Progressivism from the Grass Roots to the White House

  “ Progressives were reformers who attempted to solve problems caused by industry, growth of cities and laissez faire.”

  The goal was to reform existing systems through government intervention  Progressives tackled the problems of the city with many approaches:  Settlement houses-found in poor neighborhoods to provide aid to the poor to bridge the class divide.  Social Gospel-opposed the idea of social Darwinism  Social Purity-Vices like prostitution, alcoholism, and other crimes  Trade Unions-Women’s Union League and the International Ladies Garment Workers Union Grassroots Progressivism

  Social Justice  Political Democracy  Economic Equality  Conservation Areas of Reform

 *Intellectuals *Middle class and native born. *Social workers *Politicians *Preachers-churches *Teachers *Writers- Muckrakers, Charles Sheldon Motivation had to do with improving the social and political ills of the country. What types of people were drawn to the progressive movement, and what motivated them?

  Progressives challenged Social Darwinism  Darwinists felt men and women could use their intellect to advance society. This implies that people who are not educated cannot help advance society.  Progressives admired speed and efficiency  Challenged Laissez Faire government  People wanted an interventionist approach to challenge Social Darwinism theory of Survival of the fittest.  Progressive admired action with speed and efficiency. How did progressives justify their demand for more activist government?

  The Women’s Trade Union League brought 2 groups of women together. (women workers and their middle class allies)  The goal was to organize working working women into unions  Jane Adams and Hull House  Alice Paul and Women’s Suffrage Progressives and Women

  The Square Deal was President Theodore Roosevelt's domestic program formed upon three basic ideas: C onservation of natural resources, C ontrol of corporations, and C onsumer protection. These three demands are often referred to as the "three C's" of Roosevelt's Square Deal.  Strengthen the power of the federal government  Curb laissez faire government policies In what ways did Roosevelt’s DOMESTIC POLICIES respond to progressive demands?

  Monopolies like Standard Oil Trust- Did the government have the authority to control trusts? Yes Why?  Congress had passed the Sherman Anti-Trust Act which was used to break other monopolies.  Elkins Act of 1903 outlawed railroad rebates  1902 Coal Strike with government intervention- 147,000 coal miners in Pennsylvania, the miners had several demands with like reduction in hours and wage increase.  Roosevelt stepped in to mediate between the union and the mine owners due to its effects.  His actions sent a message that government was an independent force in business and labor disputes.  Ultimately the miners got a wage increase and fewer hours however, the United mine workers Union was NOT recognized. Domestic Policies

The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in New York City on March 25, 1911, was the largest industrial disaster in the history of the city of New York, causing the death of 146 garment workers who either died in the fire or jumped to their deaths. The fire led to legislation requiring improved factory safety standards and helped spur the growth of the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union, which fought for better working conditions for sweatshop workers in that industry.New York CityMarch industrial disaster garment workersfire International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union sweatshop

  The failure of the owners to protect workers.  The Triangle Shirtwaist Company, owned by Max Blanck and Isaac Harris, occupied the top three floors of the ten-story Asch building in New York City at the intersection of Greene Street and Washington Place, just east of Washington Square.Max Blanck Isaac HarrisAsch buildingWashington Square  The company employed approximately 500 workers, mostly young immigrant women from Italy and Eastern Europe. Some of the women were as young as twelve or thirteen and worked fourteen-hour shifts during a 60-hour to 72-hour workweek, sewing clothes for a wage of $1.50 per week (approximately $31 per week in 2006 dollars).immigrantwomen Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire

While the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union negotiated a collective bargaining agreement covering most of those workers after a four-month strike, Triangle Shirtwaist refused to sign the agreement.International Ladies' Garment Workers' Unioncollective bargaining agreement

The conditions of the factory were typical of the time. Flammable textiles were stored throughout the factory, scraps of fabric littered the floors, patterns and designs on sheets of tissue paper hung above the tables, smoking was common, illumination was provided by open gas lighting, and there were no fire extinguishers.Flammable textiles smokinggas lighting

