progressive movement- aimed to restore economic opportunities and correct injustices in american...

Ch. 9Unit 3, Progressivism

SECTION 1, ORIGINS OF PROGRESSIVISM

Progressive Movement- aimed to restore economic opportunities and correct injustices in American life.

GOALS: Protecting social welfare Promoting moral improvement Creating economic reform Fostering efficiency

Protecting Social Welfare:

Goal: Soften some of the harsh conditions of industrialization Help poor through community centers,

churches, and social services Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA)-

opened libraries, offered classes, built swimming pools and handball courts

Salvation Army- fed poor people in soup kitchens, cared for children, sent “slum brigades” to instruct poor immigrants

Florence Kelly- advocate for improving lives of women and children

Promoting Moral Improvement:

Goal: Wanted to see immigrants and poor city dwellers to uplift themselves by improving their personal behavior. Prohibition- banning of alcoholic

beverages▪ Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) ▪ Viewed alcohol as a source of problems▪ Entered saloons and sung, prayed, & urged

saloonkeepers to stop the sale of alcohol▪ Fought for more say for women (Suffrage

Movement)

Creating Economic Reform:

Goal: Questioning of the capitalist system and shift towards socialist ideas. Eugene V. Debs- organized the American

Socialist Party▪ focused on the uneven balance among big business, government, and ordinary people under capitalism.

Journalists began writing about the corrupt side of business and public life (muckrakers)

Fostering Efficiency:

Goal: Leaders placed controls in hands of experts and scientists to make society and the workplace more efficient. Lawyer Louis D. Brandeis (“Brandeis

brief”)- in legal argument focused on data to show the high costs of longer work hours for individuals and society

Scientific management- study of time and motion to see how quickly tasks can be performed within manufacturing

At the end of your online assignment

Which president was in power when women finally got the right to vote?

On the back of your quiz…

Who gained more rights as a result of state reforms?

Theodore Roosevelt

Background:Held state positions in New YorkAdvocated for war with Spain in 1898

Took his volunteer cavalry brigade, Rough Riders▪ Won acclaim at the battle at San Juan Hill in Cuba▪ Returned to the U.S. as a hero

He was never slotted to become president Ran with McKinley as Vice President McKinley won election and was assassinated

after only 6 mos.

Bold Actions:Youngest president to serve (42 years old) Used his popularity and personality to

advance programs Promoted the idea that the federal

government was responsible for the social welfare of citizens

Saw presidency as a “bully pulpit”- he could influence media and shape legislation

Focused on idea of a Square Deal If big business victimized workers, the

common people would be helped Term was used for his progressive reforms

Using Federal Power: 1902 Coal Strike

140,000 coal miners in Pennsylvania went on strike ▪ Demanded 20% raise, 9 hr work day, and the right to form a union▪ After 5 months, Roosevelt called both sides to the White House ▪ TR threatened to take over mines▪ Both sides agreed to arbitration, or a third party mediator▪Miners won 10% pay raise, 9 hr. work day, but could not strike for 3 years▪ This set precedent that if a strike threatened public welfare, the federal government was expected to intervene

Railroad Regulation 1887, Interstate Commerce Act ▪ Established to regulate railroads who were abusing their power▪ The commission had little power

1903, Roosevelt passed the Elkins Act▪ Shippers could not receive rebates from companies▪ Rates could not be changed without notifying public

1906, Roosevelt passed the Hepburn Act▪ Limited distribution of free railroad passes (form of bribery)▪ Gave ICC power to set maximum rates

The Business of Selling Pencils

1ST TIME How many pencils did

your receive for your money?

How many pencils were you able to sell?

Why did you choose one vendor over another?

Was it difficult or hard to sell the pencils?

Does it make a difference that they were all selling the same product?

2ND TIME

How easy or difficult was it for you to acquire pencils?

How did the vendor change his/her selling tactics?

What are some problems with this situation?

Political Cartoons and Trusts:

Identify any objects/words

Identify symbols and meaning

What perspective does the artist take? How do you know?

What is the overall message the artist is trying to portray?

WILLIAM

HOWARD TAFT

Election of 1912RepublicansWilliam Taft (incumbent- holder of the office)

Bull Moose Party- Progressive Party renamed for Roosevelt “strong as a bull moose”

WOODROW WILSON

DemocratsWoodrow WilsonPlatform: New Freedom- stronger antitrust legislation, banking reform, and reduced tariffs▪Supported small business, free market competition, and opposed monopolies

Split between Taft and Roosevelt weakened the Republican party

Wilson wins election!

Wilson’s New Freedom Financial Reforms

Antitrust ▪ “There can be no fair play between individuals and powerful institutions”▪ Clayton Antitrust Act (1914)- prohibited corporations from acquiring the stock of another if it would create a monopoly▪Allowed for labor unions- strikes, peaceful picketing, and boycotts legalized

▪ Federal Trade Commission (FTC)- a “watchdog”, given power to investigate possible violations and put an end to unfair practices

Federal Income Tax▪1913-Sixteenth Amendment- legalized federal income tax▪Tax individual earnings and corporate profits▪By 1917, government earned more on income tax than any other tariff

Women’s Suffrage Gained more strength with the help of college

educated women Took trolley tours and spoke publicly on the

cause Carrie Chapman Catt- President of NAWSA

focused on new tactics▪ Organization▪ Closing ties between workers (local, state, national)▪ Gaining wide base of support▪ Cautious lobbying▪ Ladylike behavior

Fierce patriotism women exuded during WWI made giving them the right to vote inevitable

August 1920- 19th Amendment gave women the right to vote

Civil RightsSimilar to Roosevelt and Taft, Wilson also retreated on the issue of civil rights

Many African American activists in the NAACP felt betrayed by Wilson’s choice of cabinet members and his lack of action