A Generation of Reformers Chapter 11, Section 1
Progressive Ideals Similar to Populists: Feared concentration of power in hands of the wealthy few Huge corporate trusts bought influence with lawmakers through campaign contributions and bribes Wanted reforms to protect the public interest.
Progressive Ideals Unlike the Populists: Populists were generally from rural areas; Progressives usually lived in cities. Wanted to reestablish order and stability to the problems in the cities (housing shortages, political corruption, rising crime rates)
Progressive Ideals Populists were all about the “average person,” but Progressives believed that knowledgeable experts could analyze and solve problems. Trained experts: analyze and conquer crime, alcoholism, political corruption Feared power of big businesses, BUT they respected the efficient methods they used.
Progressive Analysts All progressives wanted the government to help solve the problems. protect public interest, restore order to society They really differed in their beliefs, goals, and actions, though…
Progressive goals and beliefs Views differed Social, moral, political economic Government should Be more accountable Curb power of wealthy interests Improve citizens lives Become more efficient and less corrupt
Progressive Analysts: New Intellectuals Changes in higher education : college enrollment increased more than 10 times! New departments in the social sciences, like economics ( ), political science, and sociology Analyze society and try to solve problems Professo r Charles Beard - reform corrupt govt Lester Ward wrote Dynamic Sociology
Government’s Job Ward (and others) felt the government needed to step in to improve the social environment and expand options for people. Ex: Gov’t should pass laws, spend $ to improve inadequate housing situation “The true function of government is not to fetter, but to liberate the forces of society, not to diminish but to increase their effectiveness.” Do you agree or disagree???
Angry Writers The new intellectuals had a lot to say, but who would actually motivate the public to encourage gov’t action??? Muckrakers – name given to writers who combined careful research, vivid writing, and intense moral outrage to impact the public Wrote long, investigative articles for popular magazines
Muckrakers
Angry Writers Muckrakers attacked: Wealthy corporations that exploited child labor Corrupt police departments that protected prostitution rings Prestigious churches that owned disease- ridden tenements
Angry Writers: Examples Ida Tarbell Wrote articles about the rise of Standard Oil Company Exposed ruthless methods of John D. Rockefeller to crush his competition Can we say “robber baron”???
Angry Writers: Examples Upton Sinclair Grew up in near-poverty in Baltimore Father was a salesperson and suffered from alcoholism He wrote novels about a courageous individual fighting against social injustice A newspaper hired him to write a novel about worker exploitation.
Angry Writers: Examples Upton Sinclair He went and lived among stockyard workers of Chicago for 7 weeks Sat in their homes at night, talked with them, and they showed him everything he wanted to see. Wrote The Jungle About a Lithuanian immigrant who worked in the meatpacking industry
Angry Writers: Examples Upton Sinclair He wanted to arouse sympathy for the common laborer. But his graphic descriptions sparked reaction to the meat industry itself. He said, “I aimed at the public’s heart, and by accident I hit it in the stomach.” You will get to read excerpts from this!
Angry Writers What did they want to accomplish? A just and orderly society where workers receive adequate wages and consumers would purchase healthful food. Needed to awaken the people to the growing social, economic, and political evils and inequities
Progressive reform Organizations Social Gospel movement: Christians who felt the church should improve life on the earth rather than just getting people into heaven.
Religious Reformers Walter Rauschenbusch Minister of a German Baptist church in NYC neighborhood called Hell’s Kitchen Unemployment, alcoholism, and despair Turned to the Bible and his faith for proper response: Every Christian should strive to better economic and political conditions Blamed fierce competition for social problems
Progressive Activists Many of those we talked about did not just write or talk about the problems – they also took action. Upton Sinclair ran for Congress 3 times and for governor of California once. Rauchenbusch helped his parish members cope with their problems. More influential as analysts identifying and publicizing problems than as activists who solved them, though.
Progressive Activists: Concerned Women Women were particularly outraged about problems of children working in factories. Florence Kelley was a leader in the battle against child labor. Father was member of House of Rep., supported women’s right to vote, opposed slavery. Valued education, attended Cornell University then grad school in Switzerland.
Progressive Activists: Concerned Women Florence Kelley Worked at Jane Addam’s Hull House for 7 years, passionately investigating and reporting on child labor. “Children are found in greatest number where the conditions of labor are most dangerous to life and health.” Tobacco industry – suffered nicotine poisoning Paint factories – breathed in toxic arsenic fumes Clothing factories – spinal curvature from hunching over sewing machines
Progressive Activists: Concerned Women Florence Kelley Pressed federal government to outlaw child labor. Became secretary of the National Consumers League (NCL) Helped organize consumer boycotts of goods made by children or by workers in unsanitary/dangerous conditions. Mother Jones- Marry Harris Jones Helped found union IWW
Progressive Activists: National Consumers League Mostly middle or upper-class women concerned about problems like child labor. Supported work of settlement houses – institutions that provided educational and social services to poor (like Hull House). 400 established between Active in clubs promoting arts, education, and community health. Women taking more active role but were not always supported by male progressives.
Progressive Activists: African Americans Racism made unemployment and inadequate housing even worse for African Americans. Factory owners would only hire them as strikebreakers Could only live in certain areas that were overcrowded Even most white progressives held racist beliefs.
Progressive Activists: African Americans State governments passed laws designed to restrict African Americans to a secondary role in society. More than any other period in American history. Lynching was most dangerous problem Murder by mob with no trial African Americans working for reform felt outside the Progressive movement.
Progressive Activists: African Americans Ida B. Wells led anti-lynching movement Born to enslaved parents who emphasized education. Parents died when she was 14 – she was left with 5 younger siblings to care for. Lied about her age to get a teaching job Began writing for Memphis newspaper
Progressive Activists: African Americans Ida B. Wells Became controversial advocate of equality for African Americans Refused to move to a segregated train car and was forcefully dragged out of her seat.
Progressive Activists: African Americans Ida B. Wells Night of March 9, 1892: 3 African American men were lynched by an angry mob of white men in Memphis. She wrote a scathing editorial attacking this crime. Moved to Chicago and launched anti-lynching campaign Wrote articles, gave speeches, carried out investigations In 3 years, lynching was down by a quarter
Progressive Activists: African Americans NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) formed in 1909 National Urban League formed in 1910 Both worked to help African Americans improve living conditions.
Progressive Activists Big Ideas: The progressives aimed to reform the political structure, modify economic system, improve moral climate of communities. These activists awakened the public to pressure the government to respond.