American West and Industrialization

Part 7: Progressive Era People

 Overview
The Progressive Era was a time of many changes
in America. 
It started in the 1890s and lasted until the
beginning of World War I in 1917. 
Leaders of the Progressive Era worked to make
America a better country. 
They fought to pass laws that changed the
economic, political, and social structure of the
United States.
W.E.B. Du Bois
W.E.B. Du Bois was an African
American leader whose work led
to the founding of the National
Association for the Advancement
of Colored People (NAACP). 
He wanted to help talented, young
African American students by
sending them to top
universities. 
He thought that with a great
education, these students would
become leaders of the civil rights
movement.
 Booker T. Washington
Booker T. Washington was an
African American leader who
believed that African Americans
could achieve success through
vocational training. 
He started the Tuskegee Institute, a
vocational school in Alabama for
African Americans. 
He wanted educated them to focus
their energy on improving their
local communities.
Susan B. Anthony
Susan B. Anthony was a
leader in the fight for
women’s suffrage. 
She wanted Congress to pass
an amendment that would
give women the right to
vote. 
She had trouble getting
support early in the
Progressive Era, but her
goal was accomplished in
1920.
 Jane Addams
Jane Addams was a humanitarian
leader and social worker. 
She worked to help the poor,
especially immigrants, in urban
Chicago. 
She founded Hull House, a
mansion that was converted into
a settlement house for the poor. 
She was also involved in fighting
for other causes, including labor
reform for women and children.
Robert La Follette
Robert La Follette, Sr., was an
influential Wisconsin governor who
made many progressive reforms in
his state. 
He later became a U.S. senator and
worked on many of the same
goals. 
He supported relief for farm workers,
lowering of income taxes, public
control of resources, and the ending
of corporate monopolies. 
He was the candidate for the
Progressive Party in the presidential
election of 1924.
 Voting Reforms
During the Progressive Era, there were many people who felt that the government was
corrupt and felt that the election process needed to be reformed. 
Progressives were in favor of several voting reforms that they thought would improve the
government. 
The initiative gives voters the power to introduce new laws. 
If a certain number of citizens sign a petition, then the proposed law goes onto a ballot,
and the citizens are able to approve it or reject it. 
The initiative is used by many states. 
The referendum gives citizens the power to vote to approve or reject a law that has been
proposed in the legislature. 
In the United States, referendums do not occur on the federal level, but many states and
municipalities use this as a way to decide on some laws.
Recall is the removal of a public official from office by a popular vote taken by a petition
of a specific number of electors.