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Progressivism: The Reform Era (1890 – 1920)

U.S. History – C. Corning

+Origins of Progressivism Effects of Industrialization

At the turn of the century, many Americans hoped to change American society for the better.

Many progressive reformers picked up the causes of the Populist movement and moved the agenda forward.

These reformers worked for different causes on the local, state and federal level.

Many of these reforms are still present in our society today.

Influence of the Mudrakers – journalists who alerted public to wrongdoings in politics and business Upton Sinclair – The Jungle (1906) – abuses and problems in the

meat packing industry. Ida M. Tarbell - History of the Standard Oil Company (1904) -

corporate ruthlessness of America’s most powerful monopoly. Edward Bellamy – Looking Backward (1887) – novel about

correcting the ills of an industrial society.

+What was the Progressive Movement? Around the turn of the century, the

Progressive Movement was a response to the challenges of industrialization, urbanization and immigration.

• Progressives turned away from the dominant laissez-faire doctrine. They believed in private initiative, but also that government should positively shape the economy and society and reform politics according to scientific principles.

• Progressives tended to see structural rather than individual causes behind problems. Hard work and thrift were obviously not enough to escape poverty.

+The Philosophy of Progressivism Government should:

Be more accountable to its citizens Curb the power and influence of wealthy

interests. Be given expanded powers so it could become

more active in improving the lives of its citizens. More efficient and less corrupt so that they could

competently handle an expanded role.

What do you think?

+Goals of the Progressive Movement

Protecting social welfare

Promoting moral improvement

Creating economic reform

Fostering efficiency

+Opposition to the Progressives Conservative politicians and business leaders argued

that government regulation would undermine free enterprise and prosperity.

Federal courts tended to limit government power to regulate. But never a complete blockade of reform.

Socialists wanted a complete change of the system, not merely reform. Even so, Socialism and Progressivism overlapped on some issues.

+Tools of Progressivism Most Progressives DID NOT support sweeping economic

or political change Socialist Party did begun to gain support during this era but

Progressivism and Socialism are NOT the same. The socialist wanted more structural change; felt that the Prog. were not going far enough with the reforms.

Progressives did not want to give up their standard of living and personal liberties.

Unions were one way that reformers tried to change working society. Industrialists often used injunctions to stop strikes.

Legislation – Progressives used the power of state and federal legislatures to create and enforce reforms.

+Labor Reform Problems: Exploitation of the weak (children, women,

recent immigrants) and unsafe working conditions

National Labor Union – est. in 1866 by ironworkers, later Knights of Labor – membership open to all Use of strikes or work slow downs

Results of reform efforts: Ban child labor 10 hour work day for women and men Workers’ Compensation – if hurt or killed on the job

+Suffrage Movement 19th Amendment – long time in coming

1848 – Seneca Falls and Elizabeth Cady Stanton who wrote “Declaration of Rights and Sentiments”

Stanton and Susan B. Anthony founded the National Woman Suffrage Association – focus on voting rights and other women’s issues

The passage of the 14th and 15th Amendment further fueled the efforts of the suffragettes. Believed that these amendments gave ALL U.S. citizens the right to vote.

Some western territories allowed women to vote in local elections – WHY? Wyoming – women could vote, hold office and sit on juries Utah too – and both keep suffrage when they became

states

+Suffrage Movement

Who were the suffragettes? White women (and men), well-educated, native-born and Protestants. Often also championed other social reforms

Other groups: Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) which was also opposed to alcohol; African-American believed that with the vote they could improve their lives Some white suffragettes only wanted white women to vote! Felt that white men might be more willingly to grant vote to

women if blacks were not included. Other suffragettes try to block female immigrants

(nativism).

+National Amendment From 1910 – 1920, 23 states granted women suffrage –

now the movement began focusing on a constitutional amendment that would guarantee women the right to vote throughout the nation Carrie Chapman Catt – head of NAWSA Harriet Stanton Blatch – WPU – called for women to be more

“vocal” in demanding their rights. Parades, protests and rallies.

Alice Paul – encouraged women to vote “against” those opposing the national amendment (ie Woodrow Wilson) – escalation of movement Later arrested by Wilson after a protest in front of White

House Civil disobedience Called militants

By Sept 1918, Wilson supported amendment – WHY?

+The Suffrage Argument Why extend the right to vote to women?

Opposing arguments? (Still argued by some today!)

+19th Amendment – the Process Reminder: under the U.S. Constitution, 2/3 of the

members of each house of Congress must approve a constitutional amendment AND then the amendment must be approved by ¾ of the states before it goes into effect. Why so difficult?

Spring 1919, amendment passes both houses and then went to states for approval. ¾ of the 48 states at the time had to ratify – by 1920 it was done.

+Prohibition Argument for Prohibition (the Drys)

Argument against Prohibition (the Wets)

+Prohibition – Road from Temperance to Amendment

1851, Maine was first state to prohibit residents to manufacture and sell alcohol.

1869, Prohibition Party formed – called for a constitution amendment

Women’s Christian Temperance Union (1874) and the Anti-Saloon League (1893)

Greatest pockets of support: rural areas, Protestant, serious church goers, identified alcohol with big cities and immigrants.

ASL worked to get local communities to go “dry” and build support on the state level.

+Prohibition – 18th Amendment 1914 – first proposal of Prohibition amendment

introduced to Congress but failed to have enough votes.

After beginning of WWI, support for amendment increased – WHY?

December 1917, both houses of Congress passed the amendment and within a year 36 of the 48 states had approved the 18th Amendment – now illegal to make, sell or import alcohol. Amendment went into effect Jan 1920 Enforcement of amendment – Volstead Act

Problems with the law? Why exceptions?

