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Compare And Contrast The Issues Of The Working Industry During The Progressive Era

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During the Progressive Era, there were many issues surrounding labor, the food industry,and trusts. The Labor Union began to protest for better working conditions and hours, along with child labor laws. The Federal Government and the reformers had to act, and bring about reform through the nation. But the real question is whether or not they were effective in doing so. One of the main issues of the working industry that came to light was the terrible state of the meat packing industry. It wasn't just the conditions that they worked at that was the main issue, but rather the fact that the meat itself was unhealthy and possibly coated in bacteria due to the little care it received to stay clean.Neil Reynolds gave a summary of the conditions : "In a word, we saw meat shoveled from filthy wooden floors, piled on tables rarely washed, pushed from room to room in rotten box carts, in all of which processes it was in the way of gathering dirt, splinters, floor filth, and the expectoration of tuberculosis and other diseased workers," (Document B). The condition of the meat packing brought about an issue of welfare for the nation. So, in return to this matter, the Pure Food and Drug Act and The Meat Inspection Act were created to prevent further contamination of the meat. …show more content…

People and children would work ridiculous hours for little wages. Children would be put to work in the mines or even at a factory. As quoted from the Clayton Anti-Trust Act, "The labor of a human being is not a commodity or article of commerce,"(Document E). In response to these issues, labor laws were created. Woodrow Wilson introduced an eight hour workday, minimum wage, overtime pay, and child labor laws to prevent children younger than 14 from working in a factory or

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