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Social Reform Dbq

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Teddy Roosevelt proved not only to be an economic reformist but also a social reformist as he transitioned from trust-busting into directly benefitting and protecting the lives and wellbeing of consumers. Before any reforms took place, however, Roosevelt noticed that American meet was being shut out of European markets due to it being unsanitary. This problem along with Upton Sinclair’s novel, The Jungle, drew the major problems of sanitation and working conditions right to Roosevelt’s eye. Therefore, in an attempt to correct this problem, Roosevelt with help of Congress passed the Meat Inspection Act of 1906 which said that the preparation of meat would be inspection by the federal government when transferred over state lines. This act not …show more content…

During this time period, progressive women, like Roosevelt honed in on factory reforms such as eliminating unsafe and unsanitary sweatshops. However, as an underdeveloped and underappreciated class, these women focused on their needs and that of children. For example, reformist Florence Kelley, leader of the National Consumers League who fought for laws safeguarding women and children in the workplace, won the Muller v. Oregon case in 1908 in which the Supreme Court agreed to the constitutionality of laws protecting women workers. This reform, although positive in the sense that it provided protection for women also came with future backlash. This verdict ultimately promoted the concept that women were weaker than men therefore discriminating against women and closing “male” jobs off to women workers. To women of this time period, this limitation of such a prominent reform was unacceptable considering how far women have progressed in society. In addition to this setback, was another Supreme Court case, Lochner v. New York which took place in 1905. This case not only nullified the law establishing a ten hour work day for bakers but also upheld a ten hour day for factory workers. However, this law was meaningless because it went unenforced as seen in the 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Company incident which led to the death of a multitude of women workers. These limitations by such reforms although negative and the opposite of protection for women workers as established by the Muller v. Oregon case led to much stricter laws such as a regulation of hours and conditions for sweatshops and worker compensation laws. In this sense, women faced several limitations while trying to become more prominent in the progressive community, however their defeat and

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185 Words | 1 Pages

Theodore Roosevelt read the novel The Jungle, created by  Upton Sinclair. He was in horror with the insinuations of Sinclair's claims.  He then chose two of his own resources to go and observe a meat packing factory. The men sent were Charles Neill and James Reynolds, Who confirmed the accounts in Sinclair's book. Teddy was going to report it to congress but chose to coerce the meat packing industry by threating them with dissemination of the report.

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When I first read Chapter Ten of “After the Fact”, by James West Davidson and Mark Hamilton Lytle, I was shocked at the methods meat factories use in preparing their products. I was especially shocked seeing as now; we have so many food regulations that most people don’t think twice about the food that is going in their bodies. I am now thinking, do these things still appear in our lives today? It was nice to know that Theodore Roosevelt took action in an attempt to fix these major problems. He became aware of the poor conditions of the meat industry through the book “The Jungle” by Upton Sinclair.

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This then led to Muller suggesting that maybe the state of Oregon is over stepping their own boundaries because according to the 14th amendment they have no say in the matter. The State of Oregon states that the state law could interfere with the amendments “liberty to contract” because the interference can be a causation to protect the safety of the female workers. The Supreme Court defined women as a class needing protection based on their role in society. The Supreme Court also points out the weakness of a woman and how they rely on men for support.

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151 Words | 1 Pages

Now, the Lochner v. New York (1905) case. A New York act called the Bakeshop Act stated that there was a maximum amount of hours bakers could work. The state of New York accused a baker named Joseph Lochner for allowing an employee work longer than the maximum quantity. He was eventually convicted and fined. His conviction was declared by the Court of Appeals.

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1143 Words | 5 Pages

This shocking and devastating event would lead to the Supreme Court Case known as Muller v. Oregon of 1908 in which the Supreme Court reversed previous ruling and limited the woman’s workday to ten hours. This is often seen as a first step in labor reform. However, it is a very small step which required disaster and death in order to be passed. This event signifies a change in the relationship between government and labor in favor of the working

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808 Words | 4 Pages

Reform movements sought to expand democratic ideals in the years 1825 to 1850. These reform movements ranged from religion to women’s rights. While some movements were a success there were failures as well such as nativism and utopias. They failed to exemplify to democratic society. The reform movements were ignited by the Second Great Awakening.

