Roosevelt’s Progressive Era A move to reform

The four goals of Progressives Protect social welfare by changing some of the harsh conditions of industrialization/urbanization. Promote moral improvement through religious work and by prohibiting alcohol. Create economic reform by limiting power of corporations. Increase efficiency in industry and government through scientific principles.

Prohibition movement Alcohol causes civil corruption, domestic abuse, “unsafe sexual conduct”, poverty. The Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) led by Frances Williard, starts the move to end the sale, distribution and consumption of alcohol. Other WTCU goals: – founded kindergarten classes for immigrants – worked to improve conditions in prisons and asylums – pushed for the women’s vote Anti-Saloon League (Carry A. Nation) protests w/ hymns and prayers in bars and saloons nationwide.

Work place grassroots reform Muckrakers – journalists who exposed the corrupt practices of big businesses Upton Sinclair, “The Jungle” Ida Tarbell, accused Rockefeller of cheating his way to the top, “The Mother of Trusts” American Socialist Party – built up huge following during this time period (Eugene Debs)

Progressive Workplace Success Illinois is the first state (1893) to pass Child Labor Laws and restricts Women’s hours National Child Labor Committee is formed -- Passes Keating-Owen Act (1916) Employers have to pay family members compensation if loved one is killed on the job By 1910 it was standard for 8-hour days and minimum wage of at least $5 a day.

Progress in Industry & Technology Henry Ford uses the assembly line to create Model T – increases production, profit and pay. Concept sweeps through all industry. Electricity is used in homes and factories Street cars and Subways make urban travel easier. The Wright Brothers fly at Kitty Hawk! Photography is a mainstay in newspapers.

Economic Reform – TR’s Square Deal President Roosevelt introduces his “Square Deal” in 1902 focusing on the three “Cs” Control the Corporations Consumer Protection Conserve Natural Resources

Control Corporations Pennsylvania Coal Strike of 1902 – 140,000 workers strike, demanding 20% increase in wages, and change from 10 to 9 hour day. – Factories, schools, hospitals forced to close w/o coal. – Roosevelt, frustrated by “extraordinary stupidity and bad temper” of coal mine owners, threatens troops to run the mines. 1 st time Feds intervene vs. Corporations! Leads to the Dept. of Commerce and Labor in 1903 – Bureau of Corporations is developed w/in DCL to monitor monopolies

Controlling Railroads especially Elkins Act 1903 – penalized Railroad owners for paying “rebates” to preferred shippers Hepburn Act of 1906 – free passes for RR outlawed to discourage bribery. Interstate Commerce Commission (1 st founded in 1887) expands to regulate all RR businesses. More to come later!!!!

Consumer Protection Meat Inspection Act of 1906 Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 – Focused on “true” labeling of meat and medicine Finance security for Consumers – Financial Panic of 1907 Wall Street overspeculation (shock!) leads to a run on the banks. Aldrich-Vreeland Act is passed in 1908 to allow banks to issue “emergency” money backed by collateral. First step to the passing of the Federal Reserve Act of 1913

Conservation of Nature Newlands Act of 1902 – sale of land in Western states funded irrigation projects there, such as the Roosevelt Dam (1911). Roosevelt reserved 125 million acres to slow deforestation. Worked with John Muir and the Sierra Club to preserve natural sites such as Yosemite Park.

Political Reform Citizens given a voice in decisions with initiatives, referendums and the ability to recall a vote if an elected official is not doing an appropriate job. Call for change in state legislators choosing US Senators. National American Woman Suffrage Association forms with the help of Susan B. Anthony in 1890 and finds success in Western states such as Wyoming in terms of women voting.

Constitutional Effects of Progressive Movement Sixteenth Amendment – Seventeenth Amendment – Eighteenth Amendment – Nineteenth Amendment –