8. what is progressivism social progressives 2006 2007compressed
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■Essential QuestionEssential Question:
–How did the chaotic conditions of urban America contribute to new “progressive” reforms in the early 20th century?
■Warm-Up Question:Warm-Up Question:
–Let’s look at the DBQ
What is Progressivism?■From 1890s to 1914, progressives
addressed the rapid economic & social changes of the Gilded Age
■Progressive reform had wide appeal but was not a unified movement with a common agenda
■Progressive reforms included prostitution, poverty, child labor, factory safety, women’s rights, temperance, & political corruption
Democrats, Republicans, & Socialists all found reasons to support progressivism
Some reformers targeted local community problems, others aimed for state changes, &
others wanted national reforms
What is Progressivism?■But, Progressive reform had
distinguishing characteristics:
Progressive Progressive ThemesThemes
Evangelical Protestantism (Social Gospel) inspired reformers to intervene in
people’s lives
Optimism & belief in progress (“investigate, educate, & legislate”)
Change the environment to change people (no Social Darwinism)
Desire to “humanize”
industry
Led by the new, educated middle-class
“professionals” (doctors, ministers, etc)
Looked to the gov’t to help achieve goals
Their actions impacted the entire nation; not regions like the Populists
Quick Class Discussion:Quick Class Discussion:Why did America Need Progressivism?
Reforming Society
The Beginnings of Progressivism■Progressivism 1st began in the
1890s in response to urban & factory problems:
–Early reformers realized that private charity was not enough to cure all social ills
–Called for tenement house laws & new labor laws to help women & children workers
The Beginnings of Progressivism■Charity Organization SocietyCharity Organization Society
collected data on poverty, slums, & disease which led to the NY Tenement House Commission
■Nat’l Conference of Social WorkNat’l Conference of Social Work used “professional” social workers to press for minimum wages, maximum work hours, workers’ compensation, & widow pensions
New Journalism: “Muckraking” ■New journalism drew attention to
America’s problems:
–Jacob Riis’ How the Other Half Lives (1890) was the 1st exposé of urban poverty & slums
–Cheap monthly magazines, like McClure’s & Collier’s used investigative journalism & photos to yield huge circulations
Urban poverty Political corruption
The plight of industrial
workers“Big business” practicesLincoln Steffan’s Shame of the Cities (1902) revealed corruption of political machines
Ida Tarbell’s History of the Standard Oil Company (1904) revealed
Rockefeller’s ruthless business practices
Jacob Riis’ How the Other Half Lives included photographs!
New Journalism: Muckraking■Muckraker Upton Sinclair’s The
Jungle (1906) prompted federal investigation of meatpacking–Meat Inspection ActMeat Inspection Act (1906)
required gov’t inspections & set sanitation rules for meatpacking
■Muckraker Sam H Adams exposed the dangers of patent medicines–Pure Food & Drug ActPure Food & Drug Act (1906)
required listing of ingredients & banned “adulterated” drugs
“I aimed at the public’s heart & by accident I hit it in the stomach.”
