Progressivism Chapter 17 Section 1

Four Goals of Progressivism Social Welfare/Moral Improvement/Economic Reform/General Efficiency Social Welfare –Provide for the less fortunate in the new industrial America YMCA (Young Men’s Christian Association) –Opened libraries, hostels, athletic centers Salvation Army –Established soup kitchens –“slum brigades”—went into tenements to educate immigrants on hard work, temperance & Christian ideals

Early YMCASalvation Army

Moral Improvement –Belief that lower class could only be prosperous if moral standards were raised Temperance/Prohibition –Effort to ban consumption of all alcoholic drinks –No drunks = no violence, no homeless, no poor –Groups marched into bars, sang hymns urged bars to close –Carry Nation—one woman campaign of destroying bottles in bars w/ axe

Economic Reforms –Socialism Eugene V. Debs establishes American Socialist Party (1901) –Even disparity between rich industrial owners and workers –Gain labor reform –Uncover business/government political collusion

–Muckrakers Journalists exposing corruption in business –Ida Tarbell’s “History of the Standard Oil Company” Public exposure brought about changes in unfair business practices

Efficiency –Using science to improve daily working conditions –“Brandeis Brief” Court case using scientific studies proving that long work days cost employer, employees and society –Scientific Management Studies to simplify and speed up manufacturing tasks Led to the development of assembly lines

Government Reform Movement Child Labor Laws –Keating Owen Act 1916 Outlawed transportation of goods made by child labor across state lines –Child labor: 16 and under Supreme Court finds law unconstitutional (10th amendment) –Reformers passed legislation in every state banning underage employees and limited work week for workers under 18

Working Hours/Conditions –Bunting v. Oregon (1917) Supreme Court upholds Oregon law regulating 10 hour work day –Maryland passes first worker’s compensation laws Force companies to pay benefits in work related deaths 17th Amendment –Primary system led to direct elections of US Senators by population instead of nominating from state legislatures