Progressive Reform

Why Progressivism? 19 th Century Problems Disparity of Wealth Social Upheaval Increasing division among social groups Nativism and Racism Growing demand for social reform Failure of Government Institutions Unable to bring reform Serious corruption

Why Progressivism? Progressivism has mass appeal Unlike Populism Focus on emotional issues (child labor, etc.) Reforms target urban issues Primarily lead by urban middle class Extremely affluent population (wealthier than 90% of the world) Educated Available leisure time Women play a prominent role Strong political voice Motivated Influenced by popular literature/journalism “muckrakers”

Why did the middle class have so much to lose as opposed to other groups if the current system did not change?

State/Local reform Urban political machines were targets of reform Corruption led to tremendous government waste Attempt to apply scientific management to gov. State/local gov. carefully monitored spending More money now available for social programs Direct democracy put more power in the hands of voters Initiative/Referendum Recall Progressive governors brought major change at state level Bob LaFollette (Wisc) Model for national reform Hiram Johnson (CA)

Four Goals of Progressivism 1. Protect Social Welfare 2. Promote Moral Improvement 3. Create Economic Reform 4. End Government Waste/Corruption

The Progressive Era Represented a dramatic shift in government People began to look to gov. to solve their problems Rejection of unrestrained capitalism Progressives did not intend to destroy system only to increase government intervention Lead primarily by activist Presidents at national level Starting with T. Roosevelt in 1901 Brings the presidency into the modern era President more powerful than Congress

T. Roosevelt ( ) Pragmatic leader Roosevelt’s strength: his ability to control public opinion “Bully pulpit” Favored increasing regulation of business Portrayed as a “trustbuster” Immediately attacks RR trust (Northern Securities) Revival of antitrust laws 1902 Coal Miner’s Strike Worked as a mediator to bring strike to an end Added enforcement powers Elkins Act Hepburn Act Roosevelt believe in the Square Deal: Business and labor should be treated fairly by federal gov.

T. Roosevelt ( ) Favored increasing consumer protections Meat Inspection Act Prompted by Sinclair’s The Jungle Pure Food and Drug Act Advocate of conservationist policies Public land for national parks/reserves Created National Forest Service Lead by Gifford Pinchot (multiuse approach) Deeply personal issue

W. Taft ( ) Taft was Roosevelt’s appointed successor Taft was never as effective as TR Lacked TR’s charisma and forceful personality More prolific trust buster than TR but received little credit Taft was closely tied to the “old guard” of the Rep. party Passed Payne Aldrich Tariff helping business Angered Progressive factions of his party Had a falling out with TR Ballinger Pinchot controversy Lead to TR’s decision to challenge Taft in 1912

Election of 1912 Major split occurs in Republican Party “Old Guard” Republicans able to nominate Taft TR runs as a Progressive (“Bull Moose” Party) Republican majority split by third party Democrat, Wilson easily wins election Socialist Debs receives 900k votes Progressive candidates receive approx. 77% of the vote Voters clearly favored reform Wilson’s New Freedom defeats TR’s New Nationalism More strict treatment of trusts with Wilson

W. Wilson ( ) Skillful politician and uncompromising idealist as President Tariff Reform Underwood Simmons tariff lowered rates Banking Reform Modernizes the banking and currency system Federal Reserve Act Corporate regulation Establishes Federal Trade Comission Clayton Antitrust Act Worker protection laws Keating Owen Act Workmen’s Compensation Act

W. Wilson ( ) Wilson over saw the passage of four Progressive Amendments to the Constitution 16 th Amendment (1913) Allows federal income tax 17 th Amendment (1913) Direct election of Senators 18 th Amendment (1918) Prohibition 19 th Amendment (1920) Women’s Suffrage*

Where did the Progressives fall short? What’s next?