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