the women’s movement & black awakening. african-american reforms ■southern progressivism was...
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African-American Reforms■Southern progressivism was for
whites only; Keeping blacks from voting was seen as necessary:–Allowed for poll taxes, literacy
tests, property qualifications (& grandfather clauses for whites)
–Strengthened Jim Crow laws requiring separate theaters, restaurants, hotels, & schools
–But did regulate RRs & industry
By 1900, 80% of African-Americans lived in rural areas, most as Southern sharecroppers
African-American Reforms■Black leaders were
divided on how to address racial problems–Booker T Washington Booker T Washington
was Harvard educated, studied black urban culture, & was 1st president of Tuskegee University
–His “Atlanta Compromise” stressed black self-improvement (not lawsuits or agitation against whites)
■W.E.B. DuBoisW.E.B. DuBois was more aggressive
■Dubois led the Niagara Movement in 1905 calling for immediate civil rights, integrated schools, & promotion of the “Talented 10th” to be the next generation of black civil rights leaders
African-American Reforms“[African-Americans] have a right to know, to think, to aspire… We must strive for the right
which the world accords to man.”
—W.E.B. DuBois
The Niagara Movement & NAACP■In 1909, National Assoc for the National Assoc for the
Advancement of Colored PeopleAdvancement of Colored People (NAACP) was formed by William Walling & others; Du Bios was put in charge of The Crisis publication
■The NAACP had some victories:–Guinn v U.S.Guinn v U.S. (1915) ended
Oklahoma’s grandfather clause–Buchanan v WorleyBuchanan v Worley (1917)
ended KY housing segregation
But…“I have never seen the colored people so discouraged and so bitter
as they are at the present time.”—Booker T. Washington, 1913
Conclusions■Social progressivism led to
successful reforms in American cities by attacking corruption & advocating for the less fortunate
■Urban reformers drew national attention to:–The plight of women & blacks
(with mixed results)–The need for reform at the
state & national levels
Conclusions■Social progressivism led to
successful reforms in American cities by attacking corruption & advocating for the less fortunate
■Urban reformers drew national attention to:–The plight of women & blacks
(with mixed results)–The need for reform at the
state & national levels
The Women’s Movement■Successful progressive reforms
led by women strengthened calls for women’s rights & suffrage:–The National Association of
Colored Women advocated for the rights of black women
–The National American Woman Suffrage Association was key in getting the 19th Amendment passed in 1920
“Women’s vote will help cure ills of society”
The Women’s Movement■Margaret Sanger championed the
cause for increased birth control for women:
–Her journals provided contraceptive information for poor & middle-class women
–In 1916, Sanger opened the 1st birth control clinic in the U.S.
Conflict in the Workplace■The new industrial advances like
mass production & management sped up production but led to:
–Long hours, low wages, dangerous settings for workers
–Labor unrest & strikes
–Union membership jumped from 4% in 1900 to 13% by 1920
–Progressive reforms for workers
Organizing Labor■Gompers’ American Federation of
Labor was the largest U.S. union but it was exclusive; led to:–Women’s Trade Union LeagueWomen’s Trade Union League
(1903) formed to help working women & educate the public
–Industrial Workers of the WorldIndustrial Workers of the World (1905) urged revolution & the creation of a workers’ republic via sabotage & strikes
The WTUL strike against Hart, Schaffer, & Marx Co led to the 1st collective
bargaining victory in U.S. labor history
Open to all workers regardless of race, sex,
ethnicity, or skill
Called the “Wobblies”
“It is our purpose to overthrow the capitalist system by forceful means in necessary…
[There is nothing a worker can do that] will bring as much anguish to the boss than a little
sabotage in the right place.”—IWW co-founder “Big Bill” Haywood
Organizing Labor■Eugene V. Debs
formed the Socialist Party Socialist Party of Americaof America & applied Marxist ideas into a moderate & appealing political platform
Did not threaten to overthrow the capitalist system
The Republican Roosevelt■The McKinley assassination (1901)
made Teddy Roosevelt president:
–TR was an activist president who knew how to guide public opinion
–Unlike most Gilded Age Republicans, Roosevelt refused to ignore social inequalities
–He believed gov’t agencies should be run by experts
TR thought of presidency as a bully pulpit to advocate his agendaThe president is “a steward of the
people bound actively & affirmatively to do all he can for the people”
Elihu Root to Sec of State (district attorney of NYC)
W.H. Taft to Sec of War (governor of Philippines)
Gifford Pinchot as chief
conservationist
The Square Deal■In 1902, the United Mine Workers
went on strike to demand higher pay & an eight-hour work day–The strike lasted 11 months–TR brought both sides to
arbitration & threatened gov’t seizure of the coal mine
■The result was a “square deal” for labor (higher wages) & owners (no formal recognition of the union)
TR the Trustbuster?■TR saw the benefit of good trusts,
but wanted to control bad trusts:–He pushed for the Dept of
Commerce & Labor to investigate business misconduct
–In 1902, TR ordered the Justice Dept to charge the Northern Securities Co in violation of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act; The Supreme Court ordered the company to be broken up
