MC REFORM The Progressive Era

Context: Post 1900 Abundance – being able to participate in consumerism – having access to material good and a higher standard of living The living wage – About $600/year Fordism  Assembly line/mass production  $5 & $6 dollar days workers – why  Democratization of the automobile  Workers as consumers

Women’s Rights Economics – working outside the home increased  Gilman – Women and economics  Unions – WTUL/ILGWU– Schneidermann and Triangle ShirtWaist Fire  Child labor – march & Lawrence Strike New Feminism  Leisure time Sexual Emancipation – reproductive rights (birth control)– Sanger & sexual expression Suffrage  NAWSA  Alice Paul – ERA  19 th Amendment

Woman’s Rights Women Progressives - the New Woman Addams & Kelley – Hull House – political reforms & activism for women’s issues – abuse, divorce, child labor Public health issues – Brandeis Brief – Muller v Oregon Temperance

Minorities Native American Progressivism  Montezuma – full citizenship, end wardship and the BIA African American Progressivism  DuBois – Niagra Movement --- NAACP Impact of WWI – the “race issue” The meaning of freedom and citizenship Access to opportunity

The Progressive Movement Characteristics:  Optimistic – believe can create change and improve society  Righteous – prefer voluntary action – but have a willingness to intervene to do what’s best for society  Tool/method = government (state and federal) – the instrument to create effective change to “humanize” the system and “ameliorate” the worst excesses caused by industrialization and urbanization  Pervasive and diverse – many different focuses  Sought social control and systematizing – government as referee or as broker among interests – MC Protestantism/MC values  MC, educated, many women – Mowry “benevolent guardians”

Goals End the abuse of power - seek to stabilize or balance the political and economic system Address/correct the problems created by industrialization and urbanization – soften – no challenge to capitalism – just the unregulated excesses - social justice Empower the people – at least the “right” ones Seek efficiency, expertise – systematizing – Lafollette Wisconsin Idea

“Roots” Intellectual challenges to Social Darwinism (Ely, Veblen, George, Darrow, Etc) role of environment – pragmatism Social gospel Muckrakers Status Anxiety = MC fears Populism The labor movement Reaction to the boss system and desire for reform Women’s rights movement Professionalism

State And City Reforms Reform & Innovation in local government and state government Wisconsin Idea – LaFollette – utilities, labor laws, political changes – use of expertise  Government structure – city managers, city commissions  Education - kindergartens & night school  Public works But appearances of democracy not always democratic changes - ………

Political Changes Initiative, referendum and recall Direct primary Australian ballot Voter registration 17 Am 19 Am (ERA –Paul) Limited campaign contributions

Efficiency & Organization City manager; city commissioner Wisconsin Plan – LaFollette businesses licenses 16 Am Federal Reserve System Bureau of Corporations RFD “systematizing” of government institutions and services – makes it predictable and controllable Gas & power socialism

Social Justice Brandeis Brief – Muller v Oregon 18Am & 19 AM Child labor laws Workman’s compensation Increase $ for education Bureau of labor Public Health Service – Sheppard-Towner Mann Act Juvenile courts Divorce laws Death penalty reform

Government Regulation Public utilities commission Gas & power socialism Conservation laws Minimum wages & maximum hours (fed) Consumer protection laws – Pure Food & Drug, Meat Inspection Act Increase regulatory agencies (FDA, FTC) RR regulation –Hepburn, Mann-Elkins Tariff decrease Anti trust enforcement (Northern Securities, Taft, Clayton) “trust-busting” Safety codes

Areas of limited concern Race - segregation increased After 1900 movement North (more post WWI) – decreasing opportunities, & race relations in S, boll weevil epidemic, more opportunities in N – still segregated cities Labor – what to help but not crazy about union movement - concerns for political radicalism – Ludlow Massacre Immigration – sought to “Americanize” appearances of democracy not always democratic changes – literacy tests, registration – impact on the poor

Presidential Progressivism TR = “Elan Vitale” Process – must develop an awareness and a “readiness” for the degree of gov’t involvement at the national level – thus greater amount of legislation as society accepted/understood need Increased power of Executive branch Increased power of the national government Developments that strengthen in the 20 th century

TR The Bully Pulpit The Square Deal The “trust-buster” --- “good trusts” –”bad trusts” Northern Securities Case – restore S A-T challenges powerful interests– Morgan, Rockefeller, etc. Keeps trusts in “bounds” – restrains Gentleman’s Agreement

