1. Progressivism

2. What is Progressivism?
Collection of ideas to solve problems in American society, many of which grew out of industry
Examples of problems with industry?
Believed laissez-faire economics and unregulated market cause problems
Examples of problems due to laissez-faire economics?

3. Progressive Ideals
Fix current government, then government can fix problems
Major ideas of reform?
Strong belief in science and technology
Why?

4. Muckrakers
Crusading journalists who investigated social conditions and political corruption
Where did they get the name from?
Examples
Charles Edward Russell (Everybody’s Magazine): Beef Industry
Ida Tarbell (McClure’s): Standard Oil
Lincoln Steffens (Shame of Cities): Political Machines
Jacob Riis (How the Other Half Lives): Urban life
Upton Sinclair (The Jungle): Meat Industry

6. Women’s Suffrage 1848: Elizabeth Cady Stanton & Seneca Falls
Biggest Issue: Civil War & Slavery
Questions over how to approach issue in late 19th Century
Paid lobbyists, delivered speeches, organized marches
March on DC before Wilson’s inauguration
Questions still around about how to approach issue w/ Wilson
NAWSA: Carrie Chapman Catt and the final push

7. Women’s Suffrage Map

8. Progressive Reforms Child Labor Laws Health Codes Prohibition
Breaker Boys, Farm Workers
Health Codes
Worker’s Compensation Laws, Restaurant Codes
Prohibition
Women’s Christian Temperance Union

9. PROGRESSIVISM
United States History

10. Progressive Ideas
Essentially a movement based in responses to America’s problems
Laissez-Faire policies do not work
Science and technology will help society
Industrialization/Urbanization cause problems
Government should fix problems, but government itself needs to be reformed

11. Muckrakers
Crusading journalists who investigated social conditions and political corruption
Charles Edward Russell attacked the beef industry in Everybody’s Magazine
Ida Tarbell crushed Standard Oil Company in McClure’s
Lincoln Steffens exposed voting fraud in Shame of Cities
Jacob Riis photographed inner-city life in How the Other Half Lives

12. Democratic Reforms Robert LaFollette, Governor of Wisconsin
Pushed for direct primaries, where people voted for a candidate to run in the general election
Other Progressive Reforms
Initiative: citizen-introduced legislation
Referendum: citizens vote on proposed laws
Recall: voters can have special election to remove government official
Direct election of Senators

13. Other Reforms Happening
Women’s Suffrage
Child Labor
Health Codes and Worker Safety Laws
Prohibition (WCTU)
Big Business Breakdown

14. Theodore Roosevelt Social Darwinist Reform Plans (Square Deal)
Took on big business
Roosevelt (big stick) with 1902 mine strike
Government sets railroad rates and regulates some business (Hepburn Act)
Protect Consumers (Meat Inspection Act and Pure Food & Drug Act) after Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle
Environmental Conservation

15. William Howard Taft Succeeded Roosevelt…perfect for job?
Tariff Reform (Roosevelt warns about splitting party)
New Secretary of Interior Ballinger
Tries to turn protected lands into private development
Pinchot fired for insubordination (disobedience to authority)
Passed many Progressive Reforms

16. Woodrow Wilson’s Rise
Roosevelt challenges Taft for Republican nomination
Splits party (Republicans and Progressives/Bull Moose)
Wilson wins easily
Wilson Reforms (New Freedom)
Lowered tariffs, levied income taxes
Federal Reserve created
Federal Trade Commission to watchdog business

17. Progressive Thinkers

18. Teddy Roosevelt Square Deal Programs
Economy, Conservation
Draw line against misconduct, not wealth
Trusts help economy more often than not
Don’t promote self interest at nation’s expense (ex—Coal Strike of 1902)
Regulate industry through negotiations
New Nationalism (1912)

19. William Howard Taft Perfect replacement for TR…or so they thought
Replaced many of TR’s reformers and upset progressives with environmental stance
Actually a stronger trustbuster and conservationist than Roosevelt

20. Woodrow Wilson “New Freedom” Reforms
Believed monopolies should be destroyed
Promoted “freedom” over “efficiency”
Reduced tariffs on goods and created the income tax
Attacked child labor and banks

21. Key Acts Sherman Antitrust Act Interstate Commerce Commission
Prohibited conspiracy to restrain trade across state lines
Interstate Commerce Commission
Limited railroad rates to reasonable and just rates and made it illegal to charge more for shorter hauls
Hepburn Act
Strengthened ICC by allowing them to set rates

22. More Acts Payne-Aldrich Tariff Underwood Tariff Act
Taft wanted to lower tariffs, TR tells him to avoid topic
Ends up doing very little, but divides party
Underwood Tariff Act
Lowered tariffs and created an income tax on individuals
Federal Reserve Act
Indirectly controls interest rates and money circulation

23. More Acts Federal Trade Commission Clayton Antitrust Act
Stop unfair trade practices that hurt competition
Clayton Antitrust Act
Toughened Sherman Act, and added guidelines on stock sales, price regulation, and trade
Others to note…
Keating-Owen Child Labor (declared unconstitutional in 2 years) and Adamson Act (8 hour worked)

24. The Good and Bad of Progressivism
Health Reforms
New Regulations
Women’s Rights
Bad
Racial and Religious Equality not addressed
Some acts declared unconstitutional