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Dbq The Progressive Movement

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Dbq The Progressive Movement
The Progressive Movement was started as a response to political and business abuses. Many people were suffering from unhealthy living and working conditions. There were also injustices in the government. Reforms were initiated by individuals and groups of people to improve this.
One problem people were facing was women’s voting rights. Beginning in the mid 1800’s, several woman suffrage supporters did whatever they could to fight for their right to vote. Women were not allowed to vote until 1920 when the 19th amendment was passed. The 19th amendment guarantees all American women the right to vote. Many women fought for this right before it was passed. In Document 8, a women named Susan B. Anthony fought saying “ the preamble of the federal constitution says, “We, the people of the United States…” It was we the people; not we, the white male citizens”. Achieving this milestone took decades of agitation and protest.
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Before 1913, senators were chosen by the legislature. This caused unfair voting and biased laws. In 1913, the 17th amendment was passed stating that senators will be elected by the people. In Document 7, it states “The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two senators from each state, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each senator shall have one vote.” The 17th amendment made voting more fair for the people and less biased.
The meatpacking industry had many health and safety issues. The factories were very unsanitary and spread severe diseases. According to Document 2, “whenever meat was so spoiled that it could not be used for anything else, either to can it or chop it up into sausage”. This problem was protested by many people including Upton Sinclair, who wrote The Jungle exposing the terrible meat industries and publishing it to the public. This helped to pass the meat inspection act that regulated the industries' health and safety

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