Progressive EraProgressive Era

1890-1917 The Push to 1890-1917 The Push to Reform American SocietyReform American Society

CausesCauses Gilded Age political corruptionGilded Age political corruption Negative views of laissez faire approachNegative views of laissez faire approach Monopolies Monopolies Working conditionsWorking conditions Child Labor AbusesChild Labor Abuses Urban living conditionsUrban living conditions Discrimination towards Women, African Discrimination towards Women, African

Americans, and immigrantsAmericans, and immigrants Populist MovementPopulist Movement

Goals of the ProgressivesGoals of the Progressives

Government AccountabilityGovernment Accountability Regulation over monopolies and Regulation over monopolies and

companiescompanies Expansion of government power to Expansion of government power to

help citizenshelp citizens End government inefficiency, End government inefficiency,

corruption, and patronagecorruption, and patronage

Progressives wereProgressives were

White ProtestantsMiddle class and native born.

College Educated Professionals Social workers

ScholarsPoliticiansPreachersTeachersWriters

Populists vs ProgressivesPopulists---rural

Progressives---cities

Populists were poor and uneducatedProgressives were middle-class and

educated.

Populists were too radicalProgressives stayed political

mainstream.

Populists failedProgressives succeeded

Social ReformersSocial Reformers

Muckrakers exposed the problemsMuckrakers exposed the problems Low living standards in citiesLow living standards in cities Immigrants squalid living Immigrants squalid living Health / Food StandardsHealth / Food Standards Child Labor / Working ConditionsChild Labor / Working Conditions Key People: Upton Sinclair, Ida Key People: Upton Sinclair, Ida

Tarbell, Jacob Riis, and Thomas NastTarbell, Jacob Riis, and Thomas Nast

Social ReformersSocial Reformers

Prison Reform Prison Reform Shelters for homeless and mentally Shelters for homeless and mentally

illill Public Education systemPublic Education system Women’s entrance into public forum Women’s entrance into public forum

led to emphasis on moralityled to emphasis on morality

Social and Political Social and Political CrossoverCrossover

Women’s Rights Groups Crusade for Women’s Rights Groups Crusade for ChangeChange

Suffragists / Suffragettes, NAWSA, Suffragists / Suffragettes, NAWSA, Congressional UnionCongressional Union

Temperance MovementTemperance Movement Key people: Reformers- Jane Addams Key people: Reformers- Jane Addams

and “Mother” Jones and “Mother” Jones Key People: Suffragists- Susan B. Key People: Suffragists- Susan B.

Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott, and Alice PaulLucretia Mott, and Alice Paul

Political ReformsPolitical Reforms

Progressive Changes to GovernmentProgressive Changes to Government Basis for social welfare programsBasis for social welfare programs

-Welfare, unemployment, and Social -Welfare, unemployment, and Social SecuritySecurity

Direct PrimariesDirect Primaries 1717thth Amendment- Direct Senate Election Amendment- Direct Senate Election Initiatives / ReferendumsInitiatives / Referendums RecallsRecalls Secret BallotsSecret Ballots

Economic ReformersEconomic Reformers

Muckrakers exposed corruption of Muckrakers exposed corruption of some monopoliessome monopolies

Rise of Labor UnionsRise of Labor Unions Knights of LaborKnights of Labor American Federation of LaborAmerican Federation of Labor Better working conditions, shorter Better working conditions, shorter

hours, more payhours, more pay

Progressive PresidentsProgressive Presidents

•Theodore Roosevelt1901 to 1909

•William Howard Taft1909 to 1913

•Woodrow Wilson1913 to 1921

Progressive PresidentsProgressive Presidents

Teddy Roosevelt 1901-1909 RepublicanTeddy Roosevelt 1901-1909 Republican Active approach to executive branchActive approach to executive branch ““Square Deal”Square Deal” First to recognize unionsFirst to recognize unions Trustbuster Trustbuster Railroad RegulationRailroad Regulation Public HealthPublic Health Conservationist / National ParksConservationist / National Parks

Progressive PresidentsProgressive Presidents

William H. Taft 1909-1913 RepublicanWilliam H. Taft 1909-1913 Republican Progressivism election strategyProgressivism election strategy Failed on lower tariff promiseFailed on lower tariff promise Anti Trust CasesAnti Trust Cases Reserved Public LandsReserved Public Lands Corruption and ScandalsCorruption and Scandals Received criticism from all parties Received criticism from all parties

and factionsand factions

Election of 1912Election of 1912

Republicans- TaftRepublicans- Taft Progressive / Bull Moose Party- Progressive / Bull Moose Party-

RooseveltRoosevelt Democrats- WilsonDemocrats- Wilson Socialist- Debs Socialist- Debs

Republican Party Platform Taft

Republican Party Platform TaftHigh import tariffs.High import tariffs.

Put limitations on female and child Put limitations on female and child labor.labor.

Workman’s Compensation Laws.Workman’s Compensation Laws.

Against initiative, referendum, and Against initiative, referendum, and recall.recall.

Against “bad” trusts.Against “bad” trusts.

Creation of a Federal Trade Creation of a Federal Trade Commission.Commission.

Stay on the gold standard.Stay on the gold standard.

Conservation of natural resources Conservation of natural resources because they are finite.because they are finite.

Progressive Party (Bull Moose Party) Platform Roosevelt

Progressive Party (Bull Moose Party) Platform Roosevelt

Women’s suffrage.Women’s suffrage.

Graduated income tax.Graduated income tax.

8 hour work day8 hour work day

More regulation of big businessMore regulation of big business

Lower tariffs.Lower tariffs.

Limits on campaign spending.Limits on campaign spending.

Minimum wage laws.Minimum wage laws.

Abolition of child labor.Abolition of child labor.

Workmen’s compensation.Workmen’s compensation.

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Socialist Party Platform Debs

Socialist Party Platform Debs

Government ownership of Government ownership of railroads and utilities.railroads and utilities.

Guaranteed income tax.Guaranteed income tax.

No tariffs.No tariffs.

8-hour work day.8-hour work day.

Better housing.Better housing.

Government inspection of Government inspection of factories.factories.

Women’s suffrage.Women’s suffrage.

Democratic Party Platform Wilson

Democratic Party Platform WilsonCritical of big business and big Critical of big business and big governmentgovernment

Tariff reduction.Tariff reduction.

Direct election of Senators.Direct election of Senators.

Create a Department of Labor.Create a Department of Labor.

Strengthen the Sherman Anti-Strengthen the Sherman Anti-Trust Act.Trust Act.

Did NOT support women’s Did NOT support women’s suffrage.suffrage.

Opposed to a central bank.Opposed to a central bank.

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Election of 1912Election of 1912

Progressive PresidentsProgressive Presidents

Woodrow Wilson 1913-1921Woodrow Wilson 1913-1921 Lowered TariffsLowered Tariffs Graduated Income TaxGraduated Income Tax Avoided WWI for first termAvoided WWI for first term Entered into WWI for second term Entered into WWI for second term

(some say it was calculated move)(some say it was calculated move)