The single exterior fire escape, a flimsy, poorly-anchored iron structure, soon twisted and collapsed under the weight of people trying to escape. The elevator also stopped working, cutting off that means of escape, partly because the panicked workers tried to save themselves by jumping down the shaft to land on the roof of the elevator.fire escape elevator

  Hepburn Act 1906 gave the Interstate Commerce Commission the authority to set rate and stop discriminatory practices which would be subject to court review. However business could still set their own prices.  Progressives still felt the law did not do enough.  Some progressives were called muckrakers for the writings which exposed the work place ills. For Example The Jungle exposed the problems in the meat packing industry. Due to the severe conditions the Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Act of 1906 were passed by Congress. More Domestic Policies

 The New Diplomacy – Foreign Policy

  peace through strength.  he developed a strong foreign policy known better today as Big Stick diplomacy- Speak Softly and Carry a Big Stick  Theodore Roosevelt’s activism to his Foreign Policy  He protected US influence in the Western Hemisphere which extended to building the Panama Canal  Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine arguing the US had the right to act as the international police power. It also served as reminder to European powers to stay out of the America’s.  The Open Door Policy was used by Roosevelt with Asia. It was intended to guarantee commercial entry with China. Other European powers were also looking towards new markets. Carry a Big Stick

  On a piece of paper- List what you SEE in this cartoon.  Which words or phrases in the cartoon appear t o be the most significant? Why do you think so?  What is the message this cartoon is trying to convey?  Describe the action taking place in the cartoon? What is this political cartoon saying?

New Freedom Goal: Favored an active role in economic and social affairs. Favored small businesses and the free functioning and unregulated and unmonopolized markets. triple wall of privilege Tackle the “ triple wall of privilege ”: the tariff, the banks, and the trusts. 1.Similar to Roosevelt ’ s New Nationalism. Goal: Continuation of his Square Deal which were reforms to help the common man. Favored a more active govt. role in economic and social affairs. 1.Good trusts vs. bad trusts 2.Direct election of senators 3.Tariff reduction 4.Presidential primaries 5.Regulation of monopolies 6.End child labor 7.Initiative and referendum 8.Women ’ s suffrage New Nationalism

  He built on the base of Roosevelt’s reforms in strengthening presidential authority and he did this to achieve banking reform.  Wilson supported Progressive Party Social Reforms.  Wilson’s principles of limited government and state’s rights- New Freedom  He would use anti-trust legislation to get rid of big business and give small businesses better opportunities. How and why did Wilson’s reform program evolve during his first term?

  Tariff/Tax Reform for effective competition  Underwood Tariff lowered taxes by 15 % to make up for lost revenue  Federal Reserve Act 1913-most significant piece of domestic legislation  Clayton Antitrust Act which outlawed unfair competition like price discrimination.  He established the Federal Trade Commission with the authority to prosecute corporations for “unfair trade practices”  He supported segregation in the federal government Wilson’s Reforms

  Groups like women, Asians and African Americans were left out of the reforms and sought to limits their rights.  Margaret Sanger promoted birth control as a means to alter social and political power relationships.  Alice Paul participated in women’s suffrage in the US after participating in the same movement in England.  Alien Land Act which prevented Japanese Immigrants from purchasing land in the state  Rise of Jim Crow- Continued segregation in public facilities How did race, class and gender shape the limits of progressive reform?

  Separate but Equal set standard for racial segregation.  Segregation in schools, movie theaters, drinking fountains, bus stations, military.  Problem was these different facilities were NEVER equal.  Segregation upheld by the court until the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision. Plessey v. Ferguson (1896) the Supreme Court

 Washington (1895) and Du Bois (1903)  Believed in gradual approach to seeking equality in economically, socially and politically.  Established the Tuskegee Institute to teach African American to self reliant.  former slave in Virginia  The accommodation to white suppression.  “In all things that are purely social we can be as separate as the fingers, yet one as the hand…”  Disagreed with Washington called for change right away.  Born and grew up in Massachusetts never knew slavery  “The only problem with the twentieth century is the problem of the color line…”  Spoke to the ten percent had a responsibility to had a responsibility to fight back and NOT accommodate a system that denied a people the right to better themselves.  Founded the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).  Talented 10% of the black population take power position-politically