By 1933 Congress passed the 21st Amendment, repealing the 18th Amendment (special situation!)

+Prohibition – Unintended Consequences

Volstead Act was very weak and difficult to enforce

Home-made brew and bootleggers Canada Dry Rum Runners Real McCoy

Increase of power and economic muscle of organized crime

Downfall of saloons and birth of nightclubs (and jazz) Women?? Cocktails

Impact of average American citizen as law breaker/criminal

+State Government Reforms Direct Primary: election in which citizens select

nominees for upcoming elections. Often based on political party affiliations. Led to 17th Amendment – Direct Election of Senators (1913)

Initiative: process in which citizens can put a proposed new law directly on the ballot in the next election.

Referendum: process that citizens use to reject or approve a law passed by the legislature.

Recall: procedure that permits voters to remove public officials from office before the next election and before their term expires.

+Race Issues What happened to all the abolitionists? Wouldn’t they

continue their work and fight against segregation?

Overall the progressive reformers were not particularly interested in the rights/issues of African-Americans.

Deepening of segregation in the south – continuing separation of public areas.

Prominent African-American leaders: Booker T. Washington, W.E.B. Du Bois.

1909 – formation of NAACP – National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

+Progressivism and Roosevelt Theodore Roosevelt (Teddy!) – vice-president to Pres

McKinley who was assassinated in 1901. 26th President – 1901 – 1909 - Republican

New York politician from a wealthy family Rough Riders – Cuba Youngest president ever – 42 years old, bold and decisive Saw the presidency as a “bully pulpit” from which to

influence media and shape policy/legislation Promised “Square Deal” – progressive reforms designed

to protect the common people against big business. Felt that America needed a strong federal government

Areas of reform: Business Health and the Environment Civil Rights

+Roosevelt’s Reforms - Business Used the Sherman Anti-Trust Act to halt those trusts

that he felt were harmful to the public interest. Trustbusting

1902 Coal Strike – Roosevelt intervened and set a precedent that the federal gov’t should get involved labor strikes if they threaten the public welfare

Elkins Act 1903 (forbade rebates) and Hepburn Act 1906 (strengthened the powers of the ICC)

Department of Labor – federal agency that supports laws that benefit workers

+Health and the Environment Meat Inspection Act (1906) – federal meat inspection

program (used until 1990) and established cleanliness standards for processing plants

Pure Food and Drug Act (1906) – forbid the manufacture, sale or transportation of food or drugs with harmful ingredients, also called for truth in labeling

Conservation Efforts – before Roosevelt’s presidency the federal government paid little attention to the nation’s natural resources. His philosophy was to preserve some areas while

developing others for the common good. National Reclamation Act (1902) – used money from the

sale of public lands to build irrigation systems in arid states. Roosevelt Dam in Arizona and Shoshone Dam in

Wyoming.

+Progressivism Under Taft William H. Taft – 27th President – 1909 – 1913 (Rep.)

Continued Roosevelt’s trustbusting efforts.

Payne-Aldrich Tariff (1909) – compromise agreements about tariffs which made neither the progressives nor the business leaders happy.

Mann-Elkins Act (1910) – gave ICC power to regulate telephone and telegraph rates

Taft was stuck between the progressives and the conservatives (ie business leaders) within the Republican Party. Roosevelt was unhappy with Taft and entered the 1912

Presidential Election as a third party candidate (Bull Moose Party).

He splits the Republican vote and the Democratic candidate wins. Also have a Socialist Candidate – Eugene V. Debs (pg 537).

+Progressivism under Wilson Woodrow Wilson – 28th President – 1913 – 1921 (Democrat).

His program was called “New Freedom” – called for stronger antitrust legislation, banking reform and reduced tariffs.

Two Constitutional Amendments were ratified in his term: 16th (passed Congress in July 1909/ratified 1913) – Income Tax

Previously majority of govt funds came from liquor taxes and tariffs

Chart pg 540 17th (passed Congress in May 1912/ratified 1913) – Direct

Election of Senators

Two additional amendments were passed by Congress and ratified during his administration: 18th – Prohibition 19th – Woman’s Suffrage

+Reforms Clayton Anti-Trust Act (1914) – limited the poser of

monopolies and clarified the Sherman Anti-Trust Act. Labor unions and farm organizations could strike and not be

subject to anti-trust laws. Strikes and protests became legal – injunctions could only

be used against strikers if physical damage was threatened.

Federal Trade Commission Act (1914) – created the agency (FTC) that investigates fraudulent or unfair business practices, and used the courts to enforce its policies.

Federal Reserve Act (1913) – created a three level banking system that controlled the nation’s money supply and regulated member banks. 12 districts each with a regional central bank. By 1923, 70% of nation’s banks were part of the Fed

Reserve

+More Reforms Federal Farm Loan Act – low interest loans to farmers

Adamson Act – reduced railroad workday from 10 to 8 hours with no cut in pay

Federal Workmen’s Compensation Act – benefits paid to federal employees injured on the job Federal gov’t acting as the “role model” in labor issues

Keating-Owen Child Labor Act (1916) – outlawed products sold interstate produced by child labor.

+The End of the Progressive Movement Wilson began his first term as president with the

outbreak of World War I in Europe “There’s no chance of progress and reform in an

administration in which war plays the principal part.” By the beginning of his second term in 1917, the

Progressive Era had come to an end. Focus had shifted to winning the war in Europe. New regulations continued during the war – usually in

support of the war effort: War Industries Board National War Labor Board Food Administration Committee on Public Information