Chris+William+Colin+Cleaner

Sanitation in the Progressive Era: Why So DIRTY?

Chris Kim, William Lee, Colin Shin

RUBRIC You will be assessed on the following criteria: Depth of research of the problem - 10 points Comprehensiveness of your solution - 10 points Neatness/Layout of your page - 5 points Grammatical accuracy, bibliography, use of primary sources - 5 points

task: cleaning up a certain area of society. As a "task force," you are not an official government organization, but **can appeal** to your government representatives for legal changes and financial assistance in supporting your projects. (Local, State, Nationa - Federall) Keep in mind that for financial support, you can appeal to other civic organizations as well. In groups of approximately 3-4 students, you will need to:



1) Research your issue - what exactly is wrong in your particular area? (Be specific!)

Ever since the Gilded Era, massive amounts of immigrants flooded in America' cities that weren't designed for such a huge carrying capacity. For example, New York was ideally for a population under 50,000, but there were millions of immigrants cramming the small land. With this limitation to resources access and lack of a fresh water, cities quickly became filled with trash and unsolved environmental issues such as odor and disease accumulating. Millions of people were using a very unefficient sewage system resulted in digestive waste filling and clogging the whole water system, and this was lethal to medical conditions of people and unable to fix. Due to the overflow of demand, cities on the East coast began to lose their virtue as an example state - people were alert to their medical insecurity and lack of welfare. Another horrible happening was the increase of crime as well - in times like this stealing was very obvious in order to live.

Other than problems within the city, another huge issue was the food made and served, and eaten by everyone. Lots of artificial flavoring and preservatives have been used without public notice, and of course this urged diseases and food poisoning. Examples include chemicals such as boric acid found inside beef, heroin within baby anthracites, and other malignant ingredients in other products. While the producing and packaging was brought up as corrupt, also the handling part of the job was very inhumane in how sanitation was not considered at all, and meat products didn't actually serve meat, but rubbish was mixed in as well as other animals that are cheaper like rat. This clearly showed how basically every part of society tended to act upon carelessly.

In our point of view we see this situation as very dirty, but in their perspective many would think that they were socially insecure or not safe - a need for social welfare quickly sparked many environmentalists and conservationists that in which later Theodore Roosevelt will join power with Pinchot to help conserve the resources and promote environmental enhancements.



Primary: http://americanhistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/815695?terms=sanitation%20in%20progressive%20era http://americanhistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/255024?terms=1906+Federal+Meat+Inspection+Act http://americanhistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/1675317?terms=sanitation%20in%20progressive%20era http://americanhistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/254915?terms=food+and+drug+act



2) Analyze what can be done about this problem. Are there things that cannot be fixed? If so, state why? Solution:

The Progressive Era, although an era of growing labor protests and a following period of massive industrial rise for the United States, faced certain troubles. It was evident that many cities and regions with industrial presence often had poor air quality, contaminated public facilities, as well as lack of ventilation. Many of these components that were present during the era caused influenzas, fevers, tuberculosis, or even cholera. As more people suffered from these conditions, a resolution was pivotal for survival; sanitary reform was one of many voices that was spread across the country during the Progressive Era.

Affected heavily by the declining health of its citizen due to poor sanitation, the state of New York had to find a solution to manage such crisis. The state believed that the maintenance of a healthy state was the key to both economic development and societal stability; the state therefore assigned George E. Waring Jr. to be the commissioner of DSC, or the Department of Street Cleaning in the state. Not only did this department help immigrant children be educated about the importance of sanitation, but it also helped them be engaged in sanitary activities such as cleaning the streets and washing their hands. This solution, the education of future generations regarding the importance of sanitation, helped make sure the upcoming future generation had a better understanding and desire to conserve a clean, healthy balance in society.

Not only were regions of the country affected by external environments, but they were also concerned about the sanitary condition of foods they eat. Released in 1906, //The Jungle// by Upton Sinclair revealed the nauseating secrets of the meat-packing process in Chicago. Protests again were what sparked the Progressive Era- voices were shouting for better inspections of the food people eat. Like the sanitary issue in New York, the Charles Neill was assigned by president Roosevelt in 1906 to inspect such complaints by the citizens and implement the //Federal Meat Inspection Act.// This particular solution proposed thorough ‘inspections’ for all meat to make sure they are safe for consumption. Again, a complaint of protest has made a solution for a change during the Progressive Era.

The Progressive Era was a time of protest and a desire for change. Such sudden industrial expansion created unforeseen problems the United States’ citizens wanted to change. Many of these issues, including sanitation, were resolved by the government through education, or even investigative inspection to ameliorate the country into a world power in the upcoming years.

3) Develop a comprehensive plan to address these problems. Be sure that you are addressing the "root" of the problem, not just the symptom.

A comprehensive plan that could target the overarching root of the problem is possible, yet impractical. The government can enforce developments of sewage systems, yet it will take extensive amount of time to rebuild sewage systems and clean them of rodent and bacteria. The government can also enforce sanitary acts, such as food and drug act. However, authoritarian legislature will not get anywhere, especially when the people does not understand and approve it. To tackle the root of the problem, the government needs to teach the people the dangers of viruses and bacteria, possible illnesses, and ways to prevent it. Immigrants who do not know of bacteria or illnesses, will get to understand what filth is, and how to prevent themselves from further harm. By the people understanding their situation, sanitation can be maintained—it is the people who live out in the city, not the government officials. Educating the citizens will give them responsibility and therefore care for themselves.

Locally, communities should be given a seminar on sanitation and its effects. All persons, acting for it or not, should be given the information about what they can be going through. As most people would want to live, we can let conformity take its action and lead the localities into a cleaner direction.

In a state level, states should tally number of illnesses, deaths, and the amount of trash collected, in tons. Their major goal is to decrease the number of illnesses and deaths, through their means, whatever it may be. As all states are not identical, we can give the benefit of the doubt that state governors know best of their states, and that they will act accordingly to save the lives of those people.

Federally, we suggest that congress make it mandatory to improve the infrastructures. Minor details should be dealt by the federal government, as it is those minor details that converge and apply to all entities. Federal sewage system, federal health care, and federal immigration health examination are some examples that can be enforced to increase sanitation and increase the living conditions.

Bibliography:

"Government Report on Meat-packing Plants (1906)." //American History//. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 14 Feb. 2013. "pure food and drug movement." //American History//. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 14 Feb. 2013. "Regulating Business, 1890-1920 (Visual)." // American History //. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 14 Feb. 2013.

"Swift & Company's packing house." Image. Library of Congress. //American History //. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 14 Feb. 2013. "welfare reform." //American History//. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 14 Feb. 2013.