Progressivism

From The Ram’s Horn, 1896 If you could change one aspect of American life, whether it be in politics, moral beliefs, social standards of acceptance, education or the economy, law etc… WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?

Lower the drinking age Legalize Marijuana Make gun ownership illegal for non-military citizens Take speed limit away Make definite age limit for a person to be considered a minor. Raise minimum wage A symbol for the American Reform Party (see the Umbrella does work..).

The Progressivism Umbrella Progressivism touched every part of American Life. REFORM REFORM REFORM!!! The Government became active in a national and federal sense. “Public Interest” instead of “special” or “private” interest.

The Progressive Era Reform shifts from the farm to the city and climbs the ladder of government from the local to the state and then to the national level.

The Problems of the 1890’s Huge Gap between rich and poor Tremendous economic and political power of the rich Wealthy were insensitively flaunting their wealth before a poorer public

Problems of the 1890’s (cont.) Industrial workers hideously poor, living in squalor and working in dangerous conditions Jacob Riis’ How the Other Half Lives (1890) Little concern for Black America

The Power of the Pen Writers exposed the American public to corruption and injustices in politics, business and society. Because of the influence, many government reforms were enacted, and amendments were added to the Constitution. TheoriesDifferences Populism Scared Middle Class and Business Progressivism Consensus: Now possible to improve society 1.Centered in rural areas 2.Poor, uneducated 3.Considered radical ideas, like socialism 4.A failure, too radical. 1.Centered in the cities 2.Middle class – well educated 3.Political mainstream, wanted existing system to work better (moderate) 4.An overwhelming success * The Populist Party brought success to Progressivism because it exposed the corruption in business and the desperate conditions of farmers and factory workers.

Progressive Reformers

Streams of Reform The “Social Gospel” movement Settlement House Workers Americans of “Old Wealth”

Social Reform Jane Addams – Hull House Jane Addams – Hull House Ida B. Wells – anti-lynching crusade Ida B. Wells – anti-lynching crusade Carrie Chapman Catt – president League of Women Voters Carrie Chapman Catt – president League of Women Voters Ida Tarbell – expose of Standard Oil Ida Tarbell – expose of Standard Oil

Streams of Reform (cont.) Young, socially- conscious lawyers Investigative Journalists -- “Muckrakers” -- Upton Sinclair Small businessmen

Muckrakers Lincoln Steffens – political corruption & graft Lincoln Steffens – political corruption & graft John Spargo – abuses of child labor (poverty) John Spargo – abuses of child labor (poverty) Frank Norris – The Octopus RRs bad treatment of farmers Frank Norris – The Octopus RRs bad treatment of farmers Theodore Dreiser – Sister Carrie city life Theodore Dreiser – Sister Carrie city life

Jim Crow Laws

Ida B. Wells 1892 three of her good friends were murdered in Memphis, TN World wide anti- lynching campaign

W.E.B. Dubois Harvard educated professor Niagara Movement – led to NAACP Equal rights now

Plessy vs. Ferguson Fighting the lasting effects of Plessy vs. Ferguson (1896) and Jim Crow laws

4 block wide area – wiped clean

Bodies laid out in line

Result of Galveston Hurricane City Council form of government City Managers Departments with “expertise” Political machines begin to lose power

Features of Progressive Reform Desire to remedy problems through government initiative Reliance on “experts” -- Robert Lafollette’s “Wisconsin Idea” Wanted reform not revolution Stressed the importance of efficiency in reform --Frederick W. Taylor (efficiency)

LaFollette reforms “Fighting Bob” Direct primaries – public votes directly for candidates they want on the ballot Direct primaries – public votes directly for candidates they want on the ballot Initiative – citizens can introduce new legislation Initiative – citizens can introduce new legislation Referendum – citizens vote on legislation proposed Referendum – citizens vote on legislation proposed Recall – voters can vote an elected official out of office Recall – voters can vote an elected official out of office

