Age of Reform
During the Age of Reform the US economy shifted from its agricultural base to an industrial one. There were many things wrong with social issues at this time of Reform. There were three very important social problems during the Age of Reform. These reforms also changed the way American society is today.
One social issue is tenements. Tenements were very popular at this time because immigration was increasing the population of America. One very famous reformer against tenement living was Jacob Riis. Jacob Riis was a reporter during the time of Reform. He took pictures of how awful the tenements were. According to document 9, you can see a very small room crowded with 6 people living in it. If u look on the left of the picture you will see their belongings. There was not a lot of room to put things either. Tenements were also filled with rats and most didn't have heat or running water. According to document 10, Jacob Riis stated in How the Other Half Lives how there were 36 families in a typical tenement apartment. He said there were 58 babies and about 38 children. Jacob Riis is one of the people who helped to change these living conditions of tenements. Eventually a law was passed that stated how an apartment must have running water and heat. This law also helped diseases not spread anymore because now they have running water and heat.
Another major social issue is child labor. Child labor forced young children to do work that was unsafe and could've easily killed children. Child labor concerned many during the Age of Reform. According to document 5, the kids are supposed to work from 3:30 am until 5:00 pm that's 13 and a half hours a day. Not even adults today work that much! According to document 6, by 1916 41 states barred the employment of children under the age of 14. 18 more states barred night work for children under the age of 16. If it weren't for the reformers children will be working today and receive very little or no education at all!
One social issue is tenements. Tenements were very popular at this time because immigration was increasing the population of America. One very famous reformer against tenement living was Jacob Riis. Jacob Riis was a reporter during the time of Reform. He took pictures of how awful the tenements were. According to document 9, you can see a very small room crowded with 6 people living in it. If u look on the left of the picture you will see their belongings. There was not a lot of room to put things either. Tenements were also filled with rats and most didn't have heat or running water. According to document 10, Jacob Riis stated in How the Other Half Lives how there were 36 families in a typical tenement apartment. He said there were 58 babies and about 38 children. Jacob Riis is one of the people who helped to change these living conditions of tenements. Eventually a law was passed that stated how an apartment must have running water and heat. This law also helped diseases not spread anymore because now they have running water and heat.
Another major social issue is child labor. Child labor forced young children to do work that was unsafe and could've easily killed children. Child labor concerned many during the Age of Reform. According to document 5, the kids are supposed to work from 3:30 am until 5:00 pm that's 13 and a half hours a day. Not even adults today work that much! According to document 6, by 1916 41 states barred the employment of children under the age of 14. 18 more states barred night work for children under the age of 16. If it weren't for the reformers children will be working today and receive very little or no education at all!