Chapter 21 The Progressive Era

Background: Mugwumps-supporters of government reform Provides idea for good government and reform to change society for the better

Features of Progressivism: *Democracy How to get people more involved in the process of government *Efficiency/Knowledge Taylorism inspires a look at how to streamline gov. & society

*Social Improvement Everything is based on the assumption that society can be improved *Anti-Monopoly Progressives feel monopolies are bad for the country

Social Gospel Mix of social responsibility and religion “Am I my brother’s keeper?”

Walter Rauschenbusch

Nature vs. Nurture

Settlement House Movement

Jane Addams

Hull House 1889

Helps immigrants learn the language and customs Often staffed by educated women of the middle or upper class Helps bring about the Social worker

Settlement House in New York

Eleanor Roosevelt

MUCKRAKERS

Jacob Riis How the Other half Lives

Home of an Italian Rag Picker

Mullen’s Alley

Bandit’s Roost Mulberry Street

5 cent Lodging Bayard St

Basement Pub 3:00 am Mulberry St

A plank for a bed

Women’s lodging room W. 47 th St

What boys learn on their street playground

Mulberry Bend

Peddler in the Cellar Ludlow St

Ida Tarbell

Lincoln Steffens The Shame of Cities

Upton Sinclair

Published 1906

By end of 19 th century an increase in administrative and professional occupations

New middle class puts high value on education Want standards set for professionals

1901 American Medical Association By /3 of doctors members

1916 Bar Association

Businessmen set up the Chamber of Commerce

These organizations not only set standards but keep out Blacks, Women and Immigrants

Women & Professions *1900 5% of doctors are female

*Teaching – 2/3 of all teachers 90% of all professional women *Social work *nursing *librarian

Progressives and government How to make government more responsive to the people and take control from political machines?

*Secret ballot *Initiative *Referendum *Recall *Direct Primary *City Manager

The most Progressive state in the country is: Wisconsin Have worker’s comp, regulations on workplace, and inheritance tax

Robert La Follette

Part of the result of attacks on party and machines plus the success of various Progressive groups is the rise of the special interest group

Women and Reform

Changes in lives of women of middleclass *children starting school earlier *Tech makes housework easier *may have domestic help *had fewer children Have time to get involved

Women’s Clubs Start as social/cultural organizations Become interested in social betterment

Because they are upper and middle class have funds for the group Because women can’t vote it is seen as nonpolitical

Much work is noncontroversial: Plant tress, support schools & libraries, raise money for hospital and parks

Also work for ‘nurturing’ issues: Child labor Better working conditions Pension for widows and orphans

Some educated women stay single 10% of American women did not marry

Women’s Suffrage Women claim same natural rights as men Other say women have a “special sphere” as wife and mother-shouldn’t vote

Supporters claim that this “special sphere” will be useful Gives women a unique view point Will help with temperance and ending war

Anti-suffrage people link the movement to divorce, neglect of children and promiscuity

ational merican oman uffrage ssociation NAWSA

Carrie Chapman Catt

Alice Paul

Susan B. Anthony

Emily Davidson Derby

1920 – 19 th Amendment ratified Women have the right to vote

African Americans and reform

Booker T. Washington

Atlanta Compromise: Work for immediate improvement not far off social change

W.E.B. DuBois

Feels Washington’s approach encourages whites to impose segregation Get an education Become a professional Fight for immediate civil rights

Niagara Movement – NAACP founded

Temperance Movement Who supports it: *women *businessmen *Political reformers

1873 Women’s Christian Temperance Movement Union

Carry A. Nation

Daddy's in there. Our shoes, and stockings and clothes and food are in there, too, and they'll never come out.“

By states have passed prohibition laws Moral fervor from WWI, Progressives and rural fundamentalist team up 18 th Amendment starts Jan 1920

Socialism Growth in party ,000 votes ,000,000 votes

All agree there must be economic change but can’t agree on what kind or how

Eugene V. Debs

Industrial Workers of the World

‘Big Bill’ Haywood

Wobblies want: *single union for all workers *abolition of Slave wage system *rejection of political action in favor of general strike

" Shall you kneel in deep submission, from your cradle to your grave? Is the height of your ambition to be a good and willing slave?" Joe Hill

Louis Brandeis Other People’s Money