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THE PROGRESSIVE ERA
Chapter 9
The Origins of Progressivism
Section 1
Protecting Social Welfare Several different groups (like the YMCA and the
Salvation Army) formed during the industrialization era to protect the rights of the people in the state.
An act was passed in 1939 to protect vulnerable citizens of the state such as the elderly, dependent children, the impaired, disabled, etc.
They provided hospitalization, food, shelter and many other facilities to give everyone a fair chance to succeed.
Promoting Moral Improvement Reformers decided
morality was more important than work.
Prohibition of alcohol was a main part of improving morality.
Creating Economic Reform Severe Panic in 1893 prompted
Americans to question the capitalist economic system.
Journalists write about economic reform and these writers become known as “Muckrakers”
Fostering Efficiency Leaders put faith in
scientific principles to make the work place more efficient.
They broke up tasks into simpler parts which was called Taylorism.
Reforming Local Government Natural disasters played a big part in the
reform mostly because they did a poor job at fixing things
The city made a city council, where each person on the council had a specific job. This made it so that problems could be better taken care of.
Reform Mayors Mayors implemented
progressive reform, making changes to the economic system.
There were 19 mayors, whose main goal was to put better people in charge of different parts of the economy.
Reform Governors Robert M. La Follette led the way in
regulating big business, as governor he did not mean to “smash corporations” but merely to drive them out of politics and treat them exactly the same as other people are treated.
His major target was the railroad industry, he taxed railroad property at the same rate as other business.
Protecting Working Children
The National Child Labor Committee formed to protect the rights of working children.
The reformers set maximum hours that children could work and help protect them if they were injured.
Efforts to Limit Working Hours Two cases; the 1908 Muller v. Oregon
case, and the 1917 Bunting v. Oregon case, argued for limiting women’s work hours, stating that women are more economically insecure.
Legislation was passed later, making employers pay benefits for death cases.
Reforming Elections Reforming election – the initiative and
referendum gave citizens the power to create laws.
Initiative – a bill originated by the people rather than law makers on the ballot
Referendum- a vote on the initiative Recall enabled voters to remove public
officials from elected positions
Direct Election of Senators Direct election of senators paved the
way for the 17th amendment. The legislature chose senators, which
put more power in the hands of party bosses and corporation heads.
Women in Public LifeSection 2
Farm Women Role doesn’t change
much: must cook, sew, clean, raise livestock, plow, plant crops…
Women in Industry A few new jobs opening up Excluded from men’s unions 1/5 had a job (25% in manufacturing) Made half as much as men doing the same
job (because it was assumed they only had to support themselves and not a whole family)
New office, clerical and teaching jobs required high school diplomas so more women than men earned one, also became bookkeepers, stenographers and typists
Domestic Workers House work for someone else: cleaning,
cooking, laundering… About 2 million black women in this
profession directly after being released from slavery
Makes up about 75% of the women workforce
Included many single immigrant women, the married ones would take in piecework or boarders
Women in Higher Education More women going to college Vassar, Smith and Wellesley College… and then
many ivy league universities made a separate college for women
Graduates were expected to gain knowledge and then go back home and take care of the house and children, not actually USE the degree they earned
Job or College becomes alternative to marriage, ½ of all college educated women remained single
Like Vassar and Wellesley
Women and Reform Educated women joined and strengthened existing
reform groups Couldn’t vote or run for office so they targeted
workplace and housing reform, educational improvement and food and drug laws
The women’s suffrage (right to vote) movement led by NAWSA also gained popularity especially after the passage of the 14th and 15th amendments
Faced resistance because people were afraid women would vote for temperance and child labor laws
Like this… http://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kvk1NZDFvZU
3-Part Strategy for Suffrage 1: Convince state legislatures to grant
women the right to vote 2: Pursue court cases to test the 14th
Amendment (redefines citizen as all those born or naturalized in the U.S., aren’t women citizens too?)
3: National constitutional amendment to allow women the right to vote
Teddy Roosevelt’s Square Deal
Section 3
One American’s Story Upton Sinclair: an
undercover muckraking journalist researched conditions in the meatpacking industry and wrote The Jungle.
Teddy Roosevelt was disgusted and promised that he would do what he could to eradicate the poor conditions.
Roosevelt’s Rise Roosevelt was born in a wealthy family in New
York city, in his early age he became a leader in politics.
He served 3 terms for New York assembly, after 3 terms he became police commissioner, then assistant secretary of the U.S. Navy.
He became a hero and was elected governor of New York, the later won vice-presidency (which the political bosses put him up for when he wouldn’t do as they wished).
The Modern Presidency Youngest president Very physically active His leadership and
publicity campaigns were used by later presidents
Uses his strong personality and popularity to get things done (bully pulpit)
Square Deal is the name he gave his progressive reforms
Trustbusting Trust is a legal body created to hold
stock in many companies. Many trusts lowered their prices to drive
competitors out of the market to create a monopoly, then they jacked up the prices.
President Roosevelt used newspaper headlines and reanimated the Sherman Anti-Trust Act to stop these monopolies.
1902 Coal Strike Coal minors went on strike and
demanded a 20% pay raise and nine hour work day, Roosevelt intervened; minors won.
