The Progressive Movement (1890-1920). I. The Roots of Progressivism The Rise of Progressivism The...

The Progressive MovementThe Progressive Movement(1890-1920)(1890-1920)

I. The Roots of ProgressivismI. The Roots of Progressivism

The Rise of ProgressivismThe Rise of Progressivism The era in American history from about The era in American history from about

18901890 to to 19201920 is known as the is known as the Progressive EraProgressive Era

ProgressivismProgressivism was a collection of was a collection of different different ideasideas and activities about how and activities about how to fix the to fix the problemsproblems within American within American societysociety


Who Were the Progressives?Who Were the Progressives?Belonged to both major political Belonged to both major political partiespartiesUsually were urban, Usually were urban, educatededucated middle- middle-

class Americansclass AmericansMany worked as Many worked as journalistsjournalists, social , social

workers, educators, politicians, and workers, educators, politicians, and members of the clergymembers of the clergy


What Did Progressives Believe?What Did Progressives Believe?Generally agreed that industrialization and Generally agreed that industrialization and

urbanization had created many urbanization had created many socialsocial problemsproblems

Most agreed that the Most agreed that the governmentgovernment should should take a more active role in solving society’s take a more active role in solving society’s problemsproblems


Why Did the Movement Begin?Why Did the Movement Begin?Began partly as a reaction Began partly as a reaction againstagainst laissez- laissez-

faire (“hands off”) economics, in which the faire (“hands off”) economics, in which the government stays completely government stays completely outout of the of the business worldbusiness world

They They doubteddoubted that the government, in it’s that the government, in it’s present form, could fix the problems of present form, could fix the problems of poverty, crime, filth, disease, etcpoverty, crime, filth, disease, etc


They concluded that the government had They concluded that the government had to be fixed to be fixed firstfirst before it could be used to before it could be used to fix other problemsfix other problems


The MuckrakersThe MuckrakersThe The muckrakersmuckrakers were a group of were a group of journalistsjournalists

who investigated social conditions and who investigated social conditions and politicalpolitical corruption corruption

Muckrakers uncovered corruption in many Muckrakers uncovered corruption in many areasareas (government, unfair business (government, unfair business practices, social problems)practices, social problems)


Ida TarbellIda Tarbell::Published a series of articles critical of Published a series of articles critical of

Rockefeller’s Rockefeller’s StandardStandard Oil Company Oil Company

Lincoln SteffensLincoln Steffens::Reported on vote stealing and other corrupt Reported on vote stealing and other corrupt

practices of urban practices of urban politicalpolitical machines ( machines (The The Shame of the CitiesShame of the Cities))


Jacob RiisJacob RiisMostly though Mostly though photographyphotography, described the , described the

poverty, disease, and crime that affected poverty, disease, and crime that affected many immigrant neighborhoods in NYC many immigrant neighborhoods in NYC ((How the Other Half LivesHow the Other Half Lives))


Upton SinclairUpton SinclairExposed the horrible Exposed the horrible conditionsconditions of the meat of the meat

packing industry in his book packing industry in his book The JungleThe Jungle

-Led to the passage of the -Led to the passage of the Meat Inspection Meat Inspection ActAct and the and the Pure Food and Drug ActPure Food and Drug Act


In spite of the phenomenal success of In spite of the phenomenal success of The The JungleJungle, Upton Sinclair lamented (expressed , Upton Sinclair lamented (expressed grief) what he considered to be its failure grief) what he considered to be its failure when he made his often-quoted when he made his often-quoted assessment:assessment:

““I aimed at the public’s heart, and by accident, I aimed at the public’s heart, and by accident, I hit it in the stomach.”I hit it in the stomach.”


What Was the Impact of the Muckrakers?What Was the Impact of the Muckrakers?

