The Progressives22-2

Political Bosses- political figures who had power in cities, counties, and states

Popular with the poor ◦ Gave jobs, coal, turkeys,

etc.◦ In return they expected

political support

Reforming City Governments

Boss Tweed ran Tammany Hall in NYC◦ Political Boss◦ Cheated the city out of $100

million Thomas Nast- political

cartoonist◦ Famous for his political

cartoons about Boss Tweed◦ His cartoons allowed people

to identify Boss Tweed when he fled the country!

Boss Tweed

Stop and Think Who was Boss Tweed? What were some of the problems in the

cities at this time? How was Boss Tweed caught and captured?

Muckrakers- journalists who exposed the “real” truth to the public◦ Ida Tarbell- exposed the Standard Oil Trust◦ Upton Sinclair- exposed the meatpacking

industry

Muckrakers

Reformers who were “forward thinking” people

Wanted to act in the people’s best interest Get rid of corruption

The Progressives

Robert La Follette- Governor of Wisconsin◦ The “Wisconsin Idea”- progressive reforms

Graduated Income Tax- taxes based on how much you make◦ i.e. the more you make, the more you are taxed;

the less you make, the less you are taxed

Political Reforms (see chart on next slide)

Party leaders pick candidates

for state and local offices

Only members of state legislature can introduce bills

Only legislators can pass laws

Only courts or legislature can remove corrupt officials

PRIMARY

INITIATIVE

REFERENDUM

RECALL

Voters select their party’s candidates

Voters can propose bills to the legislature

Voters can vote on bills directly

Voters can remove elected officials from office

BEFORE AFTER

Wrap Up What were muckrakers? Give 2 examples. What was the graduated income tax? List 2 examples of changes that took place

during the progressive era.