1. America Seeks Reforms in the Early 20th Century
The Progressive Era
America Seeks Reforms in the Early 20th Century

2. Origins of Progressivism
As America entered the 20th century, middle class reformers addressed the problems of the Gilded Age, including:
Economic inequities
Environmental issues
Social welfare
Working conditions
Rights for women and children

3. Women Lead Reform Women reformers were drawn to “maternal” issues:
Women’s Suffrage
Child Labor
Prostitution

4. Women Lead Reform Settlement House Movement
Established in poor neighborhoods
Offered educational & community help to immigrants
Jane Addams – Hull House

5. Women Promote Moral Reforms
Some reformers felt that the answer to society’s problems was personal behavior.
They proposed such reforms as prohibition.
In 1919, Congress adopted the 18th Amendment which banned the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcohol in the United States

6. Women in the Work Force
Opportunities for women increased especially in the cities.
By 1900, 1 out of 5 women worked.
The garment industry was popular as were office work, retail, and education.

7. Regulating Factories Triangle Shirtwaist Co. Muller v. Oregon (1908)
1911
146 workers die in fire
New York passed laws regulating work hours & conditions
Muller v. Oregon (1908)
Allowed for special protection for women in the workplace

8. Election Reform Citizens fought for and secured such measures as
secret ballots
referendums
recalls
initiatives

9. Direct Election Of Senators
Before 1913, each state’s legislature had chosen U.S. senators.
Progressives pushed for the popular election of senators.
Congress passed the 17th Amendment in 1913.

10. Muckrakers Criticize Big Business
Investigative journalists, known as “Muckrakers,” exposed corruption in business.
Examples:
Ida Tarbell exposed Standard Oil Company’s cut-throat methods of eliminating competition.
Jacob Riis

11. Teddy Roosevelt
When President William McKinley was assassinated six months into his second term, Theodore Roosevelt became the nation’s 26th president
McKinley was assassinated by an anarchist in Buffalo in September of 1901

12. Roosevelt’s Presidential Firsts
to fly in an airplane
to be submerged in a submarine
to own a car
to have a telephone in his home
to travel outside the borders of the US while still in office. TR took the battleship USS Louisiana to Panama in 1906.
to entertain an African-American in the White House, inviting Booker T. Washington to dinner
to win the first AMERICAN as well as first President to win a Nobel Prize in ANY of the six categories - he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1906.

13. Roosevelt’s Square Deal
The 3 C’s
Control of Corporations
Consumer Protection
Conservation of Natural Resources

14. Trust-Busting By 1900, trusts controlled 80% of U.S. industries.
Roosevelt filed 44 antitrust suits under the Sherman Anti-Trust Act
Wanted to prove that government, not business, ruled the country

15. Railroad Regulation
Passed laws to strengthen the Interstate Commerce Commission:
Elkins Act – ICC had greater authority to stop railroads from granting rebates to big business
Hepburn Act – ICC was allowed to fix “just and reasonable” railroad rates for railroads

16. “The Jungle” Leads to Food Regulation
After reading The Jungle by Upton Sinclair, Roosevelt pushed for passage of the Meat Inspection Act of 1906.
The act mandated cleaner conditions for meatpacking plants.

17. Pure Food and Drug Act
In response to unsubstantiated claims and unwholesome products, Congress passed the Pure Food and Drug Act in 1906.
The Act halted the sale of contaminated foods and medicines and called for truth in labeling.
Created the Food & Drug Administration

18. Roosevelt and the Environment
Before Roosevelt’s presidency, the federal government paid very little attention to the nation’s natural resources.
Roosevelt made conservation a primary concern of his administration.

19. Roosevelt’s Environmental Accomplishments
Roosevelt set aside 148 million acres of forest reserves, 1.5 million acres of water-power sites, 50 wildlife sanctuaries, and several national parks.

21. Progressivism under President Taft
Roosevelt chose not to run again in He “hand-picked” Taft to continue his programs.
Republican William Howard Taft easily defeated Democrat William Jennings Bryan in the 1908 presidential election.
Among his accomplishments, Taft “busted” 90 trusts during his four years in office – more than Theodore Roosevelt during his eight years in office.
Taft, right, was Roosevelt’s War Secretary

22. Progressivism under Taft
Mann-Elkins Act of 1910 – gave the ICC the power to oversee telephone & telegraph companies.
16th Amendment – authorized the US government to collect an income tax (another throw back to the Populists!)
Payne-Aldrich Tariff – Taft angered Progressives by signing this tariff into law

23. Taft Loses Power
Taft was not popular with the American public or reform-minded Republicans.
He called the Presidency, the “lonesomest” job in the world.”