Progressivism Unit Objectives To learn the impact of the Industrial Revolution in America To learn and assess the beliefs of the Progressives and assess their impact To debate needed social reform in America today

Progressivism Era of social reforms (1890s-WWI) Began as a movement within the Republican Party but became its own separate party Believed problems in society were caused by: INDUSTRY AND BIG BUSINESS

Three main Progressive goals: 1. CLEAN UP GOVERNMENT (END POLITICAL CORRUPTION, MAKE GOVERNMENT MORE RESPONSIVE TO PEOPLE) 2. MAKE BUSINESS MORE RESPONSIBLE (END LAISSEZ-FAIRE ECONOMICS, FIGHT TRUSTS) 3. FIX THE ILLS OF SOCIETY (SOCIAL REFORMS)

Muckrakers REFORM JOURNALISTS WHO EXPOSED PROBLEMS IN AMERICA Often criticized for not offering solutions to the problems they shined a light on—not their job Upton Sinclair wrote THE JUNGLE to expose the unsanitary conditions in the meat-packing industry

Robert La Follette (ID) PROGRESSIVE GOVERNOR AND SENATOR FROM WISCONSIN RAN FOR PRESIDENT IN 1924

Direct Primary: PARTY MEMBERS VOTE FOR A CANDIDATE TO RUN IN THE GENERAL ELECTION Initiative: CITIZENS PROPOSE LEGISLATION THAT THE STATE MUST CONSIDER & VOTE ON

Referendum: PEOPLE VOTE ON AN ISSUE DIRECTLY Recall: PEOPLE CALL FOR A SPECIAL ELECTION TO TRY TO REMOVE A PUBLIC OFFICIAL

Socialists Some groups went even further and wanted to eliminate private ownership of industry as a way to control big business (Socialists, led by Eugene Debs)

Accomplishments of the Progressives 17TH Amendment: DIRECT ELECTION OF SENATORS, 1913 18th Amendment: TEMPERANCE/PROHIBITION, 1919 19TH Amendment: WOMEN’S RIGHT TO VOTE, 1920 Child labor laws and health/safety industry laws

More Accomplishments Pure Food and Drug Act (1906) People started to look to government to be a protector of the people, not just an umpire to settle disputes African Americans were largely left out by the Progressives because they were not accepted or seen as equals in society

Progressive Presidents Teddy Roosevelt Youngest to ever serve as president Very competitive and strong-willed Became president when William McKinley was assassinated; Had been nominated V.P. by people in New York that wanted to get rid of him (V.P. seen as dead-end job)

Square Deal: Roosevelt wanted to provide a “Square Deal” for all Americans—Tried to regulate the trusts (nicknamed the “Trustbuster”), passed the Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Act, took the side of the workers in the 1902 coal strike (first time the federal government supported the workers)

He was very expansionist Believed in Social Darwinism (survival of the fittest in society) Big Stick Policy: Speak softly but carry a big stick—back up what you say with a strong military Roosevelt Corollary: The U.S., not Europe would intervene in Latin America if intervention was necessary Great White Fleet: Brand new Navy that Roosevelt was very proud of and sent around the world to show off America’s strength

William Howard Taft Hand-picked successor to Roosevelt Broke up more trusts than Roosevelt Dollar Diplomacy: The U.S. should get involved in foreign affairs to protect American business interests Later served as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the only man to hold both offices

Woodrow Wilson Became president because of a dispute between Roosevelt and Taft—Roosevelt was not happy with Taft and ran for the Republican nomination for president; Taft won the nomination, so Roosevelt ran as an independent splitting the Republican vote

New Freedom: Social reform aimed at ending trusts, establishing a Federal Reserve System to regulate banks and a Federal Trade Commission to regulate businesses, and create new tariffs to protect American businesses Moral Foreign Policy: The U.S. would get involved in foreign affairs if it was the right thing to do