The Origins of Progressivism Chapter 18
Progressivism What? Why? How? Who? Various reform groups Reaction to problems of Industrialization, Urbanization, immigration How? Use the government to fix those problems Who? Middle and upper middle classes Urban dwellers Educated Women Socialists
Industrial Efficiency Economic Reform Political Reform Goals of the Progressives Moral Reform Social Reform Industrial Efficiency
Progressive Movement – 1900-1920 Continuation of the reform impulse Various groups WTCU, Anti-saloon League, Salvation Army, YMCA Repudiated individualism and laissez-faire economics Government to bring business and finance under control
Social Welfare Reform Movement Goals Poverty Exploitation of labor Slum conditions Help Children Who YMCA Salvation Army Settlement Houses Successes Provided public services Illinois Factory Act – limited working hours for children
Protecting Workers Goals Who Successes Worker safety Hours worked Children Women Who National Child Labor Committee Successes Keating Owen Act Child labor Muller v Oregon – women/10hr day Bunting v Oregon – 10hr day Workers’ compensation laws
Moral Reform Goals Who? Successes Issues Improve the individual WCTU Anti-Saloon League Cary Nation Successes Prohibition adopted by many state and local governments 18th Amendment – 1919 Issues Tensions w/immigrant population
Economic Reform Goals Who? Successes Questioned laissez-faire Fair Competition w/monopolies? Who? American Socialist Party Successes Exposure of corporate corruption through the press Regulation of meatpacking industry Railroad regulations Clayton Anti-trust Act Strengthened Sherman Anti-trust Act Exempted labor
State Reform of Big Business Goals Protect consumers Protect small businesses Who Robert M. Lafollette Successes State regulation of the railroads State regulation of business
Industrial Efficiency Goals Increase worker productivity Scientific management Who Frederick Winslow Taylor Henry Ford and Ford Motor Company Successes Assembly lines Simplified tasks “Five Dollar Day” Issues Worker boredom and burnout
Reforming Local Government Political Reform Reforming Local Government Successes Commissions and Council Managers Adopted local property taxes Public ownership of utilities Goals Limit corruption Remove ineffectual leadership
Political Reform Election Reform Goals Successes Increase citizen control Reduce corruption Patronage graft Successes Secret ballots Initiatives Referendums Recalls Direct primaries Seventeenth Amendment - Senators
Arguments Against Progressivism? Expensive Growth of government