Steps Toward Gilded Age Reform Groups Unions Naturalism Social Gospel Populists Socialists Efforts

Popular Government is Good Government...? “Democracy is based on the assumption that a million men are wiser than one man. How's that again? I missed something. Autocracy is based on the assumption that one man is wiser than a million men. Let's play that over again too. Who decides?” -Robert Heinlein (1907 - 1988)

Progressive Beliefs Problems can be solved! Progress Science and Technology (A Scientific Method) Impartial Experts Government as an instrument of social change. Problems can be solved!

The Birth of Political Science and Public Policy Consult the Data Define the Problem Establish Criteria Research, Research, Research! Data collection Expert Consultation Propose and Select Solutions Implementation Repeat!

Harvard Public Schools Vision Statement The Harvard Public Schools community, dedicated to educational excellence, guides all students to realize their highest potential by balancing academic achievement with personal well-being in the pursuit of individual dreams. The students engage in learning how to access and apply knowledge, think critically and creatively, and communicate effectively. They develop the confidence and ability to understand diverse perspectives, collaborate, and contribute to their local, national and global communities.

How it All Began… Muckrakers exposed government corruption Highlighted big business practices Exposure of corruption at all levels Reform of Government Scrutiny of Business Child labor Working Conditions “Trust Busting”

Reforming the City Lincoln Steffens’ Shame of the City “The spirit of graft and lawlessness is the American Spirit.” Thomas Nast exposes Boss Tweed and Tammany Hall

Reforms Start Locally Problems of the Cities: Progressive Solutions Bad politicians Party machines Graft Reform Mayors New systems to separate government from politics Commission system Five experts head city departments “Like a ship with five captains.” City-manager plan Elected council appoints trained manager

Which system would be: Most efficient? Most effective? Least corrupt? Most democratic?

La Follette makes Wisconsin the “Laboratory of Democracy” Problems Solutions Party Corruption Laws: a Tool of Corruption Direct Primary Voters (not parties) choose candidates Legislative reference bureau Expert advise the governor Initiative allows voters to make law Voters initiate the law Referendum lets voters approve or reject laws Refers a law to the people to approve Recall allows voters to “fire” politicians Take back, like a broken toy

Introducing a Bill

MA Current Initiative Process At least ten registered voters create and sign original petition and submit to Office of the Attorney General Within 14 days, AG returns official summary of the law Petitioners file summary with Secretary of the Commonwealth to have petitions printed. Petitioners collect signatures (3% of votes cast in last governor’s election) Goes before the legislature, if fails additional .5% signatures must be collected Goes on ballot Majority rules

Progressive Ideas Were In Conflict With Each Other Expand Participation Restrict Participation Initiatives Recall Referendum Direct primary Government by experts Commission System Council-Manager System Legislative Bureau Regulatory Commissions Failure to act on Segregation

The Muckrakers The Jungle Journalist Issue Ida B. Wells Lynching Lincoln Steffens Corruption in City Government Upton Sinclair Meatpacking Industry Nellie Bly Mental Health Care Ida Tarbell Standard Oil / Corrupt Business Practices

Ida Tarbell and Standard Oil

Do We Have Muckrakers Today? More media, less depth Muckrakers worked a story for years Unfettered access Public willing to wait for coverage