The Progressive Era occurred in America during the 1880's and 1920's. The main goal of the people who supported the progressive movement was to eliminate corruption that occurred in the business world. They wanted to destroy the political power that the business owners had. Child labor was the main issue that progressive supporters had with the progressive era. Muckrakers who were newspaper reportes that tried to uncover and show the world the atrocities that business owners were committing by forcing children to work and by supplying un safe working conditions. Muckrakers were truly bothered by child labor and the conditions that children faced during the progressive era. Muckrakers also were appalled by the living conditions that people were forced to live in.
Miners: A young driver in the Brown Mine. Has been driving one year. Works 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily. Brown, West Virginia.
Seafood Workers: Manuel the young shrimp picker, age 5, and a mountain of child labor oyster shells behind him. He worked last year. Understands not a word of English. Biloxi, Mississippi.
Field and Farm Work: Eight-year-old Jack driving a horse rake. A small boy has difficulty keeping his seat on rough ground and this work is more or less dangerous. Western Massachusetts.
The Mill: The overseer said apologetically, "She just happened in." She was working steadily. The mills seem full of youngsters who "just happened in" or "are helping sister." Newberry, South Carolina.
Newsies: A group of newsies selling on the Capitol steps. Tony, age 8, Dan, 9, Joseph, 10, and John, age 11. Washington, D.C.
Miners: Breaker boys, Hughestown Borough Pennsylvania Coal Company. One of these is James Leonard, another is Stanley Rasmus. Pittston, Pennsylvania.
The Factory: Boys in the packing room at the Brown Mfg. Co. Evansville, Indiana.