Features of Progressive Reform (cont.) Features of Progressive Reform (cont.) Desire to make society more moral and more just Desire to make society more moral and more just Desire to distribute income more equitably Desire to distribute income more equitably Desire to broaden opportunities for individual advancement Desire to broaden opportunities for individual advancement Women were active in progressivism Women were active in progressivism

Political Reforms Political Reforms More power into the hands of the people More power into the hands of the people Innovative changes in city government Innovative changes in city government --city managers and commission model The Direct Primary The Direct Primary Initiative, Referendum and Recall Initiative, Referendum and Recall The Secret Ballot The Secret Ballot Direct Election of Senators and the Vote for Women Direct Election of Senators and the Vote for Women

“The pen (again) is mightier than the sword”

From Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle “There would be meat that had tumbled out on the floor, in the dirt and sawdust, where the workers had trampled and spit uncounted billions of germs. There would be meat stored in rooms and thousands of rats would race about it..A man could run his hand over these piles of meat and sweep handfuls of dried rat dung. These rats were nuisances, and packers would put poisoned bread out for them; they would die, and then the rats, bread, and meat would go into the hoppers together…

In 1906 Sinclair’s novel The Jungle drew outrage against the Chicago meatpacking industry for its arrogant disregard of basic health standards. This led to government regulation of food and drugs.

Teddy Roosevelt’s Reaction to The Jungle

What impact did The Jungle have on TR and what action did he take to address the issue?

Meat Inspection Act, 1906 Pure Food and Drug Act, 1906

Other workplace reforms Workman’s Compensation – MD 1902 Workman’s Compensation – MD 1902 Laws for women Laws for women Muller v Oregon Muller v Oregon Laws for children Laws for children

Politics: Presidents of the Progressive Era Teddy Roosevelt (R) William Taft (R) Woodrow Wilson (D)

T.R and Foreign Relations “Speak softly and carry a big stick” Great White Fleet -“Strenuous life”

At 42, the youngest President ever.At 42, the youngest President ever. A man of privilege – supports the common man.A man of privilege – supports the common man. The first “modern president.”The first “modern president.”

“In life, as in football, the principle to follow is: Hit the line hard” TEDDY ROOSEVELT “The Steward of the people”

First Term as President ( ) McKinley’s assassination McKinley’s assassination Offered energetic national leadership Offered energetic national leadership Cast every issue in moral and patriotic terms Cast every issue in moral and patriotic terms --The “Bully Pulpit” Master Politician Master Politician

“Trust-Buster”? – Big Business Regulation in order to get businesses to act right Regulation in order to get businesses to act right The “Square Deal” (1902) The “Square Deal” (1902) Making an example of the Northern Securities Co. Making an example of the Northern Securities Co. The Elkins Act (1903) The Elkins Act (1903)

TR’s other noteworthy accomplishments Coal Strike of 1902 – arbitration (threat of sending troops in) Coal Strike of 1902 – arbitration (threat of sending troops in) Negotiated peace in the Russo- Japanese War – won a Nobel Peace Prize Negotiated peace in the Russo- Japanese War – won a Nobel Peace Prize

TRs 2nd Term as President ( ) Hepburn Act (1906) – RRs & ICC Hepburn Act (1906) – RRs & ICC Federal Meat Inspection Act (1906) Federal Meat Inspection Act (1906) Pure Food and Drug Act (1906) Pure Food and Drug Act (1906) Conservation Policy Conservation Policy --Preservation vs. Conservation

1 st President to take actions toward conservation of the environment (Newlands Reclamation Act of 1902)

“A Tough Act to Follow”: William Howard Taft ( ) The Election of 1908 The Election of 1908 Taft’s political experience Taft’s political experience Taft’s weight Taft’s weight Not a dynamic politician Not a dynamic politician Never completely comfortable as President Never completely comfortable as President

Presidency of Taft Controversy over the Tariff Controversy over the Tariff More conservative than TR, but also more trust suits More conservative than TR, but also more trust suits The “Ballinger- Pinchot” Affair The “Ballinger- Pinchot” Affair