The Bully Pulpit

TR The Square Deal – Anthracite Coal Strike – the “broker” UMW v Coal Mine owners TR – Arbitration – Mitchell =ok – refusal by owners ---TR army Wage and hours gains --- but no union recognition

Other Actions RR – Elkins and Hepburn Acts – increase power of ICC Consumer protection: Pure Food and Drug Act; Meat Inspection Act  Sinclair – The Jungle  Wiley – the poison squad Conservation – forests, parks, irrigation Pinchot Bureau of Commerce & Labor (corporations)

The Republican Party & President William H. Taft

Taft’s Accomplishments Real Trust busting Conservation – forestry 16 & 17 amendments Mann-Elkins Act – rr and communications Federal gov’t 8 hr day Children’s Bureau Safety regulations

Taft’s “ordeal” Alienates progressive wing of the party Cannonism Payne-Aldrich Tariff Ballinger-Pinchot Affair 1910 Purge

TR Returns Osawatomie, KS Big business requires big government.

New Nationalism Increase the power of the presidency & federal government to deal w/ changes National approach to problem solving Strong assertive leadership Government efficiency and expertise

New Freedom Increase competition – decrease monopolies More limited federal government – states rights BUT comes to embraces New Nationlism - WHY

The Republican Convention Battle between Old Guard and Progressives

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

TR and the Progressive Party

The Bullmoose Party

Progressive Party Platform Women’s suffrage. Women’s suffrage. Graduated income tax. Graduated income tax. Inheritance tax for the rich. Inheritance tax for the rich. Lower tariffs. Lower tariffs. Limits on campaign spending. Limits on campaign spending. Currency reform. Currency reform. Minimum wage laws. Minimum wage laws. Social insurance. Social insurance. Abolition of child labor. Abolition of child labor. Workmen’s compensation. Workmen’s compensation.

The Socialist Party & Eugene V. Debs The issue is Socialism versus Capitalism. I am for Socialism because I am for humanity.

“The Working Class Candidates” Eugene V. Debs Emil Seigel for President for Vice-President

Growth of the Socialist Vote Year Socialist Party Socialist Labor PartyTotal , , , , ,27536, , ,93133,405130, ,49453,763277, ,23033,546441, ,04320,265351, ,48814,021438, ,67434,115641, ,873

The Industrial Worker: I. W. W. The first American labor group to open its membership to all wage-earning workers, regardless of skill, nationality, race, sex, or gender.

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

The Democratic Party & Governor Woodrow Wilson (NJ) Could he rescue the Democratic Party from “Bryanism”??

The Reform Governo r of NJ: It Takes Time to Remove the Grime

Democratic Party Platform Government control of the monopolies  trusts in general were bad  eliminate them!! -- Competition States Rights – limited government Tariff reduction. One-term President. 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. New F r e e d o m

The “Seas” [of Opportunity] Open Up for the Democrats

Election Results By 1912, 100,000 fewer people had voted for Wilson than had voted for Bryan in The 1912 election marked the apogee of the Socialist movement in America.

On Uncle Sam’s Farm The Democratic party took control of the Senate for the first time in 20 years.

The GOP: An Extinct Animal? The GOP: An Extinct Animal?

Wilson’s Accomplishments Federal Reserve System Clayton Anti-trust Act - “interlocking directorate”; recognition of unions/ no injunctions Underwood Tariff Federal Trade Commission 18 th & 19 th Amendments Used the 16 th Amendment Federal Farm Loan Act ---Warehouse Act Adamson Act Keatings-Owen Act (Hammer v Dagenhart ) Brandeis ---SCT Workman’s Compensation Act Actions in Ludlow/RR strikes

Assessment of Progressivism How effective was progressivism at addressing the problems of the period? What was the impact of progressivism on the expectations of people for government? What was the impact on the relative power of the legislative and executive branches? What is the long term assessment of the impact of progressivism on the nation? To what degree do we see progressive ideas operating today?

Assessment Paradox and Irony –  Democracy and disenfranchisement  Democratic reforms – manipulation by well-financed PR campaigns  Power to people – decision-making by faceless and disconnected policy makers & “experts BUT also established ideas of role of government in promoting public welfare Connections: New Deal, Great Society, Obama