Led by Dr. Harvey Wiley’s “Poison Squad” division of the US Dept of Agriculture &
teamed with American Medical Association
Prohibition & Prostitution■Reformers were shocked by
growing reports of alcohol abuse:–By 1916, 19 states outlawed
booze & in the 18th Amend passed in 1920
■Reformers focused on prostitution–By 1915 almost all states
banned brothels–The Mann ActMann Act (1910) banned
the interstate transportation of “immoral” women
Membership grew in the Women’s Christian Temperance Union
Standardizing Education■Psychologist William James
promoted the idea that one’s environment dictates behavior
■School leaders applied these ideas to reform pubic education:–Schools became a primary
vehicle to assimilate immigrants–John Dewey promoted “creative
intelligence” not memorization or strict teaching
Working-Class Reform
Immigration to the USA, 1901-1920 From 1901-1920, 14.5 million “new” Europeans, Mexicans, & Asians immigrated
to US to join the US labor force
60% of the US work force was foreign born in 1914; most immigrant laborers were unskilled,
living in poverty & in ethnic conclaves
Mexican Immigration to the USA, 1900-1920
Mexican immigrants worked in Western farms, railroads, & mines as well as Southern & California agriculture
Angel Island, San Francisco This was not like Ellis Island in NYC; Instead of hours, processing took months
Conflict in the Workplace■The new industrial advances like
mass production & management sped up production but led to:
–Long hours, low wages, dangerous settings for workers
–Labor unrest & strikes
–Increased union membership from 4% in 1900 to 13% in 1920
–Progressive reforms for workers
Labor Union Membership, 1897-1920
Industrial Exploitation Case StudyIndustrial Exploitation Case Study: The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire (1911)
Organizing Labor■Gompers’ American Federation of
Labor was the largest US union but it was exclusive; led to:–Women’s Trade Union LeagueWomen’s Trade Union League
(1903) formed to help working women & educate the public
–Industrial Workers of the WorldIndustrial Workers of the World (1905) urged revolution via sabotage & strikes & eventually to create a workers’ republic
The WTUL strike against Hart, Schaffer, & Marx Co led to the 1st collective bargaining victory in US history
Open to all workers regardless of race, sex, ethnicity, or skill
Called the “Wobblies”
“It is our purpose to overthrow the capitalist system by forceful means in necessary…
[There is nothing a worker can do that] will bring as much anguish to the boss than a
little sabotage in the right place.”—IWW co-founder “Big Bill” Haywood
Organizing Labor■Eugene V. Debs
formed the Socialist Party Socialist Party of Americaof America & applied Marxist ideas into a moderate & appealing political platform
Did not threaten to overthrow the capitalist system
Working with Workers■Many businesses used police &
violence to break up strikes, but others improved working conditions to avoid trouble:–Henry Ford introduced the
“Five Dollar Day” & an 8-hour workday
–The Amoskeag textile factory in NH used paternalism & benefits (playgrounds & health care)
Led to increase production & a stable & loyal workforce
Amoskeag Textile CompanyAmoskeag hired whole familiesAmoskeag built playgrounds & baseball fields for families & their children…and provided company housing
The Women’s Movement & Black Awakening
The Women’s Movement■Progressive reformers advocated
for change for women & children–Working conditions led to the
Nat’l Child Labor Laws (1930s)–The National Association of
Colored Women advocated for the rights of black women
–The National American Woman Suffrage Assoc (1890) was formed to gain women the vote
“Women’s vote will help cure ills of society”The 19th Amendment was passed in 1920
Women’s Suffrage Before 1900
The Women’s Movement
■Margaret Sanger championed the cause for increased birth control for women:
–Her journals provided contraceptive information for poor & middle-class women
–In 1916, Sanger opened the first birth control clinic in the US
The Niagara Movement & NAACP
■The condition of blacks in the early 20th century remained poor:
–80% lived in rural areas, most as sharecroppers in the South
–Segregation & violence were common
■Niagara MovementNiagara Movement (1905) led by W.E.B. Du Bios militantly called for political, social, & civil rights
“[African-Americans] have a right to know, to think, to aspire…We must strive for the
right which the world accords to man.”—W.E.B. DuBois
The Niagara Movement & NAACP■In 1909, National Assoc for the National Assoc for the
Advancement of Colored PeopleAdvancement of Colored People (NAACP) was formed by William Walling & others; Du Bios was put in charge of The Crisis publication
■NAACP had some victories:–Guinn v USGuinn v US (1915) ended
Oklahoma’s grandfather clause–Buchanan v WorleyBuchanan v Worley (1917)
ended KY housing segregation
But…“I have never seen the colored people so discouraged and so bitter
as they are at the present time.”—Booker T. Washington, 1913