United States History Chapter 11 The Progressive Era ( )

Section 1 The Origins of Progressivism

What was the Progressive Era? The period from about 1890 to 1920, during which a variety of reforms were enacted at local, state, and federal levels

What were the four basic beliefs of the Progressives? 1. Government should be more accountable to its citizens 2. Government should curb the power and influence of wealthy interests 3. Government should be given expanded powers so that it could become more active in improving the lives of its citizens 4. Governments should become more efficient and less corrupt so that they could competently handle an expanded role

What was a muckraker? Journalist who uncovers wrongdoing in politics and business The works of the muckrakers would expose many of the problems in society and business to leaders in government Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle exposed the unsanitary conditions of the American meatpacking industry, after reading the book Roosevelt would enact legislation to clean up the industry

Not all Americans supported the ideas of the Progressives. Why? Many disliked the ideas of the progressives because it would increase the role of government in the lives of Americans The goals of the progressives were designed to help Americans, but in the process some Americans would be hurt Example: progressives sought to end child labor, but the working class family depended on the wages of their children

Section 2 Progressive Legislation

Explain Theodore Roosevelt’s “Square Deal.” Roosevelt's domestic program, formed upon three basic principles: Conservation of natural resources Control of corporations Consumer protection

What was Theodore Roosevelt’s opinion of big business [trusts]? What actions would he take? Roosevelt was not anti-business; he did not wish to destroy trusts that did not harm the public Roosevelt believed that government should regulate trusts

Theodore Roosevelt also set out to protect the public’s health. What reforms would he make? Roosevelt passed several pieces of legislation and created new agencies, such as the Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Act, protect consumers

Theodore Roosevelt also set out to protect the environment. What reforms would he make? Roosevelt set aside 200 million acres for national forests, mineral reserves, and water projects National Reclamation Act – used money from the sale of public lands to build irrigation systems in arid states

Progressive Amendments 16 th Amendment Enabled the government to create a national income tax

Progressive Amendments 17 th Amendment Made possible the direct election of senators

Progressive Amendments 18 th Amendment Established national prohibition (outlawing of the production, sale, and consumption of alcohol)

Progressive Amendments 19 th Amendment Established women’s suffrage (women’s right to vote)

Section 3 Progressivism Under Taft and Wilson

Who won the 1908 presidential election? Why? Was he able to uphold his vision? William Howard Taft easily won the 1908 election with the backing of Roosevelt Even though Taft was able to continue some progressive reforms, especially in regards to trusts, his actions were seen as a failure because failed to live up to the expectations of the Progressives

What was Theodore Roosevelt’s “New Nationalism”? Theodore Roosevelt’s plan for greater federal regulation of business and workplaces, income and inheritance taxes, and electoral reforms Roosevelt and other Progressive politicians would campaign on the ideas of this plan in 1910 in hopes of restoring the progressive path of the Republican Party The 1910 efforts would fail with the Democrats gaining control of both houses of Congress

Explain the 1912 presidential election and its outcome. Candidates: Roosevelt and Taft both competed for the Republican nomination, in the end the “convention” would select Taft Progressive Republicans established their own party [aka Bull Moose Party] nominating Roosevelt as their candidate The Democrats would nominate another reform minded candidate as well, Woodrow Wilson Result: With the Republicans splitting their vote between Roosevelt and Taft, Wilson would emerge as the winner

1912 Election Results

Explain Woodrow Wilson’s “New Freedom.” Wilson’s promise to enforce antitrust laws without threatening economic competition Wilson’s goals were rooted in the ideas of progressivism

Progressive Achievements under Wilson: Tariff and Taxes Wilson would successfully reduce the tariff, a long time goal of Progressives Wilson would also sign into law a federal income tax [which was now legal with the passage of the 16 th Amendment]

Progressive Achievements under Wilson: Trusts Wilson believed that monopolies and trusts led to economic instability and the restriction of free enterprise; he sought to eliminate all trusts Wilson would successfully pass a stronger antitrust legislation, the Clayton Antitrust Act

Progressive Achievements under Wilson: Banking Wilson would create the Federal Reserve System, placing many banks under the watch of the government; the intent of this system was to prevent the frequent bank failures that had plagued the country for more than 100 years Wilson would also create a new currency known as Federal Reserve Notes

Explain the Clayton Antitrust Act. Law passed in 1914 to strengthen the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890; specified big business activities that were forbidden Unlike the previous legislation this act clearly spelled out what business could and could not do This legislation also eliminated unions as victims as victims of antitrust legislation; unions did not apply to antitrust legislation, in addition, the use of the injunction was ended against unions [unless their activities led to “irreparable injury to property”]

Identify the limits and failures of Progressivism. Even though Progressives had made broad changes in society, government, and business, the movement failed to lend aid and reform to many other needy groups such as tenant and migrant farmers, nonunionized workers, and immigrants

What would bring about the end of the Progressive Era? The American preparation for “possible” entry into World War I