10% pay hike Nine hour work days Set the precedent that when strikes are
about to effect everyone, the national government should intervene
Railroad Regulation Although the ICC had been set up years
ago it had little power until Roosevelt came along
Urged Congress to pass the Elkins and Hepburn Acts which limits rebates, sudden rate changes, railroad passes, and set maximum rates
Regulating Food and Drugs Because of The Jungle, the meat
packing industry was investigated and found to be just as disgusting as Sinclair said
So, the Meat Inspection Act was passed which dictated standards for cleanliness and quality
Pure Food and Drug Act Ads claimed products
solved everything from cancer to baldness and manufacturers were adding harmful additives to food
Called for truth in labeling because they believed, when properly informed, people would pick good things
Conservation and Natural Resources Before Roosevelt not many presidents
cared about preservation or conservation of land and natural resources
There was only about 45 million acres of land set aside
No regulation of business pollution so companies just dumped their nasty muck in the rivers or puffed it into the air
Conservation Measures Roosevelt wanted to conserve wild lands
and precious water resources Set aside 148 acres of forest reserves and
set 1.5 million acres of water power sites. National Reclamation Act of 1902 known
as the New Lands Act helped fund West irrigation projects such as: The Roosevelt Dam in Arizona and the Shoshone Dam in Wyoming.
Roosevelt and Civil Rights Roosevelt did not embrace the Civil Rights
movement, but did support a few individual African Americans (appointed a few, refused to back down when the south demanded he fire their black postmistress, invited Booker T. Washington to the White House…)
DuBois is angered by the lack of support and founds NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People)
Progressivism Under Taft
Section 4
Taft Stumbles Hand picked as
Roosevelt’s successor Vote for Taft this time,
you can vote for Bryan anytime
Cautiously progressive, tried to consolidate not expand Roosevelt’s reforms
Unpopular despite busting 90 trusts
Payne-Aldrich Tariff Progressives want low tariffs House passes Payne Bill that lowers
rates on imported manufactured goods Senate proposes Aldrich Bill, made
fewer cuts and increased many rates Taft signs Payne-Aldrich compromise bill
which only lessens the Aldrich tariffs and progressives feel abandoned
Disputing Public Lands Taft angered conservationists by
appointing Ballinger as Secretary of the Interior
Ballinger took 1 million acres of forest land off reserved list
Someone in his office complained and that someone was fired
In defense, Pinchot complained and the president fired him too
Problems Within the Party Taft supports Boss Cannon who usually
weakens progressive bills before Congress sees them
Progressive Republicans find a way to outmaneuver Cannon and Taft by no longer allowing him to choose which bills are seen by Congress
The party splits between progressives and the “old guard” so they lose the midterm election and Democrats take control of Congress
Bull Moose Party Taft vs. Roosevelt in the primaries, Taft
outmanuevers Roosevelt Roosevelt’s supports then make a new
party called the Bull Moose Party and elect Roosevelt to run
Party wanted: direct election of senators, election reform, women’s suffrage, minimum wage for women, worker’s comp., child labor laws…
Democrats Win in 1912 Democratic candidate Woodrow Wilson
endorses progressive reform called New Freedom (stronger antitrust laws, banking reform, reduction in tariffs)
Taft and Roosevelt start personal mudslinging and Wilson stays quiet because his enemies are destroying each other
Although Roosevelt beats Taft, Wilson beats them all and has a clear mandate for reform
Wilson’s New Freedom
Section 5
Wilson’s Background Grew up in the South
during the Civil War and Reconstruction, raised by Presbyterian ministers
Worked as a lawyer and history professor before entering politics
His goal as president was to attack trusts, tariffs and high finance
Antitrust Measures Clayton Antitrust Act: companies cannot
buy the stock of another if doing so would create a monopoly
Unions would no longer be subject to trust laws
Federal Trade Commission, watchdog agency that investigates possible violations, receives reports and ends unfair business practices
A New Tax System Wants to pass the Underwood Act which
would substantially lower tariffs Calls Congress to a special session and
establishes the precedent of giving the State of the Union in person
Business lobbyists all asked Congress to reject the act and Wilson asked people to monitor their Senator’s vote
Federal Income Tax Because of the lower tariffs, the
government wasn’t making enough money and had to raise taxes
16th amendment, legalized a graduated income tax (between 1 and 6 % depending on income)
Soon started making more on income tax than ever had made on tariffs
Federal Reserve System Decentralized private banking system
under federal control 12 districts, 1 regional bank that serves
the others Can issue paper currency in an
emergency and allow member banks to use that to make loans, can transfer money to member banks in trouble, still serves as our banking basis
Local Suffrage Battles By 1910 only had
voting rights in Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Washington and Idaho
Spread the message of suffrage to poor and working class women
Those who travelled also brought back the movement from England
Catt and the National Movement NAWSA and Catt concentrated on Organization, close ties between local, state and
national workers, establishing a wide base of support, cautious lobbying, gracious ladylike behavior
Some didn’t like this and founded a more radical group to put pressure on government to pass a suffrage amendment, picketed around the clock
Arrested, jailed, force-fed but successful (after WWI) with 19th amendment
Wilson and Civil Rights When running he supports it, but
changes attitude once elected Appoints segregation supporters to
cabinet Rejects African-American delegation
End of Progressivism The U.S. enters World War I