The Progressive Era

Goal Change the political and economic injustices that had resulted from America’s rapid industrialization Move away from laissez faire and towards government regulations to prevent abuses

Roots Reform tradition Legacy of Populism Problems of Industrial Society Influence of the Middle Class Social Gospel Movement New Forms of Journalism Rising Consumer Consciousness Socialism, Anarchism, Communism Support of Women and Worker

Reform Tradition/ Legacy of Populism Abolitionist Populist (farmers) Populist farmers gave progressives strong rural support

Problems of Industrial Society Brutal working conditions Child labor Political corruption Overcrowding Environmental abuse Inequality of wealth Sale of dangerous products Laissez faire-failed to combat these problems

Influence of the Middle Class Populism was rural but progressivism was national Believed rise of big business, organized labor and political machines had closed the door to individual opportunity

Social Gospel Rooted in religious views of helping the poor Salvation Army/YMCA Promoted temperence

Journalism Newspapers reached a larger populations Made money by advertisement Advertisers pay more if a lot of people read the newspaper People liked investigative journalism- corruption stories were very popular

Consumers Because industry produced large amounts of food for the whole country, progressives believed government intervention was needed to police the market for public safety

Ideologies Communism, anarchism, socialism Progressives rejected these ideas but did believe in moderate reform being necessary

Support of Women and Workers Progressives favored suffrage (women’s right to vote)

Early Progrssives Non-governmental organizations such as churches, settlements, and newspapers played just as a vital role as government Remember the power of the vote

Muckrakers Writers who exposed the abuses and corruption of industrial society Muck=dirt Ex. Upton Sinclair, Thomas Nast, Jacob Riis

Social Reformers Jane Addams-ran a “settlement house” in Chicago Settlement houses-provided services to immigrants and the urban poor 1.English classes 2.Childcare 3.Nursing of the sick 4.Citizenship help up to 400 settlement houses in US

Other groups NAACP-National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Anti-Defamation League-opposed anti- Semitism and religious prejudice

Municipal Reform Municipal-city level government Progressives moved against machines and gathered votes Reformers expanded city services by using money not going into “boss’s pockets” Started new forms of city government like city commission or city manager, weakening the power of one single person

State Reform Robert La Follette-governor of Wisconsin fought railroads and regulated them Thoedore Roosevelt-NY Woodrow Wilson-NJ

Political Reforms Secret Ballot Initiative Referendum Recall Direct Primary Direct Election of Senators (17 th Amendment) Women’s Suffrage

Social and Economic Reforms Triangle Shirtwaist Factory-safety Supreme Court Cases: Lochner vs NY, Muller vs. Oregon

Four Women Reformers Susan B. Anthony Florence Kelley Carrie Chapman Catt Alice Paul

Susan B Anthony Published “The Revolution”-weekly journal for women’s rights Co-founded NWSA (National Women Suffrage Association)

Florence Kelley Fought for 8 hour workday, and factory conditions Persuaded the courts to limit women’s workday hours

Carrie Chapman Catt Founded League of Women Voters

Alice Paul Led protest group for voting rights Proposed “Equal Rights Amendment”-

The Progressive Presidents From progressive presidents were elected Theodore Roosevelt William Howard Taft Woodrow Wilson

Theodore Roosevelt Became leader of army unit “Rough Riders”, fought in Cuba during the Spanish American War Became very popular and was elected governor of NY 1899 Political bosses hate him, wanted him to be out of NY and nominated him to be vice-president In 1901 President McKinley was assassinated and he became president at 42

Believed the president was the steward (manager) of the people Made “Square Deal”-equal opportunity, conserve natural resources Coal Strike of 1902 “Trust Buster” Meat Inspection Act (“Jungle” influenced) Pure Food and Drug Act- warning and nutritional labels

Regulated railroad prices Regulated telephone and telegraph rates Stopped the sale of 1.5 million acres for use as national parks (National Conservation Commission)

William Howard Taft Proposed income tax (16 th amendment) Workman’s compensation for railroad employees

Bull Moose Party 1912 Progressive Party nickname-nominated Roosevelt again Wanted direct election of US Senators 8hr workday, women’s suffrage, recall In election all candidates-TR,WHT,WW,ED were progressives Division of supporters of Taft and Roosevelt led to Democrats winning the Election

Woodrow Wilson “New Freedom”-tame big business and increase competition Underwood Tariff of 1913-tariffs were taken advantage of by US businesses, Wilson lowered tariffs by 25% Graduated Income Tax-tax based on how much money you make Federal Reserve Act

Clayton Antitrust Act Federal Trade Commission Act 8 hour workday for railroad workers No child labor (later ruled unconstitutional)

Florida William Sherman Jennings May Mann Jennings Napoleon Bonaparte Broward

End World War I started