THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES 1877-1945

SEMINAR 7REFORMERS AND PROGRESSIVES

AMERICAN INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

• Unprecedented development• By 1900 the U.S. became the richest and most

productive industrial country• 1/3 of population (70 million) employed in

manufacturing• Growth equalling that of Great Britain’s 150

years of development

SOCIAL IMPACT

• Urbanization, tenement living• Apalling working conditions, long hours, low

wages (9 USD for 59 hours workweek)• Immigrant labor, women, children work• Dangerous working conditions• Accidents at the workplace

TRIANGLE SHIRTWAIST FACTORY FIRE

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rf9GVbzf7Q4

BEGINNINGS OF THE LABOR MOVEMENT

• Trade or labor unions• Weaker than European ones• Reasons: competition for jobs between natives

and immigrants• Violent opposition on part of employers• Use of private armies to break up strikes

(Homestead Steel Mill strike in 1892)• www.youtube.com/watch?v=ds4cHgzN-

S8&list=PL1B5B55BAD615BDF8

REJECTION OF THE UNIONS BY AMERICAN PEOPLE

• Seen as against the traditional value of individualism• Contrary to the American Dream of becoming

successful• Strong impact of rags to riches stories• Horatio Alger stories• Allen Pinkerton • Molly Maguires• Collective bargaining, scab, picket line• Teamsters, Jimmy Hoffa , Amalgamated Workers

Union

PROGRESSIVISM

• A general reform movement aming to heal the social, economic, and political problems caused by the American Industrial Revolution

• Muckrakers documentary journalists, writers revealing social problems, unjust labor practices

• Mugwumps—gentlemen reformers

UPTON SINCLAIR

• The Jungle 1906• Attacking the meat packing industry in

Chicago• Description of appalling working conditions

via the life of a Lithuanian immigrant family• Unhealthy and dangerous conditions during

the production of breakfast sausages• http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=kHF_BWfSPik

THEODORE ROOSEVELT

• Leader of the Progressive Movement• Main idea: where necessary government

should interfere in order to solve social, economic, or political problems

• President in 1901• Vice-President to McKinley • Uses Presidency as the bully pulpit to convince

people about the need for changes

THE SQUARE DEAL

• The power of the federal government should be used to improve the life of the people

• Moves against the power of the trusts• Interferes in labor relations, settles the coal

miner strike in 1902 ”to hell with the constitution when people need coal!”

• Forces railroad companies to charge fair rates• Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906

WOODROW WILSON

• A President from the Democratic Party • Fighting against corruption• New Freedom (1913-1917)• Reduction of customs duties to promote trade• Reforming the banking system• Introduction of income taxes• Limiting the power of the trusts

PROGRESSIVISM IN THE COUNTRY

• Prohibition of child labor• Introduction of secret voting, direct election

of Senators• Improving work safety• Protecting natural resources-beginning of the

conservation movement

DIRECT DEMOCRACY

• Initiative• Referendum• Recall• Petition• Seventeenth Amendment• Boss system—political machine-city manager• Daley

Fill in the blanks

• The …………. …………… found a leader in ………….. …………….., who became President in 1901 One of his main convictions was that the power of the …………….. ………….. should be used to improve the life of the people.

• The name of T. Roosevelt’s domestic program:• The name of W. Wilson’s domestic program: