American AnthemModern American History

Chapter 6

The Progressives

1898-1920

Copyright © 2009, Mr. EllingtonRuben S. Ayala High School

Columbus statute in

Rhode Island

1. Progressivism

A: What Was Progressivism?

B: Reforming Society

C: Reforming the Work Place

D: Reforming Government

2. Women and Public Life

A: Opportunities for Women

B: Gaining Political Exposure

Chapter 6: The Progressives, 1898-1920

C: Rise of the Women’s Suffrage Movement

3. Theodore Roosevelt’s Square Deal

A: Roosevelt’s View of the Presidency

B: Regulating Big Business

C: Environmental Conservation

4. Taft and Roosevelt

A: Progressivism Under Taft

B: Wilson’s New Freedom

C: Women Gain the Right to Vote

D: Progressivism and the Rights of Blacks

Columbus statute in

Rhode Island

Part 1: ProgressivismSection 1A: What Was Progressivism?

• Progressives were middle

class, urban reformers

seeking to improve society,

reform government and

regulate businessregulate business

• Muckrakers such as Ida

Tarbell, Jacob Riis, and

Lincoln Steffens exposed

people to the need for

reforms through the media

Part 1: ProgressivismSection 1B: Reforming Society

• By 1920, a majority of Americans lived in cities but many lacked basic

services such as garbage collection, safe housing, police and fire

• NAACP was formed in 1909 to fight for African-Americans’ rights

Part 1: Progressivism

Section 1C: Reforming the

Workplace

• In 1940, about 40% of

working class families

lived in poverty

• Some success was made • Some success was made

at eliminating child labor

and limiting the work day

for adult laborers and

organizing workers into

unions

• Triangle Shirtwaist fire

killed 140 and led states

to mandate safer

workplaces

Part 1: ProgressivismSection 1D: Reforming Government

Verbal Voting in a

Missouri county

election, 1846

Block Voting in New

York City, late 1800s

• Some cities

experimented with

new systems of local

government

• Progressive

reformers took the

lead in WI, NY, CA

Part 2: Women and Public LifeSection 2A: Opportunities for Women

• From 1833-1900, women went from 0% to 33% of college students

• Many middle class, college educated women joined reform efforts

• Many women worked in the “caring” professions or garment industry

School Teacher, early 1900s

Oberlin College Students, 1850s

Part 2: Women and Public Life Section 2B: Gaining Political Exposure

• Progressive women

such as Lillian Wald

fought to end child

labor, improve

children’s health, and

education

• 18th Amendment (1917)

banning alcohol had

been pushed by women

reformers and

organizations for years

• Black women reformers

fought for voting rights

and lynching laws

Part 2: Women and Public Life Sec. 2C: Rise of the Women’s Suffrage Movement

• Suffragists such as Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady formed

organizations and fought for women to get the right to vote

• WY, UT, and other western states started giving women voting rights

in the late 1800s.

• The 19th

amendment

finally gave finally gave

women right to

vote in 1920

1913 suffrage map

Part 3: Theodore Roosevelt’s Square DealSection 3A: Roosevelt’s View of the Presidency

• TR was a popular, reform governor of NY who became pres. in 1901

• TR was the first progressive president and used the “bully pulpit”

• TR convinced coal owners in 1902 to use arbitration to resolve strike

• TR was easily reelected in 1904 on a “Square Deal” reform platform

Part 3: Theodore Roosevelt’s Square Deal Section 3B: Regulating Big Business

• TR busted up “bad” trusts, starting with Northern Securities in 1904

• Elkins and Hepburn Acts strengthened federal RR regulation

• Meat Inspection Act and Pure Food and Drug Act were passed after

Sinclair’s The Jungle exposed unsanitary conditions in food industry

Part 3: Theodore Roosevelt’s Square Deal Section 3C: Environmental Conservation

• Roosevelt was the first president concerned with the environment

• TR was a conservationist while John Muir was a preservationist

• Creation of Forest Service, Antiquities Act was TR’s greatest legacy

Part 4: Taft and Roosevelt Section 4A: Progressivism Under Taft

• Taft, TR’s handpicked

successor, was easily

elected in 1908

• Taft was more cautious

than TR and his support

for higher tariffs and for higher tariffs and

firing of Pinchot (Forest

Service head) split the

Republicans

• Wilson (Democrat)

defeated TR and Taft in

the 1912 election

Part 4: Taft and Roosevelt Section 4B: Wilson’s New Freedom

• Wilson was an intellectual, reform governor from NJ and professor

• Underwood Tariff reduced rates to their lowest in 50 years

• Federal Reserve Act regulated banks and still in effect today

• Clayton • Clayton

Antitrust Act

strengthened

antitrust

regulation

Part 4: Taft and Roosevelt Section 4C: Women Gain the Vote

• In 1901, women could vote in 4 states so some suffragists such as

Alice Paul used radical tactics to fight for a constitutional amendment

• Women’s patriotism and the leadership of Carrie Chapman Catt of

the NAWSA led to passage of 19th amendment in 1920

1913 Women’s Suffrage March1913 Women’s Suffrage March

Part 4: Taft and Roosevelt Section 4D: Progressivism and the Rights of Blacks

• Roosevelt’s civil rights record

was mixed while Wilson was a

racist and allowed re-segregation

of the executive branch

• WWI mostly ended Progressive

movement in the U.S.movement in the U.S.