The Election of 1912 Republican Party - split Republican Party - split “Bull Moose” Party “Bull Moose” Party Progressive Party Platform: “New Nationalism” Progressive Party Platform: “New Nationalism” Democrats draft Woodrow Wilson Democrats draft Woodrow Wilson

Democratic Progressivism: Woodrow Wilson ( ) True progressive and dynamic speaker True progressive and dynamic speaker Sympathetic to small businessmen Sympathetic to small businessmen A stubborn, moral crusader and ideologue A stubborn, moral crusader and ideologue

“New Freedom” Recreate the “Golden Age” of small American businesses Recreate the “Golden Age” of small American businesses Open channels for free and fair competition Open channels for free and fair competition Jeffersonian approach to federal power Jeffersonian approach to federal power

Wilson’s New Freedom With a strong mandate from the American people, Wilson moved to enact his program, the “New Freedom.” He planned his attack on what he called the triple wall of privilege: trusts, tariffs, and high finance.

Clayton Anti-Trust Act 1914 Clayton Anti- Trust Act - strengthened the Sherman Act Clayton Anti- Trust Act - strengthened the Sherman Act. Had an anti-trust provision - prevented companies from acquiring stock from another company and supported workers’ unions. Had an anti-trust provision - prevented companies from acquiring stock from another company and supported workers’ unions.

Key Wilsonian Legislation Underwood Tariff Act (1913) Underwood Tariff Act (1913) Federal Reserve Act (1913) Federal Reserve Act (1913) Clayton Anti- Trust Act (1914) Clayton Anti- Trust Act (1914) Federal Trade Commission (1914) Federal Trade Commission (1914)

Federal Trade Commission Formed The FTC was formed in 1914 to serve as a “watchdog” agency to end unfair business practices. The FTC protects consumers from business fraud.

Federal Income Tax Arrives Wilson worked hard to lower tariffs, however, the lost revenue had to be made up and was when the 16 th Amendment instituted a graduated federal income tax. Wilson worked hard to lower tariffs, however, the lost revenue had to be made up and was when the 16 th Amendment instituted a graduated federal income tax.

Woodrow Wilson and the “Triple Wall of Privilege” 1. Banks 2. Tariffs 3. Trusts

Congressional Progressivism After 1914 Wilson - not a strong progressive on social reform Wilson - not a strong progressive on social reform Brandeis appointed to Supreme Court Brandeis appointed to Supreme Court Federal Highways Act (1916) Federal Highways Act (1916)

Can a person’s positive contributions to society be overshadowed by their negative attributes? "It's like writing history with lightning. And my only regret is that it is all terribly true." – Woodrow Wilson

Features of Progressive Reform Features of Progressive Reform Both political parties Both political parties Middle-class reform movement Middle-class reform movement Operated on all three levels of government Operated on all three levels of government

Social Reforms Social Reforms Job safety standards Job safety standards Standards for housing codes Standards for housing codes Food & Drug inspection Food & Drug inspection “City Beautification” “City Beautification” Immigration Restriction Immigration Restriction Little Help for Blacks Little Help for Blacks --NAACP (1909) -- “Birth of a Nation”

Feminism Key Terms Alice Paul Carrie Chapman Catt National American Women Suffrage Association 19 th Amendment

Progressive Amendments to the Constitution Progressive Amendments to the Constitution 16 th (1913)— federal income tax 16 th (1913)— federal income tax 17 th (1913)—direct election of senators 17 th (1913)—direct election of senators 18 th (1919)— prohibition 18 th (1919)— prohibition 19 th (1920)—vote for women 19 th (1920)—vote for women

The Waning of the Progressive Movement Progressive movement peaks by 1917 Progressive movement peaks by 1917 Advent of World War I hurt progressive activism Advent of World War I hurt progressive activism Progressives themselves began to weary of their reform zeal—as did the nation as a whole Progressives themselves began to weary of their reform zeal—as did the nation as a whole Ironically, voter participation steadily declined since the election of 1912 Ironically, voter participation steadily declined since the election of 1912