They put pressure on They put pressure on politicianspoliticians to to introduce new reformsintroduce new reforms


Progressive PresidentsProgressive PresidentsThe Progressive Movement involved 3 The Progressive Movement involved 3

Presidents:Presidents:

1) Theodore 1) Theodore RooseveltRoosevelt

2) William Howard 2) William Howard TaftTaft

3) Woodrow 3) Woodrow WilsonWilson

Political Corruption in the CitiesPolitical Corruption in the Cities

ProblemProblem In most cities the In most cities the mayormayor chose the heads chose the heads

of city departmentsof city departmentsThese jobs often went to the mayor’s These jobs often went to the mayor’s

political supporters and/or political supporters and/or friendsfriends

-Many had very little knowledge or experience in -Many had very little knowledge or experience in their appointed positiontheir appointed position

Sometimes offices were even Sometimes offices were even soldsold to the to the highest bidderhighest bidder


SolutionSolutionCommission PlanCommission Plan: introduced by progressive : introduced by progressive

reformersreformers

-divides a city’s government into -divides a city’s government into severalseveral departments each placed under the control departments each placed under the control of an expert commissionerof an expert commissioner


1)1) VotersVoters elect a Board of Commissioners elect a Board of Commissioners

2)2) Board of Commissioners appoint…Board of Commissioners appoint…

--PolicePolice Commissioner Commissioner

--FireFire Commissioner Commissioner

-Parks Commissioner-Parks Commissioner

--FinanceFinance Commissioner Commissioner

-Public Works Commissioner-Public Works Commissioner Each of these appointees would be Each of these appointees would be

considered “considered “expertsexperts” in their fields” in their fields


ImpactImpact1900: 1900: GalvestonGalveston, TX was devastated by , TX was devastated by

one of the worst hurricanes on recordone of the worst hurricanes on record

--6,0006,000 people died people died

-The political machine in power was -The political machine in power was notnot able to able to deal with the situation effectively, so the city deal with the situation effectively, so the city adopted the commission planadopted the commission plan

-The city quickly -The city quickly recoveredrecovered and other cities and other cities across the nation adopted the planacross the nation adopted the plan

Political Corruption in State Gov’tPolitical Corruption in State Gov’t

ProblemProblemState governments were often run by State governments were often run by

corrupt corrupt governorsgovernors and representatives and representatives

SolutionSolutionRobert La FolletteRobert La Follette: “Battling Bob” – : “Battling Bob” –

Governor of Governor of WisconsinWisconsin – Most famous – Most famous progressive governorprogressive governor-Wisconsin…“-Wisconsin…“LaboratoryLaboratory of Democracy” of Democracy”

"Until that time, the candidates whose names appeared on ballots were selected by party leaders in private caucuses. Drawing on the ideas of other reformers to make politics more democratic, La Follette successfully pushed the legislature to pass measures instituting direct primary elections, which gave voters the right to choose their own candidates for office. He supported measures that doubled the taxes on the railroads, broke up monopolies, preserved the state's forests, protected workers' rights, defended small farmers, and regulated lobbying to end patronage politics. La Follette worked closely with professors from the University of Wisconsin to help the state become 'a laboratory of democracy.' By the time he joined the U.S. Senate in 1906, La Follette had become a national figure


Direct PrimaryDirect Primary: allows all : allows all partyparty members members to vote for a candidate to run in the to vote for a candidate to run in the generalgeneral election election

-In the past, political machines often controlled -In the past, political machines often controlled which which candidatescandidates were chosen to run in were chosen to run in elections (corruption)elections (corruption)

InitiativeInitiative: allowed a group of citizens to : allowed a group of citizens to propose propose newnew laws, by petition, and laws, by petition, and required the state legislatures to required the state legislatures to votevote on it on it


ReferendumReferendum: allowed laws passed by the : allowed laws passed by the statestate legislatures to be submitted to voters legislatures to be submitted to voters for for approvalapproval or rejection or rejection

RecallRecall: allowed voters to demand a : allowed voters to demand a special-called election to special-called election to removeremove an an elected official from office before his/her elected official from office before his/her term term endsends


1717thth Amendment Amendment (1912) provides for the (1912) provides for the directdirect election of U.S. Senators election of U.S. Senators-In the past, U.S. Senators were chosen by the -In the past, U.S. Senators were chosen by the statestate legislatures (corruption) legislatures (corruption)

ImpactImpactThese state reforms led to a more These state reforms led to a more

democraticdemocratic society (meaning, citizens had society (meaning, citizens had more of a “voice” in politics)more of a “voice” in politics)

Suffrage for WomenSuffrage for Women

ProblemProblemAfter the Civil War, leaders of the woman After the Civil War, leaders of the woman

suffrage movement wanted the suffrage movement wanted the 1414thth and and 1515thth Amendments to be applied to women Amendments to be applied to women as well (didn’t happen)as well (didn’t happen)


SolutionSolutionThe movement for women’s The movement for women’s votingvoting rights rights

became know as the became know as the suffrage movementsuffrage movementThis was an important issue for This was an important issue for

progressivesprogressives, though the movement began , though the movement began well well beforebefore the progressive movement the progressive movement

-Elizabeth Stanton and Susan B. Anthony were -Elizabeth Stanton and Susan B. Anthony were important early leadersimportant early leaders

Suffrage for WomenSuffrage for WomenNational American Woman Suffrage National American Woman Suffrage

AssociationAssociation (NAWSA) (NAWSA)-Formed in -Formed in 18901890

--Susan B. AnthonySusan B. Anthony was the most recognized leader of was the most recognized leader of the movementthe movement-Organized marches and -Organized marches and protestsprotests, delivered speeches , delivered speeches and lobbied lawmakersand lobbied lawmakers

-1915: -1915: Carrie Chapman CattCarrie Chapman Catt became became NAWSA’s NAWSA’s leaderleader – wanted to mobilize the suffrage – wanted to mobilize the suffrage movement movement nationnation-wide in one final push to gain voting -wide in one final push to gain voting rightsrights (the “ (the “WinningWinning Plan”) Plan”)


1919thth Amendment Amendment: guarantees women the : guarantees women the right to right to votevote

Health and Safety in the WorkplaceHealth and Safety in the Workplace

ProblemProblemNo health codes, no No health codes, no safetysafety codes, no codes, no

workers’ compensation, etc.workers’ compensation, etc.

-Factories, coal mines, and -Factories, coal mines, and railroadsrailroads were were especially dangerousespecially dangerous

Triangle Shirtwaist Factory FireTriangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire: 1911 in : 1911 in NYC – NYC – 150150 women died mainly because women died mainly because the doors were locked from the the doors were locked from the outsideoutside

Health and Safety in the WorkplaceHealth and Safety in the Workplace

SolutionSolutionProgressives pushed for workers’ Progressives pushed for workers’

compensation for those compensation for those injuredinjured on the job on the jobBuilding codes set minimum standards for Building codes set minimum standards for

lightinglighting, air circulation, room sizes, , air circulation, room sizes, sanitation, and required sanitation, and required firefire escapes escapes

Health codes required Health codes required restaurantsrestaurants to to maintain clean environmentsmaintain clean environments

Child LaborChild LaborProblemProblem1900: Over 1900: Over 1.71.7 million under the age of 16 million under the age of 16

worked outside the homeworked outside the homeJohn SpargoJohn Spargo: a : a muckrakermuckraker who wrote the who wrote the

book book The Bitter Cry of the ChildrenThe Bitter Cry of the Children presented detailed evidence on child labor presented detailed evidence on child labor conditionsconditions

-EX: “-EX: “breakerbreaker boys” in the coal mines were paid boys” in the coal mines were paid 6060 cents for a 10-hour day – the work bent their cents for a 10-hour day – the work bent their backsbacks permanently permanently

Child LaborChild Labor

SolutionSolutionProgressives established a Progressives established a National Child National Child

