The Progressive Movement Part I. The Origins of the Movement

Theme of this Lecture By the late 19 th century, the U.S. had fulfilled its Manifest Destiny  spread from Atlantic to Pacific It had become a major industrial power and a wealthy nation Wealth creation had been allowed willy-nilly. Some of the impacts did not match with American ideals (equality, liberty, democracy, opportunity, rights) Progressives looked for ways to restore these ideals to the ‘little guy’

Basic Problems of the Gilded Age: poor working conditions unfair labor practices political corruption environmental destruction monopolies discrimination and legal segregation for women, African Americans, and immigrants unstable economy social divide between rich and poor

Causes of Problems: Industrialization Immigration Urbanization Bank Instability Lack of Government Regulation

A Definition Why this name? –The Progressives wanted change –To some Americans, change was bad For example, the factory owners thought that new business practices, say safety regulations (lots of fire exits, for example) might be a drain on their profitability –The Progressive’s name made the point that change was… you guessed it… Progress!

Origins of Progressivism : In the mid 1800s, some private groups (not the government!) started to try to solve some of the problems of the Gilded Age –The Social Gospel Movement was a religious movement, inspired by the idea that helping the poor and oppressed was a way into heaven Followers of this movement set up Settlement Houses- places in urban slums where services were provided (think  homeless shelters) –The YMCA and the Salvation Army are surviving examples of Settlement Houses

Origins of Progressivism (cont.): Also in the mid 1800s, a group of farmers, angry at bad conditions, formed a political party known as the Populist (aka People’s) party –This party, managed to gain 10% of the national presidential vote –As a result, the major political parties adopted many of the Populist policies to win these votes Although the Populist Party eventually died out, it demonstrated that united effort by the people could cause change

investigative reporters attempting to uncover corruption in American society primarily wrote articles for newspapers, magazines, and journals some published entire books Focused on raking ‘the muck’ of society and making it public knowledge. Originally considered a negative term Later, these journalists helped inspire others to fight for progressive change – including President Teddy Roosevelt. Uncovering the Problems The Muckrakers

Famous Muckrakers: Ida Tarbell (focused on monopolies like Rockefeller’s Oil Monopoly) Lincoln Steffens (focused on government corruption like political machines) Upton Sinclair (focused on immigrant’s experience)

What Muck did they rake? Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle –Conditions in meatpacking plants were horrible –There was a need for regulation The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire –Thousands of immigrant women were burned to death in a building without sufficient safety features –Again.. A need for regulation

The Jungle

The Progressive Movement Part II. Successes and Failures of Progressivism

Women’s Rights Problems Can’t vote or hold office Not admitted to colleges Victorian ideals –Women must be proper and lady-like at all times

Women’s Rights Solutions Women’s suffrage movement –Suffrage = the right to vote –Seneca Falls Convention  1848  women pledge to work for their rights –Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton Oppositions from liquor store owners (women favored prohibition), factory owners (women were against child-labor), and men (who like their privileges ) Some women were radicals  burned down houses, spit on police, etc. Pre- WWI  some states (Wyoming) granted women the right to vote, but no national right to vote

Teddy Roosevelt President who Supported Progressive reforms Thought president could use the bully pulpit to win reforms –Bully pulpit- president’s voice is loud and influential  could be used from a pulpit (a place to speak to a crowd) to intimidate the Robber Barons into changing their ways

Teddy Roosevelt (cont.) Promised Americans a ‘square deal’ Trustbuster – broke up more trusts than previous presidents Sided with workers in a mine strike –When mine owners wouldn’t compromise, TR threatened to use the army to take over the mines First ‘conservationist’ president  set aside lands for ‘the people’

Health Reforms Problems The Jungle Solutions Meat Inspection Act Food and Drug Administration

Monopolies and Trusts Problem Not enough competition Leads to high prices for consumers Solutions Sherman Anti Trust Act and later Clayton Act –Gov can break up monopolies Federal Trade Commission (FTC) set up as a trust ‘watchdog’ –Can warn companies when they are getting too big and are in danger of being broken up

Banks Problems Unregulated banks can collapse  cause financial panics Solutions Federal Reserve –Bank of the banks –Can loan money to banks to prevent collapses –Can make rules for banks (for example, you can only loan out so much money)

