American History

Reformers during the progressive era often tried to combat social ills with governmental intervention. Different groups tried to enlist governmental help in different ways. Photographer and journalist Jacob Riis, for instance, highlighted the plight of the poor by taking pictures of their living quarters and the squalor in which they lived. His pictures shocked those who were better off and attracted the notice of government officials. Riis held to the belief that poverty was a consequence of corrupt political and economic systems and therefore, he believed, the government must fix it (The President and Fellows of Harvard College, 2008).

    Those who believed in the Social Gospel agreed with Riis. They aimed to instil biblical principles into law and encouraged the government to adopt reforms that forced corrupt businessmen to look out for their neighbours. They blamed poverty on capitalism, noting that in a capitalistic system wealthy men could ignore the plight of others without any fear of governmental or moral restrictions. They also believed that people only sinned when they were forced to live in squalor and that they would be more moral if they were cared for.

    The National Child Labor committee was also concerned with governmental intervention. Children in factories had been forced to work long hours and in poor conditions. Some had been injured, others were even killed. Those who belonged to the National Child Labor committee hoped to change the plight of children by banning child labor in most circumstances. The committee met in public places and actively sought people with big names to join their cause. One of the major figures in the committee was Lewis Wickes Hine who took photographs of child workers in squalid conditions. The committee managed to create a Childrens Bureau in the departments of labour and commerce (National Child Labor Committee, 2008).

    Each of these groups was keenly aware of the negative effects of poverty on society and each believed the government could help alleviate these.