Progressivism

From The Ram’s Horn, 1896

If you could change one aspect of American life, whether it be in politics, moral beliefs, social standards of acceptance,

education or

the economy,

law etc…

WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?

•Lower the drinking age

• Legalize Marijuana

• Make gun ownership illegal for non-military citizens

• Take speed limit away

• Make definite age limit for a person to be considered a minor.

• Raise minimum wage

A symbol for the American Reform Party (see the Umbrella does work..).

The Progressivism Umbrella

•Progressivism touched every part of American Life.

•REFORM REFORM REFORM!!!

•The Government became active in a national and federal sense.

•“Public Interest” instead of “special” or “private” interest.

The Progressive Era

Reform shifts from the farm to the city and climbs the ladder of

government from the local to the state and then to the national level.

The Problems of the 1890’s

• Huge Gap between rich and poor

• Tremendous economic and political power of the rich

• Wealthy were insensitively flaunting their wealth before a poorer public

Problems of the 1890’s (cont.)

• Industrial workers hideously poor, living in squalor and working in dangerous conditions

• Jacob Riis’ How the Other Half Lives (1890)

• Little concern for Black America

The Power of the PenWriters exposed the American public to corruption and

injustices in politics, business and society. Because of the influence, many government reforms were enacted, and amendments were added to the Constitution.

Theories Differences

PopulismScared Middle

Class and Business

ProgressivismConsensus: Now

possible to improve society

1. Centered in rural areas2. Poor, uneducated3. Considered radical ideas, like

socialism4. A failure, too radical.

1. Centered in the cities2. Middle class – well educated3. Political mainstream, wanted

existing system to work better (moderate)

4. An overwhelming success

* The Populist Party brought success to Progressivism because it exposed the corruption in business and the desperate conditions of farmers and factory workers.

Progressive Reformers

Streams of Reform

• The “Social Gospel” movement

• Settlement House Workers

• Americans of “Old Wealth”

Social ReformSocial Reform

Jane Addams – Hull HouseJane Addams – Hull House Ida B. Wells – anti-lynching Ida B. Wells – anti-lynching

crusadecrusade Carrie Chapman Catt – president Carrie Chapman Catt – president

League of Women VotersLeague of Women Voters Ida Tarbell – expose of Standard Ida Tarbell – expose of Standard

OilOil

Streams of Reform (cont.)

• Young, socially-conscious lawyers

• Investigative Journalists

-- “Muckrakers”

-- Upton Sinclair• Small businessmen

MuckrakersMuckrakers

Lincoln Steffens – political corruption Lincoln Steffens – political corruption & graft& graft

John Spargo – abuses of child labor John Spargo – abuses of child labor (poverty)(poverty)

Frank Norris – Frank Norris – The OctopusThe Octopus RRs bad RRs bad treatment of farmerstreatment of farmers

Theodore Dreiser – Theodore Dreiser – Sister CarrieSister Carrie city city lifelife

Jim Crow Laws

Ida B. Wells

• 1892 three of her good friends were murdered in Memphis, TN

• World wide anti-lynching campaign

Founded Alabama’s Tuskegee Institute (1881) to train African Americans in

30 trades. Washington argued that equality would

be achieved not through campaigns of reforms, but when African Americans

gained education and vocational skills to become

valuable members of society.

Booker Booker TT. Washington. Washington

W.E.B. Dubois

• Harvard educated professor

• Niagara Movement – led to NAACP

• Equal rights now

Fighting the lasting effects of Plessy vs. FergusonPlessy vs. Ferguson (1896) and Jim Crow laws

4 block wide area – wiped clean

Bodies laid out in line

Result of Galveston Hurricane

• City Council form of government

• City Managers

• Departments with “expertise”

• Political machines begin to lose power

Features of Progressive Reform

• Desire to remedy problems through government initiative

• Reliance on “experts”-- Robert Lafollette’s “Wisconsin Idea”

• Wanted reform not revolution• Stressed the importance of

efficiency in reform--Frederick W. Taylor (efficiency)

LaFollette reforms LaFollette reforms “Fighting Bob”“Fighting Bob”

Direct primaries – public votes Direct primaries – public votes directly for candidates they want directly for candidates they want on the balloton the ballot

Initiative – citizens can introduce Initiative – citizens can introduce new legislationnew legislation

Referendum – citizens vote on Referendum – citizens vote on legislation proposedlegislation proposed

Recall – voters can vote an elected Recall – voters can vote an elected official out of officeofficial out of office

Features of Progressive Features of Progressive Reform (cont.)Reform (cont.)

