1. The Origins of the Progressive Movement
Unit 3, Ch. 9.1:
The Origins of the Progressive Movement

2. Protecting social welfare. Promoting moral improvement.
The Four Goals of Progressivism:
People who wanted to address the problems of the time, they questioned the power and role of major corporations in society. They formed the progressive movement, and worked for the following goals:
Protecting social welfare.
Promoting moral improvement.
Creating economic reform.
Fostering efficiency.

3. Protecting Social Welfare:
Social welfare reformers worked to help the poor through community centers, churches , and social services.
The Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) opened libraries and built gyms and pools. The Salvation Army fed the poor in soup kitchens. Women like Florence Kelley advocated for the lives of women and children by inspecting factories and working to improve working hours and conditions.

4. Promoting Moral Improvement:
Other reformers believed that morality was key to improving the lives of the poor. One such program that they pushed was Prohibition, the banning of alcoholic beverages.
They believed that alcohol was undermining American morals. The Woman’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) led this crusade.

5. Creating Economic Reform:
As severe economic panic gripped the country, some Americans turned to socialism. Eugene V. Debs helped organize the party in the U.S. as a comment on the uneven balance between big business and ordinary people.
Most progressives distanced themselves from socialism, they did however see truth in some of the ideas. Journalists known as Muckrakers wrote about the corruption in big business.

6. Fostering Efficiency:
Progressive leaders put their faith in experts and principles that would make the workplace more efficient. Lawyer Louis Brandeis used data produced by social scientists documenting the high costs of long working hours for both individuals and society, and owners like Henry Ford gave his workers incentives, shorter hours, and higher pay to keep workers happy and avoid strikes.

7. Cleaning up Local Government:
Cities faced the same problems as the nation. Natural disasters sometimes played a role. In 1900, a hurricane and tidal wave almost destroyed Galveston, TX. Politicians in the city botched the relief and rebuilding job so badly that the TX state legislature had to appoint a special commission to take over.
A flood in Dayton, OH in 1913 led to adoption of the council-manager form of government, where people would elect a council to make laws and the council would appoint a manager.

8. Reform at the State level:
Governor Robert Follette wanted to drive big business out of politics, especially the railroad industry. Politicians in TX and NC followed suit.
Politicians also pushed to protect workers and end child labor. Eventually most every state had legislation banning child labor and setting maximum hours for workers.

9. Efforts to Limit Working Hours:
In the case of Muller v. Oregon, the court decided that women required the state’s protection against long hours to a 10 hr max. In Bunting v. Oregon, they did the same for men.
Progressives also succeeded in winning workers’ compensation to aid families of workers hurt or killed on the job.

10. Reforming Elections:
Oregon state, ordinary citizens fought to get their state to adopt the secret ballot, as well as the ability to place an initiative (a bill originating from the people), referendums (votes on initiatives), and recalls (ability to remove officials). Several states also enabled voters to take the power from the political machines and have primary elections for candidates in local elections.

11. Direct Election of Senators:
Before 1913, each state’s legislature had chosen its own US Senators. To put power back into the hands of citizens, progressives fought for popular election of senators. At first, the Senate was against it, but as more and more states started approving of this they came around and passed the 17th Amendment.