The Progressive Movement 1890-1920 The Progressive Movement

The Roots of the Progressive Movement The Progressive Era- a time when many Americans tried to improve US society. ** Both Republicans AND Democrats could be Progressives. Areas of Improvement: Make Government more honest & efficient. Allow for more democracy in government. Address social ills: end child labor, support women suffrage (right to vote), end alcohol abuse. **Progressivism was a response to the PROBLEMS of the industrialization and urbanization. * Many people realized that the FREE MARKET & CAPITALISM WOULD NOT fix these problems.

Characteristics of Progressives Progressives belonged to both major political parties. Most were urban, well educated, middle-class Americans. Leaders of the Progressives: Journalists Social Workers Educators Politicians Clergy (religious leaders) Why & How Did They Want to Fix Problems? Through faith in SCIENCE and TECHNOLOGY

The “Muckrakers” Muckraker’s—journalists who exposed social problems, political corruption, and corporate abuses. Nickname came from President Theodore Roosevelt because he believed they were obsessed with scandal & corruption. Ideas were spread through cheap popular magazines and newspapers. Leading ”Muckraker” Journalists Exposing Business Corruption Charles Edward Russell- attacked the corrupt practices and inhumane conditions in the Chicago Stockyards. Upton Sinclair- wrote a book “The Jungle” about the poor treatment of workers in Chicago Meatpacking factories and unsanitary conditions. Ida Tarbell- wrote articles criticizing the practices of the monopoly Standard Oil.

More Muckrakers Exposing Government Corruption Lincoln Steffens- wrote articles that became a book “The Shame of the Cities” in which he exposed the corruption of POLITICAL MACHINES in cities. Exposing Social Problems: Jacob Riis– in his book “How the Other Half Lives” exposed the poverty, disease, and crime in cramped cities like NY. Ida B. Wells– African-American writer who exposed the horrors of racial lynching and pushed for stricter punishments for those who lynched blacks. John Spargo- wrote “The Bitter Cry of Children” about child labor conditions.

Making Government More Efficient All Progressives did not agree on the best methods to follow to improve society. Making Cities more Efficient & Less Corrupt One Group of Progressives believed: Use of Business Theories could make cities function better Influenced by Frederick Taylor (Scientific Management)- improving efficiency by breaking tasks down into smaller parts and using standardized tools. Problem: In most cities, the mayor or city council chose the Police Chief, Fire Chief, Budget Chief etc.---usually to their political supporters or friends (SPOILS SYSTEM at local level)= CORRUPTION!

Reforming the Cities Progressives supported the idea of hiring TRAINED EXPERTS who could be hired & fired to manage cities: The Commission Plan: City government divided into different departments with each one under and EXPERT COMMSSIONER’S control. The Council-Manager Plan: an elected city council would hire a CITY MANAGER to run the city instead of a MAYOR. The CITY MANAGER would manage each department---if he did a bad job—he could be fired.

Progressives Wanted More Democracy Another group of Progressives wanted to make the American political system more democratic and responsive to citizen’s needs. Wisconsin “Laboratory for Democracy” Political Parties met frequently to choose candidates for office at “nominating conventions”. Party bosses controlled who served as a delegate at the conventions= party bosses controlled selection of nominees. Wisconsin Governor Robert La Follette got the state legislature to hold DIRECT PRIMARIES. Direct Primaries: ALL party members can vote for a person (nominee) to run in an election= more democracy. Significance– reduced the power of Political machines in choosing candidates.

Force Legislators to Listen to Voters State legislators are elected to make state laws and they serve in each state capital. State legislators were heavily influenced by big businesses in each state and political machines. Progressives pushed for new REFORMS to make state governments more responsive to citizens. Reforms: The Initiative: allows a group of state citizens to introduce legislation and requires the legislature to vote on it. The Referendum: allows citizens of a state to vote on proposed laws without going to the state legislature. The Recall: allows voters of a state to demand a special new election to remove an elected official from office before the end of their term.

A Change in How Senators Were Chosen The US Senate became the target of reforms by Progressives. The US Constitution allowed state legislators to choose TWO Senators from each state to serve in the Senate. Because political machines and big businesses influenced state legislatures, they influenced the selection of Senators= corruption. Senators who were chosen then repaid supporters with federal jobs & contracts (favors). Reform: The Populist Party and later, the Progressives pushed for DIRECT ELECTION OF SENATORS (elected directly by citizens of each state). 1913- The 17th Amendment was added—required DIRECT ELECTION of Senators.

Women’s Suffrage In 1848, women and some men held the 1st women’s rights convention at SENECA FALLS, NEW YORK. Elizabeth Cady Stanton got delegates to agree that the right to vote (suffrage) should be their first priority. The Women’s Suffrage Movement Before the Civil War– women’s suffrage started slow; they were threatened, declared “unfeminine” , many were “abolitionists” so suffrage was not big priority before the War. After the Civil War– women were angered because they were not included in the 14th or 15th Amendments. Post Civil War- the women’s rights movement split into TWO Groups: National Woman Suffrage Association (1869) – founded by Susan B. Anthony & Elizabeth Cady Stanton—focus on getting an amendment added to constitution. American Woman Suffrage Association (1869)- founded by Lucy Stone & Julia Ward Howe- focus on state by state right to vote for women. By 1900, only 4 states had given women the full right to vote (Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, Colorado).

A National Suffrage Movement Builds In 1890, two suffrage groups united to form= National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA). Many Progressive era women (Middle Class) & working class women began to join. Used marches, lobbying lawmakers, speeches March 3, 1913—suffragists marched in Washington on during Pres. Wilson’s Inauguration (Alice Paul -organized the march—headed NAWSA) 1915– Carrie Chapman Catt became NAWSA’s leader & supported Pres. Wilson's reelection. 1920– 19th Amendment added to the Constitution- granted women the vote.

Progressives Reform Society Social welfare Progressives focused on reforming society by creating charities to help the poor and pushed for new laws. Child Labor: States passed laws that set min. age for working & how many hours a child could work. Health & Safety Codes: Worker Compensation Laws -employer financed insurance to pay workers injured on the job. Zoning Laws- divide a town or city into commercial, residential, or development zones. Building Codes - set min. standards for light, air, room size, sanitation, & fire escapes. Health Codes- required restaurants to maintain standards of cleanliness.

The Prohibition Movement Many Progressives believed alcohol caused many societal problems. Early 1800’s- Temperance Movement- urged people to moderate drinking habits. Mostly women led the Temperance Movement. 1874- Woman’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) 1893- Anti-Saloon League- formed by protestant ministers 1911- WCTU had 250,000 members. First they pushed for moderation in alcohol use---then for Prohibition. 1920- 18th Amendment was passed to outlaw alcohol. 1933- 18th Amendment repealed with 21st Amendment.

Progressives Versus Big Business Many Progressives thought big business needed to be REGULATED. 1890- Sherman Antitrust Act– attempt to restrict monopolies—ineffective. Some progressives believed big business was best way to organize our economy—pushed for government regulations. 1887- Interstate Commerce Act Some Progressives advocated for Socialism Eugene V. Debs– Socialist head of American Railway Union won almost a million votes for pres. In 1912.