The Progressive Movement 

Progressivism Definition: Collection of different ideas and activities to deal with fixing problems believed to be plaguing American society. Progressives- reform-minded people who thought government should get involved with fixing problems created by laissez-faire economics and an unregulated market.

Muckrakers  Crusading journalists who investigated social conditions and political corruption. Magazines like McClure’s, Collier’s, and Munsey would compete to expose the most corruption.

Famous journalists included Jacob Riis and Upton Sinclair. Sinclair exposed unsanitary conditions in the meat production business in his book, The Jungle. Riis exposed the conditions in urban tenement slums in his published photo collection, How the Other Half Lives.

Riis photograph samples of tenement life.

Images from the meat packing industry.

Articles of muckrakers led to a general public debate on economic and social problems. Put pressure on politicians to introduce reforms.

Four Goals of the Progressive Reform Movement Protecting social welfare. Promoting moral improvement. Creating economic reform. Fostering efficiency.

Government Efficiency Government too inefficient for some progressives. Believed in application of scientific management. Applying business method to government. Managing a modern city required experts, not politicians.

Commission Plan City government divided into several departments. Each department under control of an expert commissioner. The commissioner would hire the specialists to run city departments. Commission Form- Voters elect Board of Commissioners, i.e. police, finance, fire, public works, etc. Board carries out policies, passes ordinances, and controls funds.

Democracy and Progressivism Progressive policies in Wisconsin became widespread leading to election reforms. Governor Robert La Follette of Wisconsin reformed political conventions

La Follette pressured state legislature to require each party to hold a direct primary. direct primary- all party members vote for a candidate to run in the general election. Ended party bosses’ control of convention delegates who in turn elected the candidate.

Other Democratic Reforms Other states including California followed with electoral reforms. Initiative- allowed a group of citizens to introduce legislation that required legislature to vote on it. Referendum- allowed proposed legislation to be submitted to the voters for approval. Recall- allowed voters to demand a special election to remove an elected official from office before his or her term had expired.

Direct Election of Senators To end political machine control, Progressives pushed for direct election of senators by the people, not the state legislature. 1912, Congress passed a direct-election amendment. 1913, the Seventeenth Amendment to the Constitution ratified.

The Suffrage Movement Women’s suffrage movement was slow at first due to the leadership split into two parties.

The National Woman Suffrage Association (NWSA) led by Susan B The National Woman Suffrage Association (NWSA) led by Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. The American Woman Suffrage Association (AWSA) led by Lucy Stanton and Julia Ward Howe. Susan B. Anthony

NWSA focused on passing a constitutional amendment allowing women’s suffrage nationally. AWSA focused on all states to pass suffrage first before pushing for a constitutional amendment.

In 1890 the two groups joined forces to form the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA).

The suffrage movement grew through a combination of reform-minded activities. By 1912, some states gave full voting rights to women, mainly in the western states. In 1913, on the eve of Woodrow Wilson’s inauguration, women marched in Washington D.C. to draw attention to their cause.

Alice Paul and the National Women’s Party Alice Paul, head of NAWSA’s congressional committee, was set on challenging President Wilson directly. Paul was jailed three times for protests she organized and took part in. When NAWSA leaders became upset with her, Paul formed the National Women’s Party

1915, head of NAWSA Carrie Chapman Catt, called on her supporters to back Wilson in the 1916 election. Wilson did not push for a suffrage amendment once re-elected. He did support the Democratic Party’s call for suffrage to be passed state by state.

1918, the House of Representatives passes a suffrage bill through the house. The bill fails to pass in the Senate by two votes. During 1918 midterm elections, NAWSA uses its resources to defeat two anti-suffrage senators.

The 19th Amendment June 1919, Senate narrowly passes a suffrage amendment. The 19th Amendment is ratified by 3/4 of the state legislatures on August 20, 1920, giving full voting rights to women for the first time since the country’s birth in 1776.

Social Welfare Reforms

Reforming Child Labor Reformers established the National Child Labor Committee in 1904 to work to abolish child labor.

Muckraker John Spargo wrote The Bitter Cry. It presented detailed evidence of the conditions of child labor. Reports and reform movements convinced state legislatures to pass child labor laws. laws included minimum age requirements for employment and maximum hours a child could work.

Many states passed compulsory education laws requiring young children to be in school.

Health and Safety Codes Coal mines, railroads, and sweatshops all dangerous places to work.

1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Co. fire in New York City kills 150 women. Doors locked from the outside with no fire escape. Forced city government to pass strict safety building codes.

Progressives around the country pushed for building codes and zoning laws. Set minimum standards for light, air, room size, sanitation, and requirement for fire escapes.

Health codes required at restaurants and other food facilities to maintain clean environments.

Laws also established injury funds financed by employers in case of injury on the job. Also known as worker’s compensation.

Prohibition Movement Many Christian progressives felt alcohol consumption responsible for problems in American life.

The temperance movement advocated for elimination or moderation of alcohol sales. Pushed for prohibition or laws meant to eliminate the sale of alcohol.