7. The Progressive EraThe Populists and the Progressives

The Agrarian Movement (1870-1900)Problems on the

farm◦ New technology led

to over production / prices fall

◦ High cost of railroad transportation

◦ Falling into debt / harvest could not pay it off

◦ Natural disasters/ droughts, insects, floods

Grange MovementOriginally founded as

social/educational experience for farmers.

Formed “cooperatives” to cut cost.

The Granger Laws (What did each do?)Blamed railroads and grain

storage operators.Munn v. Illinois in 1877 (294):

Interstate Commerce Act, 1887 (281):

Interstate Commerce Commission, 1887:

The Populist Party, 1891-1896 (Rural Issues)New third party representing the

“common man” but focusing on farmers.

Sometimes called the People’s Party

Populist Platform Unlimited coinage of silverProgressive income taxGovernment ownership of

railroads and communicationsImmigration restrictionsShorter work daySecret ballotDirect election of senatorsTerm limit for President.

Election of 1892Populists elect five Senators and

received a million votes for president.

Depression of 1893 follows and blamed on the scarcity of money

Election of 1896Democrats and

Populists nominate William Jennings Bryan. Marks the merging of the two parties.◦ Strong supporter of

farmers◦ Cross of Gold Speech ◦ “You shall not press

down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns, you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold.”

Republicans in 1896William McKinley

◦ Pro-Business◦ Votes divided

regionally.Election of 1900

◦ McKinley vs. Bryan again.

◦ McKinley wins◦ End of Populist

Party

Populists: The Role of Third PartiesThe Populists

◦Rose quickly and disappeared as fast.

◦Left its mark on American politicsThird parties are often like this

◦Provide an outlet for minorities◦Generate new ideas

If a third party has good ideas one of the major parties will adopt those ideas.

The Progressive Movement: 1900-1920 (Urban Issues)Lasted until the start of World

War IFocused on middle-class city

folks.Leaders were investigative

writers, lawyers, ministers, and college professors.

Got their name because of their dedication to “progress”.

Wanted to correct the political and economic injustices that existed because of American industrialization.

Goals of the Progressives (383)1.

2.

3.

4.

Social Gospel Movement (312)Called for social reforms (safer

working conditions/ abolish child labor)

Opposed to the harshness of unregulated free enterprise

Belief in the Biblical truth of “being your brother’s keeper”

Groups such as the Salvation Army emphasized the need to help those less fortunate.

Socialism (Terms)Capitalism:

Socialism:

Extreme reaction to the negative characteristics of free enterprise.

Muckrakers (384) TermsWriters who raked up the “muck”

or dirt of American life. Jacob Riis(G)Ida Tarbell (385)Lincoln Steffens (385)Frank Norris (I)Upton Sinclair (384)

Social Reformers: Did what?Settlement House (312)Jane Addams (312)Lynching (334)Ida B. Wells (335)NAACP (335)W.E.B. DuBois (335)Booker T. Washington (324)Anti-Defamation League (I) YMCA/YWCA (336)

Municipal Reform (390-91)Municipal means town or city

level of government. List the four areas of concern;

1.2.3.4.

State Reform (392-393) TermsProgressive governors

◦Robert LaFollette (Wisconsin)◦Theodore Roosevelt (New York)

Direct Primary (392)Secret BallotDirect election of SenatorsInitiative (392)Referendum (392)Recall (392)

Social LegislationRegulate housing conditionsAbolish child laborWork place safety and health

conditionsLimits on hours of workCompensation of workers injured

on the jobConservation of natural resources

Civil Service Reform (292-293)

What is the “Spoils System”? (292)

Pendleton Act (293) did what?

What event sparked the drive to get rid of the spoils system? (293)

View and Discuss“Murder at the Fair” from the History Channel Series Ten Days that Unexpectedly Changed America”

Theodore Roosevelt 1901-1909Reversed the trend of a weak

president and a strong Congress.President after McKinley

assassinationCoal Miners’ Strike of 1902 (393-

94)

Trust-Buster (394)

The “Square Deal” (G)Public Health

◦Meat Inspection Act (1906) ◦Pure Food and Drug Act (1906)

Transportation and Communication◦Increased power of the Interstate

Commerce Commission◦Added telegraph and telephone.

Conserving the Nation’s Resources◦National Conservation Commission

William Howard Taft (1909-1912)Endorsed by Theodore RooseveltContinued many of Roosevelt’s

policiesAlienated Progressives because

he was not a skilled politicianPromised to lower tariff but could

not make it happen.Withdrew some land Roosevelt

had protected.

Election of 1912Angry with Taft’s policies,

Theodore Roosevelt decided to run again.

After loosing the Republican spot, TR runs for a third party – Bull Moose Party.

Taft is nominated by the Republicans

As a result in the split, Woodrow Wilson (Democrat) is elected president.

Woodrow Wilson (1913-1921) Terms New Freedom (398)

Underwood Tariff, 1913 (399)

Graduated Income Tax, 1913 (399)

The Federal Reserve Act, 1913 (400)

Clayton Antitrust Act, 1914(400)

Federal Trade Commission, 1914 (400)

Sixteenth Amendment, 1913 (399)

Wilson continuedNational Park Service, 1916 (394)

Triangle Shirtwaist Factory, 1911 (389)

Department of Labor, 1913 (394)

Child Labor Act, 1916 (I)

Women’s Suffrage MovementMid 19th century women began to for

groups to seek suffrage.Disappointed that they did not receive

suffrage with the 15th amendment.Susan B. Anthony (403)

Elizabeth Cady Stanton (403)

19th Amendment, 1920 (407)

Impact was disappointing.

View and DiscussThe last half of the HBO film “Iron

JawedAngels”. Looks at the methods used by suffragettes to earn right to vote.

Realism in Literature and Art

In literature◦Horatio Alger, Rags to Riches stories◦Mark Twain, Tom Sawyer,

Huckleberry Finn, The Gilded Age◦William Dean Howells, The Rise of

Silas Lapham◦ Jack London, Call of the Wild◦Henry James, The Portrait of a Lady◦Katie Chopin, The Awakening

James McNeill Whistler,

Winslow Homer

Thomas Eakins Henry Ossawa Tanner

Frederick RemingtonCharles Russell

Frederick Remington

Charles Russell