Desire to make Desire to make society more moral society more moral and more justand more just

Desire to distribute Desire to distribute income more income more equitablyequitably

Desire to broaden Desire to broaden opportunities for opportunities for individual individual advancementadvancement

Women were active Women were active in progressivismin progressivism

Political ReformsPolitical Reforms More power into the hands of the peopleMore power into the hands of the people Innovative changes in city governmentInnovative changes in city government

--city managers and commission model--city managers and commission model The Direct PrimaryThe Direct Primary Initiative, Referendum and RecallInitiative, Referendum and Recall The Secret BallotThe Secret Ballot Direct Election of Senators and the Vote Direct Election of Senators and the Vote

for Womenfor Women

http://www.americanwriters.org/

““The pen The pen (again) is (again) is mightier mightier than the than the sword”sword”

From Upton Sinclair’s From Upton Sinclair’s The JungleThe Jungle

““There would be meat that had There would be meat that had tumbled out on the floor, in the dirt tumbled out on the floor, in the dirt

and sawdust, where the workers had and sawdust, where the workers had trampled and spit uncounted billions trampled and spit uncounted billions

of germs. There would be meat stored of germs. There would be meat stored in rooms and thousands of rats would in rooms and thousands of rats would

race about it..A man could run his race about it..A man could run his hand over these piles of meat and hand over these piles of meat and sweep handfuls of dried rat dung. sweep handfuls of dried rat dung.

These rats were nuisances, and These rats were nuisances, and packers would put poisoned bread out packers would put poisoned bread out for them; they would die, and then the for them; they would die, and then the

rats, bread, and meat would go into rats, bread, and meat would go into the hoppers together…the hoppers together…

In 1906 Sinclair’s novel The Jungle drew outrage against the Chicago meatpacking industry for its arrogant

disregard of basic health standards. This led to government regulation of food and drugs.

Teddy Roosevelt’s Reaction to Teddy Roosevelt’s Reaction to The JungleThe Jungle

Teddy Roosevelt’s Reaction to Teddy Roosevelt’s Reaction to The JungleThe Jungle

What impact did The Jungle have on TR and what action did he take to address the issue?

Meat Inspection Act, Meat Inspection Act, 19061906

Pure Food and Drug Act, Pure Food and Drug Act, 19061906

Other workplace Other workplace reformsreforms

Workman’s Compensation – Workman’s Compensation – MD 1902MD 1902

Laws for womenLaws for women Muller v OregonMuller v Oregon

Laws for childrenLaws for children

Politics: Presidents of the Progressive Era

Teddy Roosevelt (R) 1901-1909

William Taft (R) 1909-1913

Woodrow Wilson (D) 1913-1921

T.R and Foreign Relations

“Speak softly and carry a big stick”

Great White Fleet

-“Strenuous life”

•At 42, the youngest At 42, the youngest President ever.President ever.

•A man of privilege – A man of privilege – supports the common supports the common man.man.

•The first “modern The first “modern president.”president.”

““In life, as in In life, as in football, the football, the principle to principle to

follow is: Hit follow is: Hit the line hard”the line hard”

TEDDY ROOSEVELTTEDDY ROOSEVELT

““The Steward of the people”The Steward of the people”

First Term as President (1901-First Term as President (1901-1904)1904)

McKinley’s McKinley’s assassinationassassination

Offered energetic Offered energetic national leadershipnational leadership

Cast every issue in Cast every issue in moral and patriotic moral and patriotic termsterms

--The “Bully Pulpit”--The “Bully Pulpit” Master PoliticianMaster Politician

““Trust-Buster”? – Big BusinessTrust-Buster”? – Big Business

Regulation in order Regulation in order to get businesses to get businesses to act rightto act right

The “Square Deal” The “Square Deal” (1902)(1902)

Making an example Making an example of the Northern of the Northern Securities Co.Securities Co.

The Elkins Act The Elkins Act (1903)(1903)

TR’s other noteworthy TR’s other noteworthy accomplishmentsaccomplishments

Coal Strike of 1902 – Coal Strike of 1902 – arbitration (threat of sending arbitration (threat of sending troops in)troops in)

Negotiated peace in the Negotiated peace in the Russo-Japanese War – won a Russo-Japanese War – won a Nobel Peace PrizeNobel Peace Prize

TRs 2nd Term as President TRs 2nd Term as President (1905-1909)(1905-1909)

Hepburn Act Hepburn Act (1906) – RRs & ICC(1906) – RRs & ICC

Federal Meat Federal Meat Inspection Act Inspection Act (1906)(1906)

Pure Food and Pure Food and Drug Act (1906)Drug Act (1906)

Conservation Conservation PolicyPolicy

--Preservation vs. --Preservation vs. ConservationConservation

11stst President to take actions toward President to take actions toward conservation of the environmentconservation of the environment

(Newlands Reclamation Act of (Newlands Reclamation Act of 1902)1902)

““A Tough Act to Follow”: A Tough Act to Follow”: William Howard Taft (1909-1913)William Howard Taft (1909-1913)

The Election of The Election of 19081908

Taft’s political Taft’s political experienceexperience

Taft’s weightTaft’s weight Not a dynamic Not a dynamic

politicianpolitician Never Never

completely completely comfortable as comfortable as PresidentPresident

Presidency of TaftPresidency of Taft Controversy Controversy

over the Tariffover the Tariff More More

conservative conservative than TR, but than TR, but also more also more trust suitstrust suits

