Turn-of-the-Century ReformProgressive Movement

• I. Progressive Movement:– A. Time Period: 1900-WWI– B. Main characteristics:

• 1. goal was to expose and solve problems associated with Industrial Era and Gilded Age corruption

• 2. wanted “Big Government” to regulate business and protect the poor, workers, and consumers

• II. Precursors to the Progressive Movement:

• A. Grange Movement (Grangers)

– 1. started as an organization of farmers to improve farming techniques

– 2. protested the rate policies of the railroads

– 3. wanted railroads to be a public utility, regulated through the government

– 4. Interstate Commerce Act: required railroad rates to be “reasonable and just”

• B. Populism: movement of “the people”; wanted to shrink the gap between the wealthy and poor (especially farmers)

– 1. Populist Demands:• A. Inflation: would give

farmers more money for crops• B. Progressive tax system:

would take a higher percentage of taxes from the wealthy

• C. Federal loans to farmers • D. Government control of the

railroads and other public utilities

• II. Precursors to the Progressive Movement:– C. Radical political groups:

• 1. Socialists:– a. goal was to limit private

business and redistributing the wealth

– b. critiqued big business and wanted higher pay and better conditions for workers

c. U.S. Socialist Party was organized by Eugene Debs in 1901 (ran for president in 1912 and 1920)

“Arise, working men and women of this great city!

Harken to the heart-rendering cries of the bereaved parents, of the parentless children!!

Arise, working people, the blow comes right home to you!Day in and day out we working people spend our lives in fire traps, and there are none to protect us from a similar fate if we ourselves will not at least send forth a threatening cry of protest.Lay down your tools, shake the dust of the mills and factories from your feet, and come in answer to our call. Come to join the toiling multitude.Let our demonstration be the writing on the wall to all those who go on sacrificing human lives and human blood for the sake of gain.”

 

Election of 1912

Popular Vote

• Socialist 900,369

• II. Precursors to the Progressive Movement, cont.:

– D. Religious Groups:

• 1. Baptist “social gospel”:

–a. idea that churches should reform society

–b. YMCA and Salvation Army established

http://www.nwhm.org/online-exhibits/progressiveera/ywcaposters.html

• II. Precursors to the Progressive Movement, cont.:– E. Journalists

• 1. Muckrakers (see Muckraker notes)

• 2. Circulation of magazines and newspapers greatly increased – more people exposed

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ad/McCluresCoverJan1901.jpg

• II. Precursors to the Progressive Movement, cont.:– 3. Muckraking topics:

• a. Immorality of business leaders

• b. Political corruption

• c. trusts/monopolies

• d. dangerous working conditions

• e. consumer safety

• f. lives of the poor

• II. Precursors to the Progressive Movement, cont.:– D. Local Reforms:

• 1. Direct primary: candidates chosen by popular election rather than political machines.

• 2. recall, initiative, and referendum