Progressivism( ) Topic for Today: Who were the Progressives? How and why did the Progressive Movement seek to change America at the turn of the century? How did America respond to the cries of the progressives?

Progressivism ( ) Progress: –Advance to a better state: an improvement Progressive Era: –Period after Gilded Age in which people tried to correct the problems of society

Leaders of the Era Politics & Philosophy Business & Industry Rich Poor Middle Class Political Machines Unions Monopolies Social Darwinism

Muckrakers Investigative reporters who exposed the problems of American society –They did not offer solutions

MuckrakerContributions Body of Work Ida Tarbell Exposing the problems of Standard Oil McClures Magazine Lincoln Steffens Exposed wrongs of Political Machines McClures Book: “The Shame of the Cities” Jacob Riis Poor city life for immigrants Book: “How the other half lives” Upton Sinclair Exposed the Meat Packing Industry Book: “The Jungle”

Homework 1. Imagine you are a muckraking journalist TODAY. A magazine publisher has asked you to submit a list of story ideas for upcoming issues. What wrongdoings would you like to probe?

Politicians take action once problems exposed 1 st major politician to push for change: –Robert LaFollette –Governor of Wisconsin –Goal: Make changes at state level, then spread throughout the country

LaFollette Changes Government Reform Old Way of Doing Things (Problem) New Way of Doing Things (change) How does it help? Direct Primary Party Bosses picked candidates Voters pick candidates for office Increased Democracy Initiative Voters had no say in law- making People can propose laws to assemblies Increased Democracy Referendum Politicians could ignore voters Voters must approve major bills Increased Democracy Recall Politicians could ignore voters Remove rep from office Increased Democracy

Goal of Political Reform Improve democracy by creating MORE democracy Government officials must care about what the people want

Progressive Presidents ( ) Teddy Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, Woodrow Wilson

Teddy Roosevelt (T.R.): ( ) Hero of the Spanish-American war: “Rough Riders” President after the assassination of McKinley “Noblesse Oblige”: The rich & capable have a duty to help society and the less fortunate.

TR “We must treat each man on his worth and merits as a man. We must see that each is given a square deal, because he is entitled to no more and should receive no less. The welfare of each of us is dependent fundamentally upon the welfare of all of us.”

Square Deal: T.R.’s plan to make a better society

Corporations: TR wanted to show the people that government not Big Business ran the country Elkins Act (1903): Hepburn Act: (1906)

Consumer Protection: Goal: Protect consumers from big business and protect big business from itself Pure Food and Drug Act - prohibition on misleading labeling Meat Inspection Act (1906):

Conservation John Muir

Election of 1912 –William Howard Taft: Republican –T.R.: Bull Moose Party Political Party created by T.R. –Woodrow Wilson: Democrat Wilson WINS: only 41% of vote

Woodrow Wilson Winner of the 1912 presidential election. –“New Freedom”: Plan to continue progressive reforms –Attacks the “triple wall of privilege”

Triple Wall of Privilege Tariffs Underwood Tariff: –First lowering of tariffs since the Civil War

Trusts: Clayton Anti-Trust Act –Declared monopolies illegal –Unions, Strikes, boycotts, picketing all legal

Banks Federal Reserve –More $ available for the people if needed –Stable banks

PROGRESSIVISM CHANGES HOW DID THE PROGRESSIVES ENSURE THEIR CHANGES WOULD LAST? By Changing the Constitution

16 th Amendment Created national income tax Tax on land and tariffs reduced

17 th Amendment Direct Election of Senators Expanded Democracy

18 th Amendment Prohibition: Bans the production & sale of Alcohol Success of the Temperance Movement

19 th Amendment Woman’s Suffrage: The right to vote for women