McClure's Magazine Progressivism Project

APUSH-Progressivism Project

Introduction

By the latter part of the 19th Century, America was plagued by a multitude of societal injustices. These "social ills" created an era known today as Progressivism. Many of the social injustices came as industrialism swept through our country and involved many different groups. Some examples of the "ills" are; child labor, overcrowding in cities, insufficient safety regulations, and the corruption of government. From the abuse of the working class and their poor living and working conditions to the excesses of the wealthy, as well as the denial of women and minority rights in the United States, many suggested these problems needed reform. As the reform movement got underway, a new investigative journalistic style known as muckraking emerged and exposed for the public many of our nation's problems. These journalists' sometimes graphic information aided the reform movements by educating Americans to the nation's social and political abuses. Today's "investigative journalists" or muckrakers, continue to expose societal problems and initiate reform

Memorandum

TO:  Staff Writers (Students)
FROM: Samuel McClure, Editor
RE: Next Issue of McClure's Magazine

Our society has fallen into the depths of despair. We must expose the many social injustices that inflict our nation to the public so that we can initiate reform. Our next issue is critical; we need to include compelling stories that will create public outrage, so something will be done about them. I have compiled a list of stories that I want you to cover:

A.     Nellie Bly – Worker Safety

B.     Jacob Riis - Tenement Housing

C.     Upton Sinclair - Public Health

D.    Ida Tarbell - Big Business

E.     Gifford Pinchot- Conservation

F.     John Spargo - Child Labor

G.     Lincoln Steffens - Corruption in Politics

H.    Jane Addams- Settlement Houses

I.       W.E.B. DuBois- Racial Segregation

J.       Ida B Wells- Lynching

Deadlines to COPY DEPT.:

Friday, February 16^th

Good luck!Samuel McClure

You will write (type) articles (1 per page) that will include a title, appropriate graphics, (photographs, clip art, etc.), a quick bio of your journalist, and an expose’ on the social ill of America. Give detailed evidence and include personal accounts.

REPORT ON ALL TEN

Guiding Questions

A. Nellie Bly - Worker Safety

1. What’s happening? When? Where? Who?
2. What events are significant and why?
3. Could the tragedies have been prevented? What can be done to help insure it won't happen again?

B. Jacob Riis - Tenement Housing

1. What are the conditions of the housing?
2. Why is this believable?
3. What can be done to change the situation?

C. Upton Sinclair - Public Health

1. Give a detailed description of the problems associated with the food Industry, citing evidence
2. Are there any inspection/sanitations laws regulating the meat industry?
3. What can be done to change the situation?

D. Ida Tarbell - Big Business

1. What are the problems associated with big business?
2. How do monopolies take advantage for the public consumer?
3. What can be done to change the situation?

E. Gifford Pinchot

1.       What is happening to the environment?

2.       Why is nature conservation important?

3.       What can be done to preserve such natural resources and wilderness?

F. John Spargo - Child Labor

1. What are the working conditions that children must endure on a day-to-day basis?
2. Why are children forced to work? What kinds of jobs do they obtain?
3. What can be done to change the situation?

G. Lincoln Steffens - Political Corruption

1. What is a political machine?
2. Who was Boss Tweed? What happened to Tammany Hall?
3. Describe the political corruption and the parties involved.
4. What can be done to prevent political corruption?

H. Jane Addams

1.       What is a settlement house?

2.       Who runs and staffs the facilities?

3.       What results have happened and where?

I.    W.E.B. DuBois

1.       Describe race relationships across America

2.       What can be done to create change?

3.       What is the Talented Tenth?

J.         Ida B Wells

1.       How has violence overtaken race relations?

2.       How do the oppressed suffer in America?

3.       What can be done to truly institute American principles?

FINAL NOTES

Þ      After conducting your research and writing your articles, you must design the layout of the magazine issue using Microsoft Word. Be creative and neat. Final product has, at minimum, 11 pages. (Cover plus 10 articles)

Þ       You will present parts of your magazine to the class and expose the social injustices you have researched to promote reform.  You must affectively persuade the public (the classroom) to embrace your concerns. Your presentation should last no more than 5 minutes.  

Þ      Your magazine must include a bibliography page in APA format. Each article must have at least 1 citation. If you plagiarize any of your information you will receive a zero for the project. 

Þ       This is worth a 100 point Major grade.  I will NOT take this late.  This is due by Deadline, No matter what. Do NOT ask me to go to the library to print it out.  If you are able to, please print a color copy.