Period+5


 * Working Bibliography**

“Progressive Era”. American History. 30 Nov. 2006. http://74.125.45.104/search?q=cache:Hknz6tjc4iQJ:dorman-data-digest.wikispaces.com/space/showimage/Progressive%2BEra%2Boverview.doc+child+labor+in+the+united+states+during+the+progressive+era&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=3&gl=us&client=firefox-a ( 3 October 2008).

Eckley Miner’s Village Tour. 18 September 2008.

“Progressive Era Investigations”. U.S. Department of Labor. Page 5. http://www.dol.gov/oasam/programs/history/mono-regsafepart05.htm. (7 October 2008).

Barret, Nancy J. “The Struggles of Women Industrial Workers to Improve Work Conditions in the Progressive Era”. Organization of American Historians. http://oah.org/pubs/magazine/progressive/barrett.html. (8 October 2008).

Asa Packer Mansion Tour. 18 September 2008.


 * Industrials- Working Conditions**

The rich industrialists who owned the factories, meat packing plants, and mines did not have to work under harsh and dangerous conditions like their workers. For example, Asa Packer who made his millions from the railroads and the transportation of coal, worked from an office that was located in his mansion. (Asa Packer Mansion Tour, 2008)


 * Workers: Working Conditions**

The steel industry had some of the most dangerous working conditions. For example, at one steel mill in Butler, Pennsylvania, a huge explosion resulted when wet sand spilled on a heavy pot of molten steel. When the hot metal streamed down onto the workers, four men were killed and 30 were severely injured. The resulting explosion was so great, that it shook buildings in the nearby town. (Progressive Era Investigations,p.5)

Coal miners during the Progressive worked under life-threatening conditions every single day they went down into the mines. The constant blasting that was necessary to dislodge the coal created massive clouds of dust that the miners breathed in. The black dust caused many miners to suffer from something called “black lung disease”, and also caused many early deaths from respiratory problems. Also, the mines were always wet and cold; consequently, miners most often suffered from rheumatism and arthritis. However, by far, the worst danger in the mines was a possible collapse of the roof, which meant certain death. (Eckley Miner’s Village Tour, 2008)

Women often worked under sweatshop conditions. One place that woman could work was in candy factories, were they had to suffer the sickly sweet smells. Some women worked in factories rolling cigars by hand. They would suffer nicotine poisoning on their skin. (Barret)

Unscrupulous factory and mine owners discovered that children provided a cheap work force that could be easily controlled. By the beginning of the 20th century, there were approximated 4 million children between the ages of 10 and 15 making up the American work force. Injuries and death to children in the work force were very common. (Progressive Era, 2006)

Workers:Housing – Lifestyle

“Progressive Era”. American History

During the Progressive Era, the cities were rapidly growing as many people poured in to work in emerging factories. For this reason often several families at a time were forced to live together in one or two rat-infested rooms.

Eckley Tour 9/18/08

People who lived in coal mining town during PE lived in small homes that owned