The Progressive The Progressive Era: Era:

1895-19201895-1920

An OverviewAn Overview

Origins of Origins of ProgressivismProgressivism

Aftermath of IndustrialismAftermath of Industrialism

► Sharp increase in urbanizationSharp increase in urbanization

► Unsanitary living and working conditions as Unsanitary living and working conditions as well as poverty.well as poverty.

► Further widened the gap between rich and Further widened the gap between rich and poor.poor.

► Middle class saw these changes and Middle class saw these changes and became inspired to fight for reform and became inspired to fight for reform and positive changes in societypositive changes in society

Origins of Progressivism Origins of Progressivism                         -Increased industry-Increased industry                        -New populations-New populations                        -Labor unrest-Labor unrest                        -Depression-Depression

► Foreign Influences:Foreign Influences:- European reforms such as old-age - European reforms such as old-age insurance, subsidized worker’s insurance, subsidized worker’s

housing, city housing, city planning, and rural planning, and rural reconstruction.reconstruction.

► Progressivism was a direct result of Progressivism was a direct result of previous political and social factors. Did previous political and social factors. Did not come out of nowherenot come out of nowhere

Goals of ProgressivismGoals of Progressivism

1.1. End abuses of powerEnd abuses of power

2.2. Implement social programs to Implement social programs to replace corrupt institutions and replace corrupt institutions and reduce inequalities reduce inequalities ► i.e.. schools, medical clinics, i.e.. schools, medical clinics,

community programscommunity programs

3.3. Increase efficiency in economic, Increase efficiency in economic, social, and political institutions.social, and political institutions.

Philosophy of ProgressivismPhilosophy of Progressivism

► 1. Did not want to get rid of capitalism, just 1. Did not want to get rid of capitalism, just Alleviate some of the problems of a PURE capitalist Alleviate some of the problems of a PURE capitalist systemsystem

► 2. Did not believe everyone was equal2. Did not believe everyone was equal

► 3. The gap between wealthy and poor should not be 3. The gap between wealthy and poor should not be extremeextreme

► 4. Corruption in government led to inefficiency4. Corruption in government led to inefficiency

► 5. Government should look out for welfare of whole 5. Government should look out for welfare of whole society, not special interests.society, not special interests.

Important Groups in Important Groups in ProgressivismProgressivism

1. Middle Class, educated whites1. Middle Class, educated whites

2. Upper Elites, mostly women2. Upper Elites, mostly women

Sometimes conflicted with people they Sometimes conflicted with people they wanted to help.wanted to help.

Important Groups in Important Groups in ProgressivismProgressivism

3. Muckrakers3. Muckrakers Journalists who wrote about evils and Journalists who wrote about evils and

corruption of American society.  corruption of American society. 

Wrote in widely circulated magazines Wrote in widely circulated magazines (McClure’s, Cosmopolitan) & novels.(McClure’s, Cosmopolitan) & novels.

Editors wanted scandalous, shocking Editors wanted scandalous, shocking stories so to appeal to readers.stories so to appeal to readers.

Examples: Examples: The Jungle, Treason of the The Jungle, Treason of the SenateSenate

Opponents of ProgressivismOpponents of Progressivism

► Believed that government should not have such a Believed that government should not have such a large influence on economic affairs.large influence on economic affairs.

► Believed the Progressive movement contradicted the laws Believed the Progressive movement contradicted the laws of social Darwinism.of social Darwinism.

► Believed businesses un-regulated was the only way to Believed businesses un-regulated was the only way to ensure progress and the continuation of capitalismensure progress and the continuation of capitalism

Major Areas of Focus for Major Areas of Focus for ProgressivesProgressives

►Children/EducationChildren/Education►GovernmentGovernment►WomenWomen►LaborLabor►African AmericansAfrican Americans

Children/Education: Child LaborersChildren/Education: Child Laborers

►Promoted Child Labor LawsPromoted Child Labor Laws Shorter Work DaysShorter Work Days Age LimitsAge Limits

Children/Education: Child EducationChildren/Education: Child Education

►Child-centered schools and more Child-centered schools and more flexible.flexible.

►No corruption in schoolsNo corruption in schools

►Curriculum that promotes social change.Curriculum that promotes social change.

►School attendance lawsSchool attendance laws

► Juvenile CourtsJuvenile Courts

2. Government2. Government

►Government should counteract Government should counteract inefficiency and exploitation. (ie. No inefficiency and exploitation. (ie. No Socialism and no pure Capitalism)Socialism and no pure Capitalism)

►Direct election of SenatorsDirect election of Senators

►City manager and commission forms City manager and commission forms of government and public ownership of government and public ownership of utilities.of utilities.

3. Women3. Women

►Lowered Working HoursLowered Working Hours

►Muller v. Oregon 1908Muller v. Oregon 1908: : 10 hour work days for women. 10 hour work days for women. Problem: states found loopholesProblem: states found loopholes

►Give help to working women through Give help to working women through community programs and services community programs and services ie. Day care, classes, clubs).ie. Day care, classes, clubs).

4. Labor4. Labor

►Protect the working class by trying to Protect the working class by trying to give them lifestyles more like the give them lifestyles more like the middle-class. middle-class.

►Wanted protective legislationWanted protective legislation Women and Children Labor LawsWomen and Children Labor Laws Worker’s compensationWorker’s compensation Unemployment insurance. Unemployment insurance.

4. Labor - Beyond the 4. Labor - Beyond the Progressive Labor MovementProgressive Labor Movement

► Some people believed that Progressivism Some people believed that Progressivism wasn’t enoughwasn’t enough

► Socialism was seen as a way of changing Socialism was seen as a way of changing societysociety Lead by Eugene V. Debs in 1912Lead by Eugene V. Debs in 1912

►Not successful, b/c most progressives were Not successful, b/c most progressives were too reliant on the capitalist system to want too reliant on the capitalist system to want to overthrow it.to overthrow it.

5. Racism5. Racism

►Jane AddamsJane Addams fought to get rid of the fought to get rid of the racial exclusions in the Progressive racial exclusions in the Progressive movement. movement.

►Booker T. WashingtonBooker T. Washington promoted the promoted the strategy of self-help, in which blacks strategy of self-help, in which blacks should work hard to prove to whites should work hard to prove to whites that they are worthy or respect.that they are worthy or respect.

►Overall, failure of the ProgressivesOverall, failure of the Progressives