End of the Progressive Era World War I ( ) turned America’s attention away from Progressivism

HansenName _______________ U.S. History Period _______ Lecture Guide The Progressive Movement Part I. The Origins of the Movement Theme of this Lecture By the late 19 th century, the U.S. had fulfilled _____________________  spread from ______________ to ____________ It had become a ____________________________ and a wealthy nation Wealth creation had been allowed ______________. Some of the impacts did not match with _________________________ (equality, liberty, democracy, opportunity, rights) Progressives looked for ways to restore these ideals to the ‘__________’ Basic Problems of the Gilded Age poor working conditions ____________________________________ political corruption environmental destruction ______________________________ discrimination and legal segregation for women, African Americans, and immigrants _____________________________ social divide between ______________________- Causes of the Problems _______________________ Immigration Urbanization _______________________ Lack of Government Regulation A Definition Why this name? –The Progressives wanted ______________ –To some Americans, __________________________ For example, the factory owners thought that new business practices, say _________________ (lots of fire exits, for example) might be a drain on their profitability –The Progressive’s name made the point that change was… you guessed it… ________________________ Origins of Progressivism In the mid 1800s, some private groups (_________________________!) started to try to solve some of the problems of _____________________ –The Social Gospel Movement was a ________________ movement, inspired by the idea that helping the poor and oppressed was ______________________________________ Followers of this movement set up _________________- places in urban slums where ______________________ (think  homeless shelters) –The _________ and the __________________ are surviving examples of Settlement Houses Origins of Progressivism (cont.) Also in the mid 1800s, a group of ______, angry at bad conditions, formed a political party known as __________(aka People’s) _____ –This party, managed to gain _______ of the national _________________________________ –As a result, the major political parties ___________many of the Populist policies to ____________________________ Although the Populist Party eventually ___________, it demonstrated that united effort by the people __________________ Uncovering the Problems The Muckrakers –________________________ attempting to uncover ____________ in American society – primarily wrote _____________for newspapers, magazines, and journals – some published entire ____________ –Focused on raking ‘the muck’ of society and making it ___________________________________. –Originally considered a __________________. Later, these –journalists helped inspire others to fight for progressive –change – including President ________________________. What Muck did they rake? –Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle Conditions in _____________________were horrible There was a need for ________________ –The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire Thousands of __________________ were burned to death in a building without sufficient ______________ Again.. A need for ___________________ Part II. Successes and Failures of Progressivism Women’s Rights Problems –_______________________________________________ –Not admitted to colleges –__________________________ Women must be proper and lady-like at all times

Solutions –Women’s suffrage movement Suffrage = ____________________________ Seneca Falls Convention  1848  women __________ _____________________________________________ _______________________and Elizabeth Cady Stanton –Oppositions from ______________________owners (women favored prohibition), ______ owners (women were against child- labor), and ________________ (who like their privileges) –Some women were _________  burned down houses, spit on police, etc. –Pre- WWI  some states (____________) granted women the right to vote, but no _______________________________ Teddy Roosevelt President who ____________________________________________ Thought president could use the ___________________to win reforms –Bully pulpit- president’s voice is loud and influential  could be used from a pulpit (a place to speak to a crowd) to ________________________ ____________________ into changing their ways Promised Americans _________________________ ___________________– broke up more trusts than previous presidents Sided with workers in a mine strike –When mine owners wouldn’t compromise, TR threatened to _________ ________________________________________________________ First ___________________ president  set aside lands for ‘the people’ Health Reforms Problems –_____________________ Solutions –______________________________ –Food and Drug Administration Monopolies and Trusts Problem –_________________________________________ –Leads to high _____________ for consumers Solutions –Sherman Anti Trust Act and later __________________________ Gov can break up monopolies –Federal Trade Commission (FTC) set up as a trust ‘___________’ Can warn companies when they are getting _________ and are in danger of being ___________________ Banks Problems –Unregulated banks can collapse  cause ___________________ Solutions –Federal Reserve ____________ of the banks Can ________________ to banks to prevent collapses Can make _________________(for example, you can only loan out so much money) End of the Progressive Era _____________________ ( ) turned America’s attention away from Progressivism