Lesson 2.03 Improving Conditions of the Working Class

Introduction
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Task

Introduction

Central Question: What were working and living conditions like for America's poor during the late 1800s?

The "new immigrants"immigrants to the US who arrived between 1870 and 1900 that arrived in the United States in the late 1800s, were often full of hope and optimism that life in America would be better than the life they left behind. Jobs in factories appeared to be plentiful and the cities seemed to be bustling with energy and optimism.

While America did offer opportunity, it usually came at a great cost. The factory jobs were often dangerous and required long hours with little pay. The living conditions were crowded and dirty; not quite the "dream" the immigrants had imagined. Reformers and muckraking journalistsReform minded journalists who exposed corruption of the Progressive EraPeriod of reform in the US from the 1890s-1920 sought to improve conditions for the nation's poor. Their stories, pictures, and exposés shocked Americans into action. The effect was a series legislative proposals that brought much needed relief and compensation to millions of struggling Americans.

Following successful completion of this lesson, students will be able to:

Determine the conditions present in factories and tenements that needed reform during the early 1900s.
Describe the measures taken to reform working conditions and housing during the early 1900s.
Identify the contributions of Jacob Riis and Upton Sinclair during the Progressive Era.

The above objectives correspond with the Alabama Course of Study: US History 11 Objectives: 1.5, 2, & 2.2.

This lesson incorporates the following Literacy Standards: R1, R2, R7, R9, W2, W4, W5, W6, W8, & W9.

Top Photograph Citations:
A young textile mill worker IRC, 2005. Image. Discovery Education. Web. 21 March 2014. <http://www.discoveryeducation.com>.

Immigrant family sewing. Library of Congress, Image. Discovery Education. Web. 21 March 2014. <http://www.discoveryeducation.com>.

Rollover Photograph Citations:
Child workers in a cigar factory IRC 2005. Image. Discovery Education. Web. 21 March 2014. <http://www.discoveryeducation.com>.

Immigrants in the courtyard of a New York City Tenement. Library of Congress Image. Discovery Education. Web. 21 March 2014. <http://www.discoveryeducation.com>.