The Progressive Movement 1900- 1920

The Movement Begins Mostly middle-class city dwellers who believed that society could be studied and experts were relied upon to help create better laws and regulations Reform shifted from the farm to the city; every level of government was affected A product of the Industrial Revolution and a distinct break in the social classes

Industrialization created many social problems: Problems to Reform Why reform? Industrialization created many social problems: harsh working conditions child labor political corruption overcrowding of cities misuse of environment abuse of consumers Middle-class felt threatened

Jane Addams, Hull House in Chicago 1889 Social Reformers Social Gospel Movement - focused on the needs of the poor Protestant ministers led the charge Fought against child labor & poor working conditions Provided services to the poor (Salvation Army, YMCA) Settlement Houses which provided immigrants with services like child care, nursing the sick, & English classes Associations created to promote social changes & professional responsibility (NAACP, Anti-Defamation League) Jane Addams, Hull House in Chicago 1889

Exposing the Underside of Reform Muckrakers - investigative journalists who exposed abuses of industry & corruption of government via fantastic stories (Upton Sinclair’s - The Jungle; Ida Tarbell)

Reform & Government Wanted to make politics/elections more democratic & big business more responsible City - replace the political machines with public-minded leaders States - made elections mor democratic by adding Secret Ballots - no pressure or intimidation Intiative - voters could directly introduce bills into state legislatures & vote on the bill Referendum - compel legislators to place a bill on the ballot for approval Recall - able to remove elected officials in a special election Direct Party Primaries - special elections held to determine candidates Direct Election of Senators - 17th Amendment

Congressional Reforming Congress got involved by passing laws to limit the work day, protect children, as well as require safety standards for work and housing; also passed immigration restrictions Other notable legislation: Pendleton Act (1883) which created the Civil Service Commission which gave competitive exams for hiring and promotions on merit 16th Amendment(1913) which created the federal income tax 18th Amendment (1919) which began Prohibition (temperance had long been an issue of reformers) 19th Amendment (1920) which gave women the right to vote

Progressive Presidents Theodore Roosevelt (1901 - 1909) viewed the job of president as the ultimate representative of the people, who was the steward of the people’s interests Coal Miner’s Strike of 1902 - Roosevelt threatened to use troops and the dispute was settled Sherman Anti-trust Act Square Deal - laws created to protect people in (3) areas Public Health - Meat Inspection Act; Pure Food & Drug Act (1906) Transportation regulation by increasing power of the ICC Conservation by creating the National Conservation Commission

Progressive Presidents cont. After Roosevelt left office William Taft will take his place but was very ineffective as president Election of 1912 - Roosevelt will run against Taft and split the Republican party (Roosevelt will run under the Bull Moose Party); Democrats will nominate Woodrow Wilson who will become the next president

Progressive Presidents cont. Woodrow Wilson (1913 - 1921) believed in being a strong leader; was sympathetic to the small business owner; strong supporter of moral diplomacy New Freedom promised to tame big business to allow greater & fairer competition, especially focused on tariffs, the bank system, and tariffs Key legislation passed Underwood Tariff (1913) Federal Reserve Act (1913) Clayton Anti-trust Act (1914) Federal Trade Commission (1914)

The Women’s Suffrage Movement Women also joined in the reform movement Seneca Falls Convention (1848) led by Elizabeth Cady Stanton & Lucretia Mott began the fight for women’s right to vote National American Woman Suffrage Association (1890) Stanton & Susan B. Anthony continued the fight