TR accepted monopolies as a fact of life for 20th century business but viewed
regulation as the best way to tame trusts who use corrupt business practices
TR the Trustbuster? ■TR was not always consistent:
–Initiated suits against beef trust, American Tobacco, DuPont, Standard Oil, & New Haven RR
–But he relied on business to gain re-election in 1904; sought the advice of JP Morgan; allowed some monopolistic mergers
–The Roosevelt administration only “busted” 25 trusts in 7 years
Taft busted 43 monopolies in 4 years
Muckraking Journalism■Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle
(1906) led to federal investigation of the meatpacking industry, gov’t inspections, & improved sanitation
■Sam H. Adams exposed the dangers of patent medicines which led to the Pure Food & Drug ActPure Food & Drug Act requiring listing of ingredients & banned “adulterated” drugs
“I aimed at the public’s heart & by accident I hit it in the stomach”
■TR was a popular president & won a landslide victory in 1904
“Under no circumstances will I be a candidate for or accept
another nomination”
Regulating the Railroads■TR’s re-election agenda focused
on business regulation:
–Hepburn ActHepburn Act (1906) increased the ICC’s power to set maximum RR rates & investigate RR company financial records
–The Food & Drug ActFood & Drug Act (1906) & Meat Inspection ActMeat Inspection Act (1906) protected consumers
Conserving the Land■TR created the 1st comprehensive
national conservation policy:–TR defined “conservation” as
wise use of natural resources–Created the Reclamation Service
to place natural resources (oil, trees, coal) under federal domain
–From 1901 to 1908, U.S. gov’t preserves grew from 45 million acres to 195 million acres
The Taft Presidency■TR remained true to his promise
not to run for a 3rd term & chose William Howard Taft as the Republican nominee for president
■Taft seemed ready to carry out TR’s political agenda
“I feel a bit like a fish out of water…I hate the limelight.”
The Taft Presidency■Taft was poorly equipped to
continue Roosevelt’s agenda:
–Taft did not trust the gov’t to regulate business behavior
–He didn’t have the flair of TR; Taft was “too honest & sincere”
–Taft tended to side with conservative Republicans rather than progressive Republicans
Taft backed the high Payne-Aldrich tariff
Taft fired Pinchot, TR’s chief conservationist after the Ballinger-Pinchot Affair
Progressive Republicans no longer looked to Taft for leadership & criticized almost all his policies
The Taft Presidency■Despite these set backs, Taft
helped push through significant progressive legislation:–1616thth Amendment Amendment was written;
created a national income tax–1717thth Amendment Amendment was written;
direct election of U.S. Senators–Safety codes for miners & RRs–Created the Children’s Bureau
The Election of 1912■TR decided to run against Taft for
the Republican nomination in 1912 but conservative Republicans refused to take him over Taft
■TR was nominated to the new Progressive (Bull Moose) Party
■Democrats nominated former Princeton president & NJ governor Woodrow Wilson who ran as a progressive reformer
“I’m feeling like a Bull Moose!”
This deeply divided the Republican Party
The Election of 1912TR’s New Nationalism■ U.S. needs a nat’l
approach to reform & a strong president
■ Social-Justice reforms; protection of women, children, workers; “good” trusts to help growth
■ 1st to enlist women
WW’s New FreedomWW’s New Freedom■ U.S. needs small
gov’t, free trade & competition
■ Both plans saw the economy as the central issue, but Wilson distrusted federal power & nat’l planningDemocrats not only won the presidency, but
also outright control of both House & Senate
The 1912 election was the most significant 3-way election since 1860: Lincoln (Republican), Stephen Douglas (Northern Democrat), &
John Breckenridge (Southern Democrat)
Woodrow Wilson's New Freedom■Wilson believed in strong, activist
leadership & helped push through many “New Freedom” ideas:–Underwood Tariff ActUnderwood Tariff Act reduced
tariffs & created America’s 1st graduated income tax
–Federal Reserve ActFederal Reserve Act created a Federal Reserve to regulate the economy by adjusting the money supply & interest rates
1% tax for all, but 2% for the rich
The 1st efficient national banking system since Jackson destroyed the BUS in 1832
Woodrow Wilson's New Freedom–Clayton Anti-Trust ActClayton Anti-Trust Act banned
interlocking directorates & held business officers personally liable for monopolies; helped workers by allowing strikes & banning injunctions
■As the 1916 elections neared, Wilson pushed for more social reforms…but U.S. involvement in WWI in 1917 distracted Americans from progressive reform
Federal Farm Loan Act
Endorsed an 8-hour day for all workers
Supported women’s suffrage
Defended unions’ right to collectively bargain
The Fruits of Progressivism■Progressive reforms led to:
–Urban & labor improvementsUrban & labor improvements–Direct primaries & female votingDirect primaries & female voting–More gov’t responsibility for More gov’t responsibility for
social welfare social welfare –Regulatory commissionsRegulatory commissions–Increased importance of interest Increased importance of interest
groups & public opinion pollsgroups & public opinion polls–An “expert” bureaucracy An “expert” bureaucracy –A more powerful presidencyA more powerful presidency
■WWI ended the Progressive Era