The Progressives 1876-1916 Domestic 1898 Prosperity due to: Crop failures in Europe took U.S. farm surplus Gold (a lot) found in Alaska and South Africa (British Rand Finds)
McKinley: NOT a Progressive President First four years: concentrated on Spanish American War Election of 1900 v Bryan again was concerned with colonies gained from Spain
Progressive Movement 1898 to U.S. entry into WWI Prosperity People generous Union membership tripled Progressive movements were supported by both major parties as reflected in party platforms
Progressives had what Populists lacked Populists: Farmers and silver miners 3rd Party Progressives: Middle class professionals Both Parties Populists leaders: Sockless Jerry Simpson, Tom Watson, William Peffer Progressive leaders: Governors and Presidents: TR, Wilson, LaFollette
Progressives Populists lacked literary champions Progressives had Muckrakers Populists sacrificed everything for inflation through free silver Progressives had prosperity. Could spend time and money on other reforms Progressives got everything the Populists failed to get…except child labor laws
3 Levels of Reform: Municipal (city) State National Progressives set out to expose corruption in city government and worked for reform: The Party Boss System Public utilities: Gas and water Socialism (By 1915 2/3 American cities)
Muckrakers TR coined the name. From Pilgrims Progress McClures Magazine first to hire investigative reporters: Lincoln Steffans “The Shame of the Cities” Ida Tarbell “The History of Standard Oil” Jacob Riis “How the other Half Lives” Daniel Graham “Treason of the Senate” Edward Bok: Editor of Ladies Home Journal Studied ingredients of common products in: Lydia Pinkham’s Tonic and Winslo’s Syrup
Social Gospel Movement Salvation through Public Service Protestants AND Catholics Contrast with 1st and 2nd Great Awakenings YMCA Temperance Women’s Clubs Salvation Army
Municipal Reform New York City: Toledo: Minimum wage for city workers Improved Public Transportation Cut local street railway fares Passed tenement house laws Toledo: Minimum wage for city workers Cleaned up Milwaukee, Jersey City, etc. Many times reform did not last long
Don’t Forget: Gas and Water Socialism: 2/3 of American cities publically owned waterworks, etc by 1915
Progressivism on the State Level Direct Primary: enabled members of a political party to choose candidates through Australian Ballot rather than by selection at a convention (Wisconsin First) Initiative: Most states today Referendum: 20 states today (S. Dakota first) Recall: 13 states today (Oregon first)
Direct Election of Senators 17th Amendment: Probably the single most important piece of Progressive Legislation
New Jersey Formerly: Mother of Trusts 1911-1913 Woodrow Wilson (D) Governor: Established a Public Utility Commission to evaluate properties of RR’s, Gas, Electricity, Telephone Commission fixed rates and established standards
Other States New York: 1st for Insurance laws Nebraska: 1st for bank deposit laws Minnesota: 1st for inheritance taxes Georgia: raised taxes big time on corporations Wisconsin 1900 Governor LaFollette: The Model Progressive State: Did everything NJ did and more: conservation laws, library and university professors for state legislature
Lockner v New York The first time the Court struck down a Progressive state law which said that bakers were limited to a 10-hour day