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Analysis on: Florence Kelley on Child Labor Florence Kelly was a social worker who was passionate about restricting child labor laws, her work inspired her to fight for children. In 1905 Florence Kelly spoke to the National American Woman Suffrage Association, an audience that expected her to speak about women's suffrage. Surprisingly, Florence Kelley spoke to her audience about Child Labor laws, a strategy which captured their attention and evoked confusion and anger. As she continues into her speech the Women's Suffrage Association realizes that her message of Child Labor laws also reveals reasons for women's right to vote. Despite her semi-relevant topic, Florence Kelly is purposeful in the structure of her speech as she begins with confusion,

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834 Words | 4 Pages

In the early 1900s, food safety was an incredibly unfamiliar and overlooked part of America’s food industry. Written by muckraker Upton Sinclair, The Jungle, was a controversial novel that depicted the harsh living and working conditions of immigrants working in the food industry. After the release of The Jungle, thousands of meat-eating Americans were horrified at what had been happening in factories. Disgusting yet accurate details presented in The Jungle were the basis for the creation of laws to stop food production from becoming so unsanitary.

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Upton Sinclair wrote in The Jungle, “There would be meat stored in great piles in rooms; and the water from leaky roofs would drip over it, and thousands of rats would race about it.” The conditions in the meatpacking industry were unsanitary and needed to be changed. “Sinclair’s expose led to the passage of the Meat Inspection Act and Pure Food and Drug Act in 1906.” This is also known as the FDA. The FDA is in place to make sure that food is safe to

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1112 Words | 5 Pages

Throughout history there has been many societies that have risen successful, but where there have been success, there is always conflict and problems lurking in the shadows. Some are solved by high authority, but when all else fails the people rise up and form reform movements. A reform movement is a kind of social movement that aims to make a gradual change, or change in certain aspects of society, rather than rapid or fundamental changes. Countless times the United States has experienced a vast history of reforms. In fact, reforms are a key characteristic, which allows the continued success of democracy.

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During the 1900’s, it was common for children to be found working long hours in harsh conditions at factories and textile mills. Also, women were in the midst of fighting for their right to vote. However, the advocation of women’s suffrage would not only benefit women but also children as women would be able to ratify better child labor laws. As a reformer and social worker, Kelly was a strong advocate for women earning the right to vote, so they can better protect the young girls influenced by society’s poor child labor laws. Florence Kelley gave a speech at the convention of the National American Women Suffrage Association in Philadelphia on July 22, 1905 about child labor.

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1143 Words | 5 Pages

His book caused many readers to understand what capitalism can do to a country. His contributions to American history were raising awareness about the effects of capitalism and contributing to the laws that protect US citizens today. For example, “Upton Sinclair’s novel The Jungle, led to the passage of the Pure Food and Drug Act and the Federal Meat Inspection”(“Gale Encyclopedia of U.S. Economic History”). The Jungle provided vivid and horrifying examples of the brutal effects of capitalism and tied in how it caused poverty, hard working conditions, and

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149 Words | 1 Pages

Florence Kelley was a reputable and prominent social and political reformer who frequently spoke out on child labor laws and women´s rights. During the early 20th century numerous children worked long and ardurous hours in factories resulting in many injuries and mortality. The notion that women and children were put in the same if not more dangerous conditions and were paid less than men was resented by many, including Florence Kelley. Kelley was also an advoacte for womens suffrage as women during the 20th century as well as preceding times were looked upon as inferior compared to men. In a speech delivered by Kelley, the topic of child labor laws in thoroughly adressed.

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739 Words | 3 Pages

In the period between 1900 and 1920, the federal government and reformers were very successful in bringing social, economic, and political reform to the federal government. While not every aspect of it was successful, the rights of women, fighting against child labor and limiting the control of trusts and monopolies were three distinct successes of that time. Even before the progressive era, women challenged their place and articulated new visions of social, political and economic equality. The progressive era was a turning point for women as organizations evolved fighting for equal rights. Woman began to become very involved in a variety of reform movements.

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1000 Words | 4 Pages

The Food and Drug Administration was created to prevent the “manufacture, sale, or transportation of adulterated or misbranded or poisonous or deleterious foods, drugs, medicines, and liquors, and for regulating traffic therein, and for other purposes.” (Carpenter). After many years of trying to establish similar acts to help protect the health and safety of the citizens of the US (and some being approved), President Theodore Roosevelt signed the Food and Drug Act in 1906, which would later develop into the FDA that we know today. The FDA was advocated by Harvey Washington Wiley, the chief chemist at the Bureau of Chemistry. The FDA was the endpoint after years of countless efforts to get the government involved in the health and safety of

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