Objective: Following the lecture on the Progressive Movement the students will use a Venn diagram to compare the accomplishments and limitations of the progressive movement in effecting social and political reforms in America.

Definition of Liberalism: Although many historians speak of a Progressive "movement," we should really think of Progressivism as an umbrella, under which a variety of reform groups and champions of liberalism gathered. So, any discussion of Progressivism should begin with the meaning of "Liberalism" at the beginning of the twentieth century: Government should be more active Social problems are susceptible to government legislation and action Throw money at the problem

Definition of Progressivism: Progressives, themselves, were never a unified group with a single objective or set of objectives. Instead, they had many different, and sometimes contradictory goals, including: End to "white slavery" (prostitution and the sweat shops) Prohibition "Americanization" of immigrants Immigration restriction legislation Anti-trust legislation Rate regulation of private utilities Full government ownership of private utilities Women's suffrage End to child labor Destruction of urban political machines Political reform

Basic Goals of Progressives Even though they were not a unified group, Progressives shared basic characteristics or beliefs: They were moralists Government, once purified, must act Believed in protecting the weakest members of society Never challenged capitalism's basic tenets

Origins of Progressive Thought and Action: Discovery" of poverty Charity movement Emancipation of Women The "Social Gospel Movement“ Social settlement movement Prominent Progressives: Theodore Roosevelt Roosevelt was a Progressive reformer who sought to move the dominant Republican Party into the Progressive camp. He distrusted wealthy businessmen and dissolved 40 monopolistic corporations as a "trust buster." He was clear, however, to show that he did not disagree with trusts and capitalism in principle but was only against their corrupt, illegal practices. His "Square Deal" promised a fair shake for both the average citizen (including regulation of railroad rates and pure foods and drugs) and the businessmen. As an outdoorsman, he promoted the conservation movement, emphasizing efficient use of natural resources. After 1906, he moved left, attacking big business and suggesting the courts were biased against labor unions.Progressivetrust busterSquare Deallabor unions Jane Addams

"Discovery" of poverty Poverty had always existed in American society, but a number of urban reformers began to call for new legislation to help the poor in the late 1870s and early 1880s.

Charity movement Prior to the late 1870s, there was no systematic method for social welfare, just individual charity groups funded by private donors. In 1877, however, reformers in Buffalo, New York, organized a citywide effort to coordinate local charities. This type of system eventually spread to other United States cities.

Emancipation of Women The 1880s saw the first generation of women--mostly white and middle- or upper-class--to graduate from college in large numbers. These women left college full of enthusiasm, but, for the most part, were shut out of professions in medicine, law, science, and business. So, they often used their energies to battle social injustices.

The "Social Gospel Movement" Up until the 1880s, most Protestant ministers had not concerned themselves with the problems of industrial society. Rapid urbanization and industrialization, however, convinced many of them to fight for social justice. The goal of the Social Gospel movement was to make Christian churches more responsive to social problems like poverty and prostitution.

Social settlement movement The social settlement movement was formed as a ministry to immigrants and the urban poor. University-educated men and women (such as Jane Addams) settled in working- class neighborhoods to try and help the poor and learn about the real world. Most settlement houses started with clubs and classes, then campaigned for housing and labor reform. As they aided people, settlement houses also tried to instill middle-class values and often had a paternalistic attitude toward the poor.

Theodore Roosevelt