Gilded Age & Progressive Era
Timeline
Trigger Words
Primary Sources
Title: Mining-Minors
Link: http://darrow.law.umn.edu/documents/Anthracite_Pennsylvania_County_Court_Reports.pdf Summary: Paul A. Kunkel from Pennsylvania is arguing against the child labor regulation enforced by the Act of 1909. This act lowers the minimum age limit for minors working in the mine from 16 to 14 years of age. He argues that the Act of 1905 clearly states that the minimum age is 16 and cannot be lowered yet the legislature plays around the words colliery to justify this act without repealing the other. He believes that something must be done to stop this act from passing otherwise the health and well-being of the youth would be in jeopardy. Significance: During this Progressive Era, the people were taking up their civic duties to promote their society. They were taking initiative against pressing issues such as meat inspection, women's suffrage, and also child labor. Children working in the coal mines were susceptible to injury, death, and illness from the coal dust and heavy machinery. This document is a prime example of people working at the state level to prevent a labor law that would worsen the child labor situation. People were taking a stand against the legislature to protect their society. Stefania C Title: Leaving Home for the "Promised Land", 1894-Link: http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/promisedland.htm Summary: In this primary source, Mary Antin, a young Jewish girl from the Russian empire writes about her families departure from Russia to the U.S. Although her mother is a bit sad about leaving home, Mary is very excited because she thinks she is entering the so called"promised land" Significance:The significance of this primary source is that is shows how outsiders looked at the U.S. Though America was full of corruption, racism, and oppression, immigrants still thought it was better than thier lives back home. Many of these beliefs were due to immigrants writing letters back to relatives and friends about how great America was. Also thousands of immigrants poured into America in search of jobs. In this particular primary source, Mary's father migrated hoping for a better life and he eventually brought his family. Families like this are the reason why America now has the nickname "melting pot" Garry T. |
Title: Young Driver
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