Chapter 21 APUSH Mrs. Price How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak and the strong. Because someday in your life you will have been all of these.” - George Washington Carver
Progressivism Belief that society was capable of improvement
Varieties of Progressivism Antimonopoly: fear of concentrated power Social Cohesion: everyone is connected Faith in Knowledge: importance of science
Muckrakers Journalists who exposed problems Targets: Trusts, railroads, govt, urban political machines
Ida Tarbell Exposed business practices of Standard Oil Co.
Lincoln Steffens The Shame of the Cities Exposed political machines
Jacob Riis: How the Other Half Lives Exposed life of urban poor
Upton Sinclair
Supporters of Progressivism Middle Class Labor Religious Groups Social Gospel Movement YMCA Westerners African Americans Women
The “New Woman” Product of social and economic changes Looked for opportunities outside of the home
Women’s Clubs Activities: settlement houses – Hull House, supported libraries, etc. Pushed other issues: child labor, urban housing, food & drug safety, prohibition
Women Suffrage Attracted more support after changing tactics Leaders: Anna Howard Shaw, Carrie Chapman Catt, Alice Paul 1919: 39 States had women suffrage 1920: 19th Amendment ratified
Government Reform: Cities Reduce power of machines & parties Secret ballot Commissions & City Managers
Govt Reform: State Level Direct primary elections Initiative Referendum Recall Reform Governors (Robert LaFollette WI)
Moral Issues of Progressivism Temperance 1. Led by women 2. 1919: 18th Amendment ratified
Immigration Restriction 1. Eugenics: led to calls for sterilization 2. Dillingham Report: certain groups were less able to assimilate = restrict immigration by ethnicity
Socialism Strong in urban immigrant communities & with farmers in South & Midwest Wanted basic structural changes in the economy IWW Industrial Workers of the World (“Wobblies”) US Socialist Party: Eugene Debs (1901)
Eugene Debs American Socialist Party