The Progressive Era Reform in America 1900 – 1918

Birth of the Progressive Movement

Progressive Beliefs End abuse of power by monopolies and make government more democratic Believed in progress - growth and advancement of the U.S. Welcomed the new industrialization and urbanization, but wanted to correct evils Optimistic that reformed institutions would replace corrupt ones Government has a role in creating an orderly, stable and improved society Government should use power to stop abuses and eliminate practices harming farmers, labor, poor and consumers

Sources of Progressive Strength

Movements Under the Progressive Banner Social Gospel Movement Social responsibility of Christians Walter Rauschenbusch - Protestant leader with socialist ideas who preached human salvation through Christian reform Salvation Army Muckrakers Ida M. Tarbell - Standard Oil Company Lincoln Steffens -corruption between business and municipal governments Jacob Riis - conditions in tenement houses Upton Sinclair - meat-packing industry

Progressive Movements (cont) Settlement House Movement Jane Addams - Hull House Professionals Middle class workers who achieved success through education and individual accomplishments Worked to use scientific techniques to reform society Women’s Associations- Women’s Clubs

Theodore Roosevelt Three C’s –Control corporations Labeled as a trust buster, but believed that big was not necessarily bad Government should control actions of trusts Regulations passed to control trusts –Consumer protection Meat Inspection Act Pure food and drug act - FDA –Conservation Forestry Service/national parks

Effects Bigger government with control over business His Square Deal was the predecessor of FDR’s New Deal

William Taft True trust-buster –Prosecuted 90 trusts during his 4 year term –Broke up Standard Oil –Dollar diplomacy abroad

Woodrow Wilson Idealistic president All trusts are bad – bigness is bad looked to small businesses of the past Government back to the people Attacked the “triple wall of privilege” Trusts-Federal Trade Commission and Clayton Act Banks – control thru the Federal Reserve Act and creation of the federal reserve board Tariffs – reduce them

Wilson’s Progressive Laws Workingman’s Laws –Better working conditions –Workman’s Compensation –Eight hour day for those involved in interstate commerce Farmers demands –Federal Farm loans –Warehouse Act loans on crops

Progressive Results –Diminished power of political parties and interest groups became more powerful –Reformed city government – city-manager form of government – Galveston, Texas –Passed state government laws initiative, referendum, recall –Direct primary to select political nominees –Temperance Union & Anti Saloon League -- passage of Volstead Act in 1919 to enforce 18th amendment passed in 1920 –Trust busting –Conservation of natural resources –Government responsible for ills of society; change from laissez-faire of the previous era

New Amendments 16 th – Income Tax 17 th –Direct Election of Senators 18 th – Prohibition of alcohol 19 th – Women Suffrage

Historiography