1. Chapter 28: Progressivism and the Republican Roosevelt, 1901 – 1912 p. 656-677

2. Progressive Presidents 3 Progressive Presidents at beginning of 20 th c. – Theodore Roosevelt – William Howard Taft – Woodrow Wilson Each uses his own agenda to push through reforms that aim to: – Curb the power of big business – Restore the power of the gov’t – Bring the gov’t closer to the people – Improve the lives of American citizens (health, education, labor, equality, and economic issues) – Prevent SOCIALISM!

3. Progressive Presidents Each also brings to the presidency a particular brand of foreign policy that is also Progressive in nature: – TR: Big Stick Diplomacy Show off American might (big navyism), prove to others that we are world power; speak softly, but carry a big stick – WHT: Dollar Diplomacy Use American $ to ward off enemies in foreign nations, make weaker nations US friendly, dominate world economy – WW: Moral Diplomacy Shape the rest of the world in the eyes of the US; “Make the world safe for democracy”

4. TR: My Fave. From a wealthy and politically powerful NY family who should have been a staunch, big-business supporting R Grew up sickly but overcame through tough exercise regimen Quit a cushy gov’t position to lead the Rough Riders during the Spanish-American War Returned to politics in NY to become governor after the war Becomes “un-R” like and starts pushing for reform of monopolies/big-business abuses in NY state R party leaders/big businessmen find that only way to get rid of him in NY is to get him nominated for VP w/ McKinley in 1900 VP had no power/responsibilities at the time. Plan would have worked if McKinley didn’t get assassinated

5. TR Larger than life personality Kind of a loudmouth Didn’t care if he made enemies One of the first presidents of the people Started the process of giving people the change that they were looking for, to be further acted on by the other progressive presidents If the constitution didn’t specifically say that he couldn’t do something, he figured he could do it

6. What is Progressivism? A non-unified “majority mood” between the 1890’s and WWI Included people from all classes, races, regions Held the fundamental belief that the nation needed a new social consciousness to cope with economic (?) and social (?)change Was no unified movement, but a collection of various reform communities attempting to achieve their own goals

7. What is Progressivism a response to? Corruption in government at all levels Abuses of big business and its ties to government Call to increase the power of the common man and woman The Socialist threat Problems with urbanization and the growing immigrant population, threat to middle class values

8. Common Themes Use state power to curb trusts; stem socialist threat by improving common persons conditions Need to intervene politically/morally to improve society Stronger government control of economic and social problems Beginning of rejection of individualism/Darwinism

9. Who was involved in the Progressive Reform Movement? Mostly middle class men/women (lots of women) Muckrakers Politicians – all levels Scientists/intellectuals/educators

10. MuckrackersMuckrackers GooGoosGooGoos TemperanceTemperance SuffragettesSuffragettes PopulistsPopulists MidclassWomenMidclassWomen LaborUnionsLaborUnions CivilRightsCivilRights

11. Women’s Involvement Use idea of “separate spheres” as extension of traditional roles of wife and mother – become wife/mother to the country Focus on “maternal issues”: child labor, disease prevention; aid for women w/ dependent children; safer food/medicine; Form Women’s Trade Union League and National Consumers League to agitate Suffrage – used state and national strategies Temperance and Prohibition

12. Progressivism – Civil Rights NAACP – 1909 – WEB DuBois vs. Booker T. Washington – Use the law to obtain Civil Rights – challenge legality of segregation laws – Victories really beginning in 1940’s

13. Progressivism - Urban Reform – Good Government Movement Efficiency Elimination of corruption (big business, party machines) Health and sanitation issues Safety issues – Triangle Shirtwaist Fire Apply corporate techniques using professional, career civil servants – Board of Commissioners (each has set duties/responsibilities) – Galveston TX model – City Manager Plan (small/mid sized cities)

14. Progressivism – State Reform State Reform – Direct democracy to weaken party bosses, regain power that had slipped from hands of people into those of interests Initiative Referendum Direct primary Recall 17 th Amendment

15. Progressivism – National Reform Teddy Roosevelt’s Square Deal (3 C’s) – Control Big Business (busted, regulated and reminded them who’s in charge) and provide for labor rights (Dept of Commerce and Labor) – Consumer Protection – Meat Inspection / Pure Food and Drug Acts 1906 – Conservation and Preservation

16. Progressivism – Social Control Urban immigrant vs rural Protestant Rise of the Ethical Elite – example, teach how to live Laws for control of immigrants, workers, minorities Middle/Upper class vs. poor Prohibition – Protestant vs. Catholic – Rural vs. Urban – Native vs. Immigrant – Rich vs. Poor – Owner vs. Worker – Women vs. Men

17. Progressivism - Education “Americanization” Expansion of – women, minorities, poor Earlier/longer – catch little immigrants, make good citizens 1918 – compulsory attendance in all states Subjects: health, family life, citizenship, ethical behavior

18. Election of 1908 TR still popular enough to get elected again, but made promise not to run again in 1904 Hand-picks successor w/ WH Taft to carry out “his” policies – elected for stability Democrats nominate Bryan (3 rd try) Socialists nominate Eugene V. Debs TR’s contributions – Enlarged power/prestige of presidency – Helped shape Progressive movement and later liberal reform movements

19. William Howard Taft Few skills as political leader Attitude of passivity toward Congress Huge “trustbuster”, even more than TR (90 suits) Poor judge of public opinion Dollar Diplomacy – Use lever of US investments to boost US political interests abroad – dollars instead of bullets – Push US dollars into areas of strategic concern to US – preempt foreign investors, strengthen US power abroad – Fails to work in China – Finds that must also involve “Big Stick” – Brings trouble in Latin America Take over too much of economy in this area, breeds negative feelings, have to use military intervention to protect US investments, more bad feelings