progressivism and its effects. what was progressivism? massive reform movement in early 1900s ...
TRANSCRIPT
What was Progressivism?
Massive reform movement in early 1900s
Waged war on monopolies, corruption, inefficiency, and social injustice
Goal: To strengthen role of government in ensuring human welfare. No more “laissez-faire”
Where did Progressivism Come From? Anger at trusts Anger at division of
wealth Thorstein Veblen’s
Theory of the Leisure Class
Jacob Riis’ How the Other Half Lives
Socialism—desire for government to take over private industry and make more equal
Social gospel movement Feminism
The Muckrakers
Term coined by Roosevelt Writers who unearthed filth
and corruption in society Lincoln Steffen’s The
Shame of the Cities—corrupt alliance between big business and city government
Ida Tarbell expose of Standard Oil
Wrote about other social ills: slums, child labor, industrial accidents, lack of regulations concerning medicine
Progressive Political Goals
Most progressives were white, middle class Felt pressure from above—giant
corporations Pressure from below—immigrants and
labor unions Wanted to deal with both
Progressive Political Goals ctnd. Wanted political power given back to people
Initiative—people propose legislation Referendum—people vote on legislation Recall—people can remove elected officials
Desire to decrease corruption Campaign finance reform Direct election of senators—17th Amendment in
1913 Women’s suffrage in some states, 19th
Amendment in 1920.
Reform in Cities and States
Changes to city government Commission system,
city-manager system—city to be run by experts
Wisconsin—lead by Robert LaFollette—took much power from corporations and gave it to people Other states follow—
Ex. Hiram W. Johnson in California—broke railroad trust
Progressive Women
Didn’t challenge notion of “separate spheres” just wanted more rights for women in those spheres
Women drawn to moral issues like ending child labor or drinking
Special laws to protect women in workforce confirmed in Muller v. Oregon Actually kept women out of certain “male”
jobs
Women’s Reforms
1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Women locked in 146 killed Women fought for laws
regulating conditions and hours in factories
Temperance Women’s Christian
Temperance Union largest organization of women in the world
Teddy Roosevelt’s Square Deal Roosevelt was a
“progressive” at home
Wanted a square (fair) deal for all groups: business, labor and public Control of
corporations Consumer protection Conservation of
natural resources
Roosevelt Curbs Big Business
Intervened in coal strike on behalf of workers Threatened to seize mines and operate
with federal troops if owners didn’t negotiate
FIRST TO DO THIS Established Department of Commerce
and Labor
Roosevelt Curbs Big Business ctnd. 1903 Elkins Act —forbids
railroad rebates 1906 Hepburn Act—
expanded Interstate Commerce Commission’s powers to regulate railroad
1902-1904: Ordered break-up of Northern Securities Trust
Still Roosevelt was not against all trusts—just wanted regulation
Roosevelt Helps the Consumer 1906: Upton
Sinclair’s The Jungle People want change
in meat-packing industry
1906 Meat Inspection Act
1906 Pure Food and Drug Act
Roosevelt and Conservation
One of first presidents to protect environment
Laws to irrigate deserts, reserve forest land
Part of concern for conservation in America
Roosevelt wanted to use nature “rationally,” not wastefully
Built a dam in Yosemite at Hetch-Hetchy because necessary
Angered preservationists who wanted to preserve nature from all human use
Roosevelt’s Legacy
Re-elected in 1904 Hurt by “Roosevelt Panic” of 1907—speculation
on Wall Street In 1908, Roosevelt hand-picked Taft as his
successor Legacies of Roosevelt:
Increased power and prestige of presidency Helped shape the progressive movement, and his
Square Deal was a precedent to New Deal Showed America they were a new world power
Taft: A Progressive President?
Lack of personality compared to Roosevelt
Really wanted to keep the “status quo”
Did bust more trusts than Roosevelt Standard Oil in 1911
Roosevelt became angry with Taft when he increased the tariff (Payne-Aldrich Bill) and dismissed lead conservationist Pinchot after selling public land to private development
The Splitting of the Republican Party In Election of 1912,
Republicans ran Taft again
Roosevelt decided to run again, this time on Progressive (bull moose) ticket
With Republican party divided, Woodrow Wilson was elected in 1912
Wilson the Progressive
Did want to regulate trusts so small business could thrive
Wanted more competition in economy—New Freedom Program
Wilson elected as minority president—called for assault on tariff, banks and trusts
Wilson Tackles the Tariff
Passed Underwood Tariff Bill—dramatic reduction in rates
Also began collecting income tax because of Sixteenth Amendment Designed to equalize wealth, make rich
fund social programs Tax money now larger source of income
than tariff
Wilson Battles Banks
Wanted bank to end its monopoly and to be able to put more currency in market when necessary
Wanted decentralized bank in government hands
1913 Federal Reserve Act Created Federal Reserve
Board—oversees regional reserve districts and banks
Each bank empowered to issue paper money if necessary
Most important piece of economic legislation between Civil War and New Deal
Wilson Tames the Trusts
1914 Federal Trade Commission Act—outlawed unfair trade practices
1914 Clayton Anti-Trust Act strengthened Sherman Anti-Trust Act, made sure labor unions weren’t being prosecuted under it
Other Progressive Reforms Under Wilson Credits and loans to farmers to deal with
overproduction Workingmen’s Compensation Act Acts restricting child labor Adamson Act of 1916—8 hour day for all
employees on trains in interstate commerce Appointed first Jew, Louis Brandeis, to
Supreme Court Still, accelerated segregation in federal
government!