Labor CommitteeLabor Committee in 1904 to work to in 1904 to work to abolishabolish child labor child labor

Reports by Spargo and others convinced Reports by Spargo and others convinced states to pass laws to states to pass laws to limitlimit the hours the hours children could work – children could work – ageage limits also put limits also put into placeinto place

Child LaborChild Labor

Some states began to pass Some states began to pass compulsorycompulsory education laws, requiring children to be in education laws, requiring children to be in school and not at workschool and not at work

ImpactImpactBy the early 1900s, the number of child By the early 1900s, the number of child

laborers had laborers had declineddeclinedWomenWomen also began to work outside the also began to work outside the

home because the children could nothome because the children could not

Alcohol AbuseAlcohol Abuse

ProblemProblemAlcohol abuse was considered by Alcohol abuse was considered by manymany to to

be the cause of many of society’s be the cause of many of society’s problemsproblems

Alcohol AbuseAlcohol Abuse

SolutionSolutionThe The Temperance MovementTemperance Movement called for the called for the

moderation or moderation or eliminationelimination of alcohol of alcohol

-The movement was led by the -The movement was led by the Women’s Women’s Christian Temperance UnionChristian Temperance Union

1818thth Amendment Amendment

Big Business and MonopoliesBig Business and Monopolies

ProblemProblemLaws passed by the federal and state Laws passed by the federal and state

governments to prevent governments to prevent monopoliesmonopolies were were notnot enforced enforced


SolutionSolutionA group of progressives focused on A group of progressives focused on

regulatingregulating big business, but they big business, but they disagreed on the solutionsdisagreed on the solutions

-One side believed the government should -One side believed the government should breakbreak up big companies to restore up big companies to restore competitioncompetition

-The other group wanted the creation of -The other group wanted the creation of government government agenciesagencies to regulate big companies to regulate big companies and prevent them from abusing their powerand prevent them from abusing their power


SocialismSocialism, the idea that the , the idea that the governmentgovernment should own and operate industry for the should own and operate industry for the community as a community as a wholewhole, was an idea share , was an idea share by a small minority of progressivesby a small minority of progressives

--Eugene DebsEugene Debs led the American led the American SocialistSocialist Party Party and was the party’s candidate for president in and was the party’s candidate for president in 19121912


MostMost progressives believed in the progressives believed in the American system of free enterpriseAmerican system of free enterprise

PresidentsPresidents during the Progressive Era during the Progressive Era (esp. Teddy Roosevelt) often used their (esp. Teddy Roosevelt) often used their authority to break up businesses that had authority to break up businesses that had monopoliesmonopolies

-Roosevelt was sometimes called the “Trust--Roosevelt was sometimes called the “Trust-BusterBuster””


During his second term, Theodore During his second term, Theodore Roosevelt’s reform program was known as Roosevelt’s reform program was known as ““Square DealSquare Deal””

-felt gov’t should try to balance the needs of -felt gov’t should try to balance the needs of allall the groups in American societythe groups in American society


Coal Strike of 1902Coal Strike of 1902: United Mine Workers : United Mine Workers called a strike to protest low called a strike to protest low wageswages

-T. Roosevelt. acted as a -T. Roosevelt. acted as a 33rdrd party between the party between the union and ownersunion and owners

--11stst example of federal gov’t supporting example of federal gov’t supporting laborlabor (i.e. workers)(i.e. workers)

Other Important LegislationOther Important Legislation

Hepburn ActHepburn Act: required : required railroadsrailroads to get to get permission from the U.S. gov’t before permission from the U.S. gov’t before raising raising ratesrates

1616thth Amendment Amendment: created a federal : created a federal incomeincome tax tax

National Park ServiceNational Park Service: protected and : protected and ranran the national parksthe national parks

Federal Reserve ActFederal Reserve Act: 1913 – regulates : 1913 – regulates the supply of the supply of moneymoney in the U.S. in the U.S.

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