The “Ballinger-The “Ballinger-Pinchot” AffairPinchot” Affair

The Election of 1912The Election of 1912 Republican Party Republican Party

- split- split ““Bull Moose” Bull Moose”

PartyParty Progressive Progressive

Party Platform: Party Platform: “New “New Nationalism”Nationalism”

Democrats draft Democrats draft Woodrow WilsonWoodrow Wilson

Democratic Progressivism: Democratic Progressivism: Woodrow Wilson (1913-1921)Woodrow Wilson (1913-1921)

True True progressive progressive and dynamic and dynamic speakerspeaker

Sympathetic to Sympathetic to small small businessmenbusinessmen

A stubborn, A stubborn, moral crusader moral crusader and ideologueand ideologue

““New Freedom”New Freedom” Recreate the Recreate the

“Golden Age” of “Golden Age” of small American small American businessesbusinesses

Open channels Open channels for free and fair for free and fair competitioncompetition

Jeffersonian Jeffersonian approach to approach to federal powerfederal power

Wilson’s New FreedomWilson’s New Freedom

With a strong With a strong mandate from the mandate from the American people, American people, Wilson moved to Wilson moved to enact his program, enact his program, the “New Freedom.”the “New Freedom.”

He planned his He planned his attack on what he attack on what he called the triple wall called the triple wall of privilege: trusts, of privilege: trusts, tariffs, and high tariffs, and high finance.finance.

Clayton Anti-Trust ActClayton Anti-Trust Act 1914 Clayton 1914 Clayton

Anti-Trust Act - Anti-Trust Act - strengthened the strengthened the Sherman Act.Sherman Act.

Had an anti-trust Had an anti-trust provision - provision - prevented prevented companies from companies from acquiring stock acquiring stock from another from another company company andand supported supported workers’ unions.workers’ unions.

Key Wilsonian LegislationKey Wilsonian Legislation

Underwood Tariff Underwood Tariff Act (1913)Act (1913)

Federal Reserve Federal Reserve Act (1913)Act (1913)

Clayton Anti-Trust Clayton Anti-Trust Act (1914)Act (1914)

Federal Trade Federal Trade Commission Commission (1914)(1914)

Federal Trade Commission FormedFederal Trade Commission Formed

The FTC was The FTC was formed in 1914 formed in 1914 to serve as a to serve as a “watchdog” “watchdog” agency to end agency to end unfair business unfair business practices. The practices. The FTC protects FTC protects consumers from consumers from business fraud. business fraud.

Federal Income Tax ArrivesFederal Income Tax Arrives

Wilson worked Wilson worked hard to lower hard to lower tariffs, however, tariffs, however, the lost revenue the lost revenue had to be made had to be made up and was when up and was when the 16the 16thth Amendment Amendment instituted a instituted a graduated graduated federal income federal income tax.tax.

Woodrow Wilsonand the

“Triple Wall of Privilege”

1. Banks

2. Tariffs

3. Trusts

Congressional Progressivism Congressional Progressivism After 1914After 1914

Wilson - not a Wilson - not a strong strong progressive on progressive on social reformsocial reform

Brandeis Brandeis appointed to appointed to Supreme CourtSupreme Court

Federal Federal Highways Act Highways Act (1916)(1916)

Can a person’s positive contributions to society be overshadowed by their negative attributes?

"It's like writing history with lightning. And my only regret is that it is all terribly true." – Woodrow Wilson

Features of Progressive Features of Progressive Reform Reform

Both political Both political partiesparties

Middle-class Middle-class reform reform movementmovement

Operated on Operated on all three levels all three levels of governmentof government

Social ReformsSocial Reforms Job safety standardsJob safety standards Standards for housing Standards for housing

codescodes Food & Drug Food & Drug

inspectioninspection ““City Beautification” City Beautification” Immigration Immigration

RestrictionRestriction Little Help for BlacksLittle Help for Blacks

--NAACP (1909)--NAACP (1909)-- “Birth of a Nation”-- “Birth of a Nation”

Feminism

Key Terms

• Alice Paul

• Carrie Chapman Catt

• National American

Women Suffrage Association

• 19th Amendment

Progressive Amendments to Progressive Amendments to the Constitutionthe Constitution

1616thth (1913)— (1913)—federal income federal income taxtax

1717thth (1913)— (1913)—direct election of direct election of senatorssenators

1818thth (1919)— (1919)—prohibitionprohibition

1919thth (1920)—vote (1920)—vote for womenfor women

The Waning of the The Waning of the Progressive Movement Progressive Movement

Progressive movement peaks by Progressive movement peaks by 19171917

Advent of World War I hurt Advent of World War I hurt progressive activismprogressive activism

Progressives themselves began to Progressives themselves began to weary of their reform zeal—as did weary of their reform zeal—as did the nation as a wholethe nation as a whole

Ironically, voter participation steadily Ironically, voter participation steadily declined since the election of 1912declined since the election of 1912