Progressive Reformers In The 1920's

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Progressive Reformers began transforming America into the modern society we know starting in the 1880’s. Thousands of men and women were dissatisfied with how society was constructed between the 1880’s and 1920’s and they set out to change it. There were numerous issues that people faced everyday and these issues complicated their lives. The foremost important issues that lead to reforms were the poor coal mining conditions, the lack of women's rights and the corruption in politics. These issues lead those who were determined on a mission to bring change to our great nation. Labor has always been one of the most important aspects that helped shape American society. Although it has been an important part of society for hundreds of years it has not always been…show more content…
Workers were crammed underground in small, dark rooms for up to twelve hours a day with minimal ventilation. These workers spent all day hacking away at rock in order to mine the coal and this hacking lead to excessive dust. The dust was constantly inhaled by the workers as they mined leaving a majority of them with lung damage for the rest of their lives. Coal mining wasn’t only a job for adults, in fact many children worked as coal miners. Children were hired to work in mines due to their small stature and generally good health. “As of 1885 there were no age restrictions for coal mining but like artifact 1.6 what reformers are trying to fix states the age restriction soon changed. Soon after 1885 the age restriction was set to twelve years old but this wasn’t good enough for reformers. Reformers till pushed to have the age restriction set higher and in 1902 the age was set at sixteen years old but this rule only applied to certain states.” Adults and children alike suffered the same horrible conditions that the job of a coal miner offered. Aside from working in dangerous conditions coal miners were forced to work long hours each day and they were paid very little

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