Part-1Part-1

Progressive RootsProgressive Roots In the first decade of the In the first decade of the

20th century, the U.S. 20th century, the U.S. would be influenced by a would be influenced by a “Progressive Movement’ “Progressive Movement’ that would fight against that would fight against monopolies, corruption, monopolies, corruption, inefficiency, and social inefficiency, and social injustice.injustice.

As one progressive As one progressive

explained, the “real heart” explained, the “real heart” of the progressive of the progressive movement was to use the movement was to use the government as an agency government as an agency of human welfare.of human welfare.

The Progressives had The Progressives had

their roots in the their roots in the Greenback Labor Party of Greenback Labor Party of the 1870s and 1880s and the 1870s and 1880s and the Populist Party of the the Populist Party of the 1890s. 1890s.

In 1894, Henry Demarest In 1894, Henry Demarest Lloyd exposed the corruption Lloyd exposed the corruption of the monopoly of the of the monopoly of the Standard Oil Company with Standard Oil Company with his book his book Wealth Against Wealth Against CommonwealthCommonwealth, while , while Thorstein Veblen criticized Thorstein Veblen criticized the new rich (those who the new rich (those who made money from the trusts) made money from the trusts) in The in The Theory of the Leisure Theory of the Leisure ClassClass (1899). (1899).

Other exposers of the Other exposers of the

corruption of trusts, or corruption of trusts, or “muckrakers,” as Theodore “muckrakers,” as Theodore Roosevelt called them, were Roosevelt called them, were Jacob A. Riis, writer of Jacob A. Riis, writer of How How the Other Half Livesthe Other Half Lives, a book , a book about the New York slums about the New York slums and its inhabitants, and and its inhabitants, and novelist Theodore Dreiser, novelist Theodore Dreiser, who wrote who wrote The FinancierThe Financier and and The TitanThe Titan to attack profiteers. to attack profiteers.

Socialists and feminists gained strength, and with people like Socialists and feminists gained strength, and with people like Jane Addams and Lillian Wald, women entered the Progressive fight. Jane Addams and Lillian Wald, women entered the Progressive fight.

Raking Muck with the MuckrakersRaking Muck with the Muckrakers Beginning about 1902, a group of Beginning about 1902, a group of

aggressive ten and fifteen-cent aggressive ten and fifteen-cent popular magazines, such as popular magazines, such as Cosmopolitan, Collier’s, and Cosmopolitan, Collier’s, and Everybody’s, began flinging the dirt Everybody’s, began flinging the dirt about the trusts.about the trusts.

Most muckrakers believed that their Most muckrakers believed that their primary function in the progressive primary function in the progressive attack on social ills was to make the attack on social ills was to make the public aware of social problems.public aware of social problems.

Despite criticism, reformer-writers Despite criticism, reformer-writers

ranged far and wide to lay bare the ranged far and wide to lay bare the muck on the back of American muck on the back of American society. society.

In 1902, Lincoln Steffens In 1902, Lincoln Steffens launched a series of articles in launched a series of articles in McClure’s entitled McClure’s entitled The Shame of The Shame of the Citiesthe Cities, in which he unmasked , in which he unmasked the corrupt alliance between big the corrupt alliance between big business and the government. business and the government.

Ida M. Tarbell launched a Ida M. Tarbell launched a devastating exposé against devastating exposé against Standard Oil and its Standard Oil and its ruthlessness.ruthlessness.

These writers exposed the These writers exposed the “money trusts,” the railroad “money trusts,” the railroad barons, and the corrupt barons, and the corrupt amassing of American fortunes, amassing of American fortunes, this last part done by Thomas this last part done by Thomas W. Lawson. W. Lawson.

David G. Phillips charged that 75 David G. Phillips charged that 75 of the 90 U.S. Senators did not of the 90 U.S. Senators did not represent the people, but represent the people, but actually the railroads and trusts.actually the railroads and trusts.

Ray Stannard Baker’s Ray Stannard Baker’s Following Following

the Color Linethe Color Line was about the was about the illiteracy of blacks.illiteracy of blacks.

John Spargo’s John Spargo’s The Bitter Cry of The Bitter Cry of

the Childrenthe Children exposed child labor. exposed child labor. Dr. Harvey W. Wiley exposed Dr. Harvey W. Wiley exposed

the frauds that sold potent the frauds that sold potent patent medicines by patent medicines by experimenting on himself. experimenting on himself.

The muckrakers sincerely believed that cures for the ills of American democracy, was more democracy. They sought NOT to overthrow capitalism but to cleanse it.

Political ProgressivismPolitical Progressivism Progressives were mostly middle-class citizens who felt squeezed by Progressives were mostly middle-class citizens who felt squeezed by

both the big trusts above and the restless immigrant hordes working for both the big trusts above and the restless immigrant hordes working for cheap labor that came from below. They emerged in both major parties, cheap labor that came from below. They emerged in both major parties, in all regions, and at all levels of government.in all regions, and at all levels of government.

To regain the power that the people had lost to the “interests,” the To regain the power that the people had lost to the “interests,” the

Progressives favored the “initiative” so that voters could directly propose Progressives favored the “initiative” so that voters could directly propose legislation, the “referendum” so that the people could vote on laws that legislation, the “referendum” so that the people could vote on laws that affected them, and the “recall” to remove bad officials from office.affected them, and the “recall” to remove bad officials from office.

Progressives also desired to expose graft, using a secret ballot Progressives also desired to expose graft, using a secret ballot

(Australian ballot) to counteract the effects of party bosses, and have (Australian ballot) to counteract the effects of party bosses, and have direct election of U.S. senators to curb corruption. direct election of U.S. senators to curb corruption.

Finally, in 1913, the 17th Amendment provided for direct election of Finally, in 1913, the 17th Amendment provided for direct election of senators.senators.

Females also campaigned for woman’s suffrage, but that did not come…Females also campaigned for woman’s suffrage, but that did not come…

yet.yet.

Additionally, the progressives sought the prohibition of alcohol Additionally, the progressives sought the prohibition of alcohol in the U.S., which came to fruition with the 18in the U.S., which came to fruition with the 18thth Amendment. Amendment.

Progressivism in the Cities and StatesProgressivism in the Cities and States Progressive cities like

Galveston, TX either used, for the first time, expert-staffed commissions to manage urban affairs or the city-manager system, which was designed to take politics out of municipal administration.

Urban reformers tackled

“slumlords,” juvenile delinquency, and wide-open prostitution.

In Wisconsin, Governor Robert M. (Fightin’ Bob) La Follette wrestled control from the trusts and returned power to the people, becoming a Progressive leader in the process.

Other states also took to regulate railroads and trusts, such as Oregon and Other states also took to regulate railroads and trusts, such as Oregon and California, which was led by Governor Hiram W. Johnson.California, which was led by Governor Hiram W. Johnson.

Charles Evans Hughes, governor of New York, gained fame by Charles Evans Hughes, governor of New York, gained fame by

investigating the malpractices of gas and insurance companies. investigating the malpractices of gas and insurance companies.