Bridge to the 20th Century Industry, Immigration, and Reform- The Progressive Movement

The Origins of the Progressive Movement

The Progressive Movement Who were they? Journalists and writers, intellectuals, and political reformers. How did it start? Began with dissatisfied farmers and spread to middle-class city dwellers.

What did they want to do? Protect social welfare Promote Moral Improvement Create Economic Reform Foster Efficiency

Protecting Social Welfare Social Gospel Movement and Settlement House Movement Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) Salvation Army

Promoting Moral Reform Prohibition The legal banning of alcohol was pushed for by reformers

Prohibition Seen as a way to Protect women against violence Uplift immigrants

Prohibition Attacking saloons Saloons provided cheap meals, cashed paychecks, and provided meeting places. Attacks drew negative response from immigrants.

The Vote for Women Seen as the next step to promoting moral reform in society by women’s groups.

Creating Economic Reform Corruption in business and government attacked. Muckrakers Definition Journalists who wrote about the corruption of business and politics.

Fostering Efficiency Scientific Management Definition The effort to improve efficiency in the workplace by applying scientific principles.

Assembly Line and Henry Ford Ford Motor Company used assembly line to assemble cars. Increased production Turned people into machines that exhausted themselves.

To attract workers Ford paid $5 a day and reduced the work day to 8 hours.

Cleaning Up Government

Reforming Local Government Power had to be taken from the corrupt political machine and given back to the people

City Commissions City councils replaced by appointed commissions that ran certain city departments. City-Manager Appointed position where a qualified individual ran the city’s departments.

Reforming State Government Reform of business States began passing laws to reform business and industry. Business had been buying off politicians to protect their industries.

Reforming State Government Child Labor Problems Health concerns Accidents Led hard adult lives

Child Labor States take on Child Labor Supreme Court struck down child labor legislation from Congress States passed laws limiting and banning child labor and cut it in half in a decade.

Limiting Working Hours Muller v. Oregon Supreme Court ruled a state could limit the working hours of women

Limiting Working Hours Results Led to other states following suit and soon limits were in place for men. 10 hour days

Workers Compensation In 1902 states began passing laws to pay benefits to injured employees in dangerous occupations.

Reforming Elections How do you reform elections? Give power to the people States adopted the secret ballot

Reforming Elections Initiative and Referendum State gave ordinary people the right to make law through the initiative and referendum.

Initiative - bill created by ordinary people placed on ballot Proposition Referendum- was a vote by the public on the initiative

Reforming Elections Recall Enabled voters to remove elected officials by holding a special election before the end of their term.

Election of Senators 17th Amendment- Direct Election of Senators Until the 17th Amendment Senators were selected by state legislators-and by political machine bosses.

Women in Public Life

Role of Women On the Farm Critical to family success and survival As Domestic Workers Women of all races, but mostly of low economic class, served as domestic servants throughout the United States

Role of Women In Industry At first women did low skill jobs for more than half of what men got paid. As business expanded women began to fill the roles of secretaries and teachers.

Women as Reform Leaders Suffrage Women’s groups had united to try and get the vote for women. 3 Part Plan

First- convince state governments to grant the vote Western states began to do so in 1869 Second- Get Supreme Court to rule on women and voting. Supreme Court did rule that women were citizens, but that did not guarantee the vote.

Third- Push for a constitutional amendment Kept getting rejected.

Teddy Roosevelt and the Square Deal

Background Roosevelt was born into a wealthy New York family Sickly as a child (asthma) he grew to push himself to excel physically. Graduate of Harvard Married Twice Inspiration for the Teddy Bear

Published author and recognized expert on US wildlife Cattle Rancher

Public Service NY State Assemblyman NYC Police Commissioner Asst. Secretary of the US Navy Governor of NY Vice-President

The Modern Presidency TR was 1st “modern” president Used popularity to shape policy Influenced press and used them to gain influence Saw presidency as a defender of the people against growing government power.

Using Federal Power

TR sought to see that the people got what he called a “square deal” from government.

Labor Strikes 1902 Coal Strikes 5 months into the strike winter was threatened and reserves were low. TR forced both sides to meet with an arbitration commission which mediated (settled) the dispute

Labor Strikes Result TR established the right/responsibility of the federal government to intervene in labor disputes. Showed disputes could be settled in an orderly manner- no violence.