The Progressive Era
The Spirit of Progressivism 6 Characteristics that define Progressivism Concern with the effects of industrialization and the conditions of industrial life Fundamental optimism about human nature- people recognize problems and want to take action to solve them Willing to intervene in people’s lives, thought it was the right thing to do Turned to authority/government to achieve reform Drew on combo of evangelical Protestantism and science to change environment (moral and science) Touched virtually the whole nation- mass base
Why the need for reform? Lack of regulation at the end of the 1800s led to the need for reform in society Working Conditions Living Conditions/Urban Areas Health/Food Civil Rights Government Corruption Child Labor Monopolies
Who are the Progressives? Urban, educated, middle class people push the government to intervene to make change
Muckrakers Journalists exposing the “filth” in society Investigated social conditions and political corruption Jacobs Riis- How the Other Half Lives (tenements) Upton Sinclair- The Jungle (meatpacking industry)
The Spirit of Progressivism
The Changing Face of Industrialism
Society’s Masses Farmers, Women, African Americans
A New Urban Culture
Reform in the Cities and States
Theodore Roosevelt Square Deal 1st “Muckraking President Reasserts power to the Presidency Takes on Big Business- tries to break up trusts (monopolies) Sets up National Park system- Conservation Acts
William Howard Taft More “Progressive” than T.Roosevelt T.R. expected Taft to do what he wanted (puppet President)- Taft had own ideas and policies
Woodrow Wilson Most “Progressive” Democrat Income Tax Federal Trade Commission- stop unfair business practices 1st law regulating Child Labor Federal Reserve President during WWI