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Working And Living Conditions During The Progressive Era

1045 Words5 Pages

Working and living conditions during the beginning of the Gilden Age were often inadequate, leading middle-class and working-class individuals to push for change through the Progressive Era. Accidents resulting in injuries or death were led by poor sanitation in both the work industry and in the homes of low and middle-income citizens. Attention to workplace sanitation resulted from workers and other progressivists speaking up, and fighting for change. Different muckraking journalists such as Upton Sinclair and Lincoln Steffens spoke out against the government for corruption and unsanitary conditions in the workplace which persuaded the public to fight for change in sanitation. During the Progressive Era, epidemiologists and progressives created …show more content…

With an increase in the divide of economic equality during the Gilden Age, low-income individuals often lived in overcrowding housing, and “they were were served—if at all—by inadequate public water supplies and waste disposal”. These housing conditions were perfect for contagious diseases to spread and flourish. However, throughout the Progressive Era, germ theory rapidly improved as the United States became more aware of how germs and diseases spread through both people and contaminated objects. The average citizen, along with large corporations took precautions of sanitary methods “to insure cleanliness, fresh air, pure water, proper sanitary arrangements, etc,” along with detecting diseases early before they could spread. Sanitation for illnesses before the Progressive Era was often minimal causing the disease to rapidly spread. However, new sanitary precautions were able to minimalize the spread of disease, decreasing the number of lives lost due to illness. Throughout the Progressive Era, the care of illnesses in and out of the workplace greatly improved through an understanding of how diseases work and knowledge of ways to prevent …show more content…

Water pollution before the Gilden Age greatly impacted public health, but it was often ignored until progressives pushed for change. Sewage was the biggest factor in water pollution, and it “was primarily a public health problem, but it also damaged private property, recreation and fisheries”. The lack of waste disposal caused many people to be infected with diseases which led to progressive policies being formed to fix the issue of water pollution. In 1899, The Rivers and Harbor Act was passed which prohibited the discharge of waste into navigable waters, and the sanitation of water greatly improved after epidemiologists found the negative effects of waste disposal. The improvement of the sanitation of water impacted public health by decreasing deadly outbreaks of diseases like cholera. Throughout the Progressive Era, the cleanliness of water improved, creating safe water that is not polluted with waste, which is similar to the tap water people still drink

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Upton Sinclair's Reforms In The 1900s

301 Words | 2 Pages

Some significant reforms in the 1900s were the homes families and strangers lived in going from slums to nicer living conditions. For example living in an apartment that is meant for 1 maybe 2 adults has 10 to 15 adults living in it with a bathroom down the hall away from the rooms for people in other apartments to use as well, or when someone gets a sickness in the apartment and everyone in the whole building gets it because everything is contaminated from the person being sick. It went from that to a little bit bigger homes with lesser people and cleaner rooms and bathrooms. Upton Sinclairs was an activist because he took part in what he thought was right when it came to meet packaging and how it needs to be reformed and cleaned. And if

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Comparison Of 1880-1900 And The Progressive Era

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Analyze The Changes That Occurred In The Early 1900's

272 Words | 2 Pages

Luckily, the movement of progressivism swept across America in a hurry. Progressives had an ultimate goal, to improve society. Homes and factories were filthy, deforestation was rising, and most people were working in horrible conditions. Using the examples of sanitation, wildlife, and the workplace; I can choose where to put my money. If I had one million dollars to spend on society improvements in the early 1900’s, I would spend $500,000 on factories and labor, $300,000 on sanitation and $200,000 on wildlife.

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1099 Words | 5 Pages

Working conditions during the Industrial Revolution were unhealthy and dangerous for the low-skilled workers. This is seen most prominently in Joseph Hebergam’s 1832 testimony before Parliament, where in response

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Gilded Age DBQ Essay

1098 Words | 5 Pages

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Success And Failure During The Progressive Era

264 Words | 2 Pages

There was many successes and failures during the Progressive Era, however to me the most important success was the women suffrage and the biggest failure was child labor. Women suffrage was a success because it allowed women to vote. For instance, women were not listen to during this time this in fact anger the women. However, after fighting for so long woman could vote and give their opinion. Women suffrage was also a success because ever since then women have become consider to making decisions such as choosing the next president.

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95 Words | 1 Pages

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595 Words | 3 Pages

Often times, many people are associated with the Progressive Era. However, the most important people in the time period are the presidents, because they are the people in charge of making changes to politics and helping society, whether it be about consumers, women, children, nature, or otherwise. Presidents Theodore Roosevelt, William Taft, and Woodrow Wilson made great impacts during the Progressive Era. Most of the changes that happened at that time still impact our lives today.

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1609 Words | 7 Pages

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283 Words | 2 Pages

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The Progressive Era (1890s-1920s)

958 Words | 4 Pages

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895 Words | 4 Pages

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848 Words | 4 Pages

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1130 Words | 5 Pages

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Essay On Working Conditions During The Industrial Revolution

799 Words | 4 Pages

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