for organized labor, and some were simply disgusted with the state of America under the rule of the corporations. They hoped, through public outrage, that they could achieve social and economic reform that could help the workers and immigrants and restrain the robber barons who had too much power.
Lincoln Steffens's, The Shame of the Cities, and Upton Sinclair's The Jungle were very influential in changing public opinion about the practices of industry, government, and the living conditions of many urban workers. Also influential was the photography of Jacob Riis and Lewis Hine. Riis's photographs of tenements and the life of immigrants and the very poor educated the public about such atrocity in the urban slums. Hine's photos of child labor played a role in stirring up public outrage about that practice of big business. The legacy of these muckrakers was their work, their writings and photographs that warn, us even to today, about the danger of unregulated industry. Although they were not able to get as much legislation passed as they wanted or to have la lasting impact on policy and politics, the muckrakers and the Progressives did set America on the right track in the years preceding World War One.
Lincoln Steffens's, The Shame of the Cities, and Upton Sinclair's The Jungle were very influential in changing public opinion about the practices of industry, government, and the living conditions of many urban workers. Also influential was the photography of Jacob Riis and Lewis Hine. Riis's photographs of tenements and the life of immigrants and the very poor educated the public about such atrocity in the urban slums. Hine's photos of child labor played a role in stirring up public outrage about that practice of big business. The legacy of these muckrakers was their work, their writings and photographs that warn, us even to today, about the danger of unregulated industry. Although they were not able to get as much legislation passed as they wanted or to have la lasting impact on policy and politics, the muckrakers and the Progressives did set America on the right track in the years preceding World War One.
"Knee-pants" at forty five cents a dozen
1890
A Ludlow Street sweat shop.
Photograph by Jacob Riis
1890
A Ludlow Street sweat shop.
Photograph by Jacob Riis
Typical Tenement Fire escape
Allen Street
1890
Fire escapes in tenements, instead of providing a safe exit in the event of a fire, often were used as storage and as part of the apartment.
Photograph by Jacob Riis
Allen Street
1890
Fire escapes in tenements, instead of providing a safe exit in the event of a fire, often were used as storage and as part of the apartment.
Photograph by Jacob Riis
Miniature Tuberculosis Exhibition
1900
The living conditions of tenements were awful, with interior apartments receiving little or no light or fresh air, often causing disease, such as tuberculosis.
Photograph by Jacob Riis
1900
The living conditions of tenements were awful, with interior apartments receiving little or no light or fresh air, often causing disease, such as tuberculosis.
Photograph by Jacob Riis
Family in room in tenement house
1910
Photograph by Jacob Riis
1910
Photograph by Jacob Riis
Bibb Mill No. 1
Macon, Georgia
In factories, small children were often employed to do certain jobs, such as replacing the bobbins on these spinning looms. While the children were useful in these jobs for their small hands and low wages, the practice of child labor was terrible to the health and well being of the children themselves, making the practice a target for progressives.
Photograph by Lewis Hine
Macon, Georgia
In factories, small children were often employed to do certain jobs, such as replacing the bobbins on these spinning looms. While the children were useful in these jobs for their small hands and low wages, the practice of child labor was terrible to the health and well being of the children themselves, making the practice a target for progressives.
Photograph by Lewis Hine
Field and Farm Work: Six-year-old Warren Frakes.
While child labor in industry was a target for progressives, agricultural child labor continued, as it had for a long time.
Comanche County, Oklahoma
Photograph by Lewis Hine
While child labor in industry was a target for progressives, agricultural child labor continued, as it had for a long time.
Comanche County, Oklahoma
Photograph by Lewis Hine
A Variety of Jobs
Three young boys stand with shovels in a Fort Worth & Denver train car.
Photograph by Lewis Hine
Three young boys stand with shovels in a Fort Worth & Denver train car.
Photograph by Lewis Hine
Glass Blower and Mold Boy
Grafton, WV
October 1908
National Archives and Records Administration
Records of the Department of Commerce and Labor, Children's Bureau
Photograph by Lewis Hine
Grafton, WV
October 1908
National Archives and Records Administration
Records of the Department of Commerce and Labor, Children's Bureau
Photograph by Lewis Hine
Girl Working in Box Factory
Tampa, FL
January 28, 1909
National Archives and Records Administration
Records of the Department of Commerce and Labor, Children's Bureau
Factories, much regulated before the Progressive era, employed many workers for long hours, low wages, and under tough conditions.
Photograph by Lewis Hine
Tampa, FL
January 28, 1909
National Archives and Records Administration
Records of the Department of Commerce and Labor, Children's Bureau
Factories, much regulated before the Progressive era, employed many workers for long hours, low wages, and under tough conditions.
Photograph by Lewis Hine
Boy Running "Trip Rope" in a Mine
Welch, WV
September 1908
National Archives and Records Administration
Records of the Department of Commerce and Labor, Children's Bureau
The work of children in mines was very harmful to the child workers. Children were more susceptible to Black Lung, from the coal dust, and ended up uneducated due to the tiring labor and lack of regulation.
Photograph by Lewis Hine
Welch, WV
September 1908
National Archives and Records Administration
Records of the Department of Commerce and Labor, Children's Bureau
The work of children in mines was very harmful to the child workers. Children were more susceptible to Black Lung, from the coal dust, and ended up uneducated due to the tiring labor and lack of regulation.
Photograph by Lewis Hine