Progressivism and Populism by Rebecca Guerrero, teacher at Rancho Cucamonga High School on Oct 18, 2010

Progressives Those individuals and groups who tried to address and solve the problems of the Gilded Age

Socialism Socialism is an economic and political philosophy favoring public or gov. control of property and income Believed in the economic theories shared by Marx and Engels in the Communist Manifesto Many socialist in this era sought to turn America socialist through the ballot box

Teddy Roosevelt makes up the term Muckrakers Journalist who alerted the public to wrongdoings in politics and business Teddy Roosevelt makes up the term Included writers who sensationalized the situations and others who were respected authors Upton Sinclair and The Jungle Jacob Riis: photographer who exposes the horrors of tenement life in How the Other Half Lives Ida Tarbell fights against Standard Oil

Problem- Poverty Progressive Solution- Social Gospel Movement Based on the belief that salvation came from service to the poor Settlement houses-community centers in slum neighborhoods which provided assistance to the poor, especially immigrants were established Often run by middle-class college educated women Most well known is Jane Addams, founder of Hull House in Chicago

Problem-unsafe and unfair working conditions Progressive Solution-Government Regulation Pushed for laws to improve working conditions Improved fire protection Some states develop accident insurance programs (disability) Florence Kelly leads the movement for Child Labor laws on the books in 30 states by 1907 Several states passed minimum wage laws

Problem-Corrupt Government Progressive Solution-Give more power to the voters Direct primary for choosing pres. candidate 17th Amendment –voters select senators Initiative: allowed citizens to propose new state laws Referendum: force legislatures to allow citizens to vote on a law the legislatures rejected Recall: ability to remove public officials from office at the state and local level Pendleton Civil Service Act replaces patronage (the giving of gov. jobs to people who help you get elected) with the merit system

Problem-unfair business practices and monopolies limit completion Progressive Solution-Government breaks up monopolies Sherman Anti-trust Act (1890) made it illegal to form a trust that interfered with free trade between states or with other countries

Progressive Presidents

Teddy Roosevelt’s Square Deal Enforced the Sherman Antitrust Act and successfully sued abusive trusts Forced the arbitration of strikes (like the 1902 Coal Strike) Term used to describe the various progressive reforms of the Roosevelt administration Teddy Roosevelt’s Square Deal Established the United States Forest service and expanded the Park system to preserve the environment Urged Congress to pass laws to regulate industries Hepburn Act authorized the Interstate Commerce commission to regulate discounts used by RR for bribes The Pure Food and Drug Act (1906) set sanitation and labeling requirements for foods After reading The Jungle urged the passage of the Meat Inspection Act which set meat inspection requirements

Has a hard time following in Roosevelt’s footsteps Taft’s Presidency Has a hard time following in Roosevelt’s footsteps Ballinger-Pinchot scandal hurts Taft’s reputation and removes land from protection Roosevelt decides to run again and the Republican Party splits Roosevelt forms the Bull Moose Party Taft runs as the Republican candidate Woodrow Wilson (D) wins the election of 1912

Wilson’s New Freedom Clayton Antitrust Act- ensures labor unions the right to exist and strike Establishes the Federal Trade Commission as a watchdog agency to prevent unfair business practices Supported a graduated income tax Established the Federal Reserve System to serve the countries growing financial needs

Progressive Amendments 16th Amendment (1913): allowed for an income tax 17th Amendment (1913) provided for the direct election of senators 18th Amendment (1919) made it illegal for Americans to make, sell or import liquor-prohibition (or temperance) 19th Amendment (1920) gave women the right to vote

The Grange A farmer’s organization formed in response to RR abuses Took political action and got laws passed to protect rights of farmers at the state level So called “Granger Laws” were upheld in the case Munn v. Illinois

Populism Evolved from the Grange into a farmers political party new political party called the Populist (1892)

Were successful in many elections in 1892 Populism Argued for: An increase in $ supply to raise prices, silver standard A graduated income tax 8 hour work day Were successful in many elections in 1892 Platform later adopted by Democratic party

Populism Supported William Jennings Bryan (D) as their party’s presidential candidate in 1896 and 1900 If they dare to come out in the open field and defend the gold standard as a good thing, we shall fight them to the uttermost, having behind us the producing masses of the nation and the world. Having behind us the commercial interests and the laboring interests and all the toiling masses, we shall answer their demands for a gold standard by saying to them, you shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns. You shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold.