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.

I. 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

I. 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

II. Progressive Reformers

A. Streams of Reform The “Social Gospel” movement --Walter Rauschenbusch: Christianity and the Social Crisis (1907) Settlement House Workers --Jane Addams, Hull House in Chicago (1889) Americans of “Old Wealth”

A. Streams of Reform (cont.) Young, socially-conscious lawyers Investigative Journalists -- “Muckrakers” --Lincoln Steffens, Ida Tarbell, and Upton Sinclair Small businessmen

B. 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

B. Features of Progressive Reform (cont.) Want to bring order out of chaos --Creation of NCAA in 1910 --Federal Budget (1921) Desire to make politics more democratic Desire to make businessmen more responsible for problems

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

B. Features of Progressive Reform (cont.) Infiltrated both political parties -- Republican “insurgents” Middle-class reform movement Operated on all three levels of government

III. Sample Progressive Reforms

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

B. Social Reforms Child labor laws Ten-hour work days --The “Brandeis brief” --Muller v. Oregon (1908) --Bunting v. Oregon (1917) Prohibition initiatives Moral Purity campaigns --Mann Act (1910)

B. Social Reforms (cont.) Minimum safety standards on the job Minimum standards for housing codes “City Beautification” movement Immigration Restriction Eugenics --Buck v. Bell (1927) Little Help for Blacks --NAACP (1909) -- “Birth of a Nation”

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

V. Presidential Progressivism: Theodore Roosevelt Great drive, energy and exciting personality TR’s interests and early years NYC police commissioner Spanish-American War experience -- “Rough Riders” Political Rise from NY Governor to Vice-President

A. First Term as President (1901-1904) McKinley’s assassination Offered energetic national leadership Cast every issue in moral and patriotic terms --The “Bully Pulpit” Master Politician Modest goals for his “accidental” presidency

B. “Trust-Buster”? TR’s attitude toward Big Business Wants to regulate in order to get businesses to act right The “Square Deal” (1902) Making an example of the Northern Securities Co. The Elkins Act (1903) and the Bureau of Corporations

C. Second Term as President (1905-1909) More vigorous progressivism Hepburn Act (1906) Federal Meat Inspection Act (1906) Pure Food and Drug Act (1906) Conservation Policy --Preservation vs. Conservation

VI. “A Tough Act to Follow”: The Presidency of William Howard Taft (1909-1913) The Election of 1908 Taft’s political experience Taft’s weight Not a dynamic politician Never completely comfortable as President

VI. Presidency of Taft (cont.) Controversy over the Tariff More conservative than TR, but also more trust suits The “Ballinger-Pinchot” Affair Growing tension with Teddy Roosevelt

VII. The Election of 1912 Growing split within the Republican Party Creation of the “Bull Moose” Party Progressive Party Platform: “New Nationalism” Democrats drafted Woodrow Wilson Results of the Election

The Republican Party & President William H. Taft

Republican Party Platform High import tariffs. Put limitations on female and child labor. Workman’s Compensation Laws. Against initiative, referendum, and recall. Against “bad” trusts. Creation of a Federal Trade Commission. Stay on the gold standard. Conservation of natural resources because they are finite.

The Progressive Party & Former President Theodore Roosevelt People should rise above their sectarian interests to promote the general good.

Theodore Roosevelt at Osawatomie, KS: New Nationalism Big business requires big government.

Progressive Party Platform Women’s suffrage. Graduated income tax. Inheritance tax for the rich. Lower tariffs. Limits on campaign spending. Currency reform. Minimum wage laws. Social insurance. Abolition of child labor. Workmen’s compensation. N e w N a t i o n a l i s m

The Socialist Party & Eugene V. Debs The issue is Socialism versus Capitalism. I am for Socialism because I am for humanity.

Growth of the Socialist Vote Year Socialist Party Socialist Labor Party Total 1888   2,068 1890 13,704 1892 21,512 1894 30,020 1896 36,275 36,274 1898 82,204 1900 96,931 33,405 130,336 1902 223,494 53,763 277,257 1904 408,230 33,546 441,776 1906 331,043 20,265 351,308 1908 424,488 14,021 438,509 1910 607,674 34,115 641,789 1912 901,873

Socialist Party Platform Government ownership of railroads and utilities. Guaranteed income tax. No tariffs. 8-hour work day. Better housing. Government inspection of factories. Women’s suffrage.

The Democratic Party & Governor Woodrow Wilson (NJ) Could he rescue the Democratic Party from “Bryanism”??

Democratic Party Platform Government control of the monopolies  trusts in general were bad  eliminate them!! Tariff reduction. One-term President. Direct election of Senators. Create a Department of Labor. Strengthen the Sherman Anti-Trust Act. Did NOT support women’s suffrage. Opposed to a central bank. Ne w F r e e d o m

VIII. Democratic Progressivism: The Presidency of Woodrow Wilson (1913-1921) Wilson’s early life and political career True progressive and dynamic speaker Sympathetic to small businessmen Could be a stubborn, moral crusader and ideologue

Background Idealistic, intelligents, righteous, inflexible Believed the president should actively lead congress – Chief Executive should play a dynamic role Excellent speaker – “born ½ way between bible and dictionary” Virginia (Civil War era) – 2nd democrat in presidency since Cleveland Professor (Princeton) Governor of NJ - reformer

A. “New Freedom” Wilson’s brand of progressivism Wants to recreate the “golden age” of small American businesses Wilson wants to open channels for free and fair competition – revive competition through small business Limit big business and gig government – reform to end corruption CAN have big business – NO TRUSTs Historic Jeffersonian approach to federal power

Wilson’s Assault on the Triple Wall of Privilege TARIFF - Too high TRUSTS – Trusts are artificially created- a deliberate practice by greedy individuals. Eliminate man made laws that allow trusts and replace with natural laws of fair competition BANKS – Need a central agency to monitor distribution of funds Wanted to bring stability and flexibility to the US financial system and elasticity of currency.

B. Key Wilsonian Legislation Underwood Tariff Act (1913) – lowered 1st time in 50 years – 41%-29% Federal Reserve Act (1913) – National bank with 12 district banks supervised by Fed. Res. Bd. Distribute currency – FLEXIBLE $ SUPPLY Clayton Anti-Trust Act (1914) – Strengthened Sherman – Supported Labor by exempting Unions & Agriculture from prosecution as a ‘trust’. Legalizes strikes and peaceful picketing Federal Trade Commission (1914) – regulatory commission to investigate unfair business practices in every industry except banking and transportation

C. Congressional Progressivism After 1914 Wilson was not a strong progressive when it came to social reform Congress takes over the progressive agenda Appointment of Brandeis to Supreme Court Examples of congressional progressive legislation after 1914 --Federal Highways Act (1916)

Other Legislation 16th Amendment (1913) – Graduated income tax - $3000.00+ (replaces lost revenue from lower tariff) 17th Amendment (1913) – Direct popular vote of senators Federal Trade Commission (1914) – investigate unfair business practices – false advertising, mislabeling, bribe Federal Farm Loan Act (1916) – credit at low interest rates Child Labor Act (1916) – prohibited shipment of goods manufactured by children under 14 years Warehouse Act (1916) – Authorized loans on security of staple crops LaFollette Seaman’s Act (1915) – decent treatment and living wage for US Merchant marine Workmen’s Compensation (1916) – Assistance to Fed. Civil Service employees during disability Adamson Act (1916) – 8 hour workday for rail workers and overtime pay

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

Failure of Progressivism Didn’t help blacks (Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois) Escalation of segregation and discrimination Women’s Suffrage – not until 1920 with 19th amendment Prohibition – 19th Amendment (1919)

The Key Issues

Up Against the Hurdles

As Big As a Balloon Tariff Reform

Conservation Issue: The Ballinger- Pinchot Controversy

The Unanswerable Argument for Suffrage

Taft Abandons Support for Women’s Suffrage Never Again! Taft Abandons Support for Women’s Suffrage

TR & Women’s Suffrage: The Militant Recruit

Woman Suffrage Before 1920

Songs of the Sunny South

Lynching & the Race Issue

Trying to Catch the Colored Vote

Mr. Lewis Gets His Share

The Results

An Actual 1912 Ballot

Election Results By 1912, 100,000 fewer people had voted for Wilson than had voted for Bryan in 1908. The 1912 election marked the apogee of the Socialist movement in America.

Oh, That This Too, Too Solid South Would Melt!

GOP Divided by Bull Moose Equals Democratic Victory!

On Uncle Sam’s Farm The Democratic party took control of the Senate for the first time in 20 years.

The GOP: An Extinct Animal?