Progressive Era The Push to Reform American Society

Causes Gilded Age political corruption Gilded Age political corruption Negative views of laissez faire approach Negative views of laissez faire approach Monopolies Monopolies Working conditions Working conditions Child Labor Abuses Child Labor Abuses Urban living conditions Urban living conditions Discrimination towards Women, African Americans, and immigrants Discrimination towards Women, African Americans, and immigrants Populist Movement Populist Movement

Goals of the Progressives Government Accountability Government Accountability Regulation over monopolies and companies Regulation over monopolies and companies Expansion of government power to help citizens Expansion of government power to help citizens End government inefficiency, corruption, and patronage End government inefficiency, corruption, and patronage

Progressives were  White Protestants  Middle class and native born.  College Educated Professionals  Social workers  Scholars  Politicians  Preachers  Teachers  Writers

Populists vs Progressives  Populists---rural  Progressives---cities  Populists were poor and uneducated  Progressives were middle-class and educated.  Populists were too radical  Progressives stayed political mainstream.  Populists failed  Progressives succeeded

Social Reformers Muckrakers exposed the problems Low living standards in cities Low living standards in cities Immigrants squalid living Immigrants squalid living Health / Food Standards Health / Food Standards Child Labor / Working Conditions Child Labor / Working Conditions Key People: Upton Sinclair, Ida Tarbell, Jacob Riis, and Thomas Nast Key People: Upton Sinclair, Ida Tarbell, Jacob Riis, and Thomas Nast

Social Reformers Prison Reform Prison Reform Shelters for homeless and mentally ill Shelters for homeless and mentally ill Public Education system Public Education system Women’s entrance into public forum led to emphasis on morality Women’s entrance into public forum led to emphasis on morality

Social and Political Crossover Women’s Rights Groups Crusade for Change Suffragists / Suffragettes, NAWSA, Congressional Union Suffragists / Suffragettes, NAWSA, Congressional Union Temperance Movement Temperance Movement Key people: Reformers- Jane Addams and “Mother” Jones Key people: Reformers- Jane Addams and “Mother” Jones Key People: Suffragists- Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott, and Alice Paul Key People: Suffragists- Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott, and Alice Paul

Political Reforms Progressive Changes to Government Basis for social welfare programs Basis for social welfare programs -Welfare, unemployment, and Social Security Direct Primaries Direct Primaries 17 th Amendment- Direct Senate Election 17 th Amendment- Direct Senate Election Initiatives / Referendums Initiatives / Referendums Recalls Recalls Secret Ballots Secret Ballots

Economic Reformers Muckrakers exposed corruption of some monopolies Muckrakers exposed corruption of some monopolies Rise of Labor Unions Rise of Labor Unions Knights of Labor Knights of Labor American Federation of Labor American Federation of Labor Better working conditions, shorter hours, more pay Better working conditions, shorter hours, more pay

Progressive Presidents Theodore Roosevelt 1901 to 1909 William Howard Taft 1909 to 1913 Woodrow Wilson 1913 to 1921

Progressive Presidents Teddy Roosevelt Republican Active approach to executive branch Active approach to executive branch “Square Deal” “Square Deal” First to recognize unions First to recognize unions Trustbuster Trustbuster Railroad Regulation Railroad Regulation Public Health Public Health Conservationist / National Parks Conservationist / National Parks

Progressive Presidents William H. Taft Republican Progressivism election strategy Progressivism election strategy Failed on lower tariff promise Failed on lower tariff promise Anti Trust Cases Anti Trust Cases Reserved Public Lands Reserved Public Lands Corruption and Scandals Corruption and Scandals Received criticism from all parties and factions Received criticism from all parties and factions

Election of 1912 Republicans- Taft Republicans- Taft Progressive / Bull Moose Party- Roosevelt Progressive / Bull Moose Party- Roosevelt Democrats- Wilson Democrats- Wilson Socialist- Debs Socialist- Debs

Republican Party Platform Taft High import tariffs. Put limitations on female and child labor. Workman’s Compensation Laws. Against initiative, referendum, and recall. Against “bad” trusts. Creation of a Federal Trade Commission. Stay on the gold standard. Conservation of natural resources because they are finite.

Progressive Party (Bull Moose Party) Platform Roosevelt Women’s suffrage. Graduated income tax. 8 hour work day More regulation of big business Lower tariffs. Limits on campaign spending. Minimum wage laws. Abolition of child labor. Workmen’s compensation. NewNationalismNewNationalismNewNationalismNewNationalism

Socialist Party Platform Debs Government ownership of railroads and utilities. Guaranteed income tax. No tariffs. 8-hour work day. Better housing. Government inspection of factories. Women’s suffrage.

Democratic Party Platform Wilson Critical of big business and big government Tariff reduction. Direct election of Senators. Create a Department of Labor. Strengthen the Sherman Anti-Trust Act. Did NOT support women’s suffrage. Opposed to a central bank. NewFreedomNewFreedomNewFreedomNewFreedom

Election of 1912

Progressive Presidents Woodrow Wilson Lowered Tariffs Lowered Tariffs Graduated Income Tax Graduated Income Tax Avoided WWI for first term Avoided WWI for first term Entered into WWI for second term (some say it was calculated move) Entered into WWI for second term (some say it was calculated move)