Unit 3

The Progressive Era

The Agrarian Movement (1870-

1900)

The Agrarian Movement (1870-1900)

Problems of the farmers:

New farm machinery and the opening of the Great Plains led to overproduction

Increased farm production led to more crops per acre but falling food prices

The Agrarian Movement (1870-1900)

Farmers had to ship goods to market and were at the mercy of railroad rates

Farmers were constantly in debt, and a poor harvest could throw them into chaos

Grange Movement (1876)

Original goal was to reduce rural isolation

Turned into a group that demanded economic and political reforms for Farmers

Helped to get Interstate Commerce Act of 1887 passed to regulate railroads

Populist party 1891-1896

A national third party representing laborers, farmers, and industrial workers

Wanted to fix problems of falling prices and currency shortages

Populist Platform Supported William

Jennings Bryan for President (Lost both elections)

Unlimited coinage of silver

Direct election of senators

Term limits for President & Secret Ballots

Immigration restrictions

A graduated income tax

Third parties in American Politics

Help to educate voters on special issues

Provide an outlet for minority grievances

Pressure major parties to adopt their ideas

The Progressive Movement (1900-

1920)

The Progressive Movement (1900-1920)

Goals of Progressives Sought to correct

political and economic injustices from Industrialization (abuses of big business and exploiting of workers)

Like the Populists wanted to reform society

Roots of Progressives Found in Social Gospel Movement Spearheaded by Protestant Clergyman,

educated middle class Called on Christians to rise to challenge of

helping their fellow man

Impact of Progressives Brought many social reforms at the city,

and state level to make government more accountable to the people

Initiative voters could directly introduce bills in the state legislature and could vote on whether the wanted a bill passed

Referendum voters could compel legislators to place a bill on the ballot for approval

Recall elected officials could be removed from office by voting in a special election

Impact of Progressives Reforms at the federal level with the

Pendleton Act, which reduced political appointments and had job candidates pass an examination

The Social Reformers

Jane Addams; Leader in the settlement house movement; created the Hull House

Muckrakers Group of investigative reporters, writers,

and social scientists They worked to expose the abuses of

industrial society and expose corruption that existed in all levels of government

Muckrakers Upton Sinclair—The Jungle revealed many

abuses of the meat packing industry Frank Norris—The Octopus depicted the

stranglehold railroads had over farmers Jacob Riis—How the other Half Lives showed

the poverty of urban areas in US

Meat Industry

The Progressive Presidents

The Progressive Presidents

Progressive reforms were introduced at the national level by Presidents:

Theodore RooseveltWilliam Howard TaftWoodrow Wilson

Theodore Roosevelt (1901-1909) Believed in a strong

Presidency and used his powers to safeguard the public interest

Helped to break up “bad trusts” who used unfair business practices with the Sherman Anti-Trust Act

Square Deal--Passed laws to regulate business and protect consumers and workers

--Meat Inspection Act (1906)

--Pure Food and Drug Act (1906)

Theodore Roosevelt (1901-1909) Increased the power of the

Interstate Commerce Commission to help regulate certain industries

Worked to conserve the nations natural resources by drawing attention to need to conserve forests, parks, and wildlife

With held federal lands from public sale and added millions of acres to national forests and parks

The Taft Presidency (1909-1912) Continued

most of Roosevelt’s policies, but angered Progressives with increased tariff bill.

This caused TR to run as Bull Moose candidate in 1912, splitting Republican party

Woodrow Wilson (1913-1921)

New Freedom —program that sought to control business practices, promote greater competition, and lower tariff rates

National Park Service—Protected public parks and monuments that Roosevelt set aside.

Department of Labor—cabinet position to study problems of labor and enforce federal labor laws

Woodrow Wilson (1913-1921) 16th amendment —gave congress the

power to tax income 17th amendment – mandated direct

election of senators Federal Reserve Act —Created to

regulate the amount of money in circulation (Federal Reserve System)

Clayton Anti Trust Act —increased the federal government’s power to prevent unfair business practices with Federal Trade Commission. Gave more guidelines than the previous Sherman Anti-Trust Act.

Civil Rigths and the Women’s Suffrage

Movement

Segregation Reforms

Begins with 13th (freedom), 14th (citizenship), 15th (voting) amendments

Plessy vs. Ferguson—allowed “separate but equal” facilities

W.E.B. DuBois—African American leader who helped found the NAACP

Ida B. Wells—African American leader who worked to end lynching

Women’s Suffrage Movement

Traditional Role of Women Women were treated as subservient Patriarchal society in which men were

superior

Seneca Falls Convention (1848)

Begins the women’s rights movement

Susan B. Anthony—begins Women’s suffrage movement

Voted in 1872 election but was arrested

Supreme Court (1874) ruled that citizenship does not include the “privilege of voting”

19th amendment (1920) After WWI amendment passes No state could deny a citizen’s right

to vote on the basis of their gender

Literature and Art in America

Art & Literature in the late 19th century was based on realism (depicting things as they really are)

This allowed writers and artists a way to depict hardships and abuse of the industrial workers

Literature and Art in America

LiteratureHoratio Alger: Wrote rags to

riches storiesMark Twain: Wrote adventure

storiesHenry James: The Portrait of a

LadyJack London: The Call of the WildKate Chopin: The Awakening

Literature and Art in America

ArtJames McNeil Whistler—Whistler’s motherThomas Eakins—The Gross ClinicHenry Ossawa Tanner—painted everyday lifeWinslow Homer—painted seas, boats, and

coasts

Assignment

Complete the Suffragette Body Bio Follow all the directions in the top left

corner You must put your name on it – no

name is a zero!!!!

http://www.tolerance.org/supplement/suffragists-change-tactics

http://www.tolerance.org/sites/default/files/general/suffrage_map.pdf

http://www.tolerance.org/sites/default/files/general/votes_for_women_0.pdf

Exit Ticket

Summarize how and why the Women’s Suffrage movement changed over time and what role, if any, race and racism played in women finally gaining suffrage.

This is due before you leave for the pep rally and is the last grade of the 6 weeks