1. Progressivism Unit Objectives
To learn the impact of the Industrial Revolution in America
To learn and assess the beliefs of the Progressives and assess their impact
To debate needed social reform in America today

2. Progressivism Era of social reforms (1890s-WWI)
Began as a movement within the Republican Party but became its own separate party
Believed problems in society were caused by:
INDUSTRY AND BIG BUSINESS

3. Three main Progressive goals:
1. CLEAN UP GOVERNMENT (END POLITICAL
CORRUPTION, MAKE GOVERNMENT MORE
RESPONSIVE TO PEOPLE)
2. MAKE BUSINESS MORE RESPONSIBLE (END
LAISSEZ-FAIRE ECONOMICS, FIGHT TRUSTS)
3. FIX THE ILLS OF SOCIETY (SOCIAL REFORMS)

4. Muckrakers REFORM JOURNALISTS WHO EXPOSED PROBLEMS IN AMERICA
Often criticized for not offering solutions to the problems they shined a light on—not their job
Upton Sinclair wrote THE JUNGLE to expose the unsanitary conditions in the meat-packing industry

5. Robert La Follette (ID)
PROGRESSIVE GOVERNOR AND SENATOR FROM WISCONSIN
RAN FOR PRESIDENT IN 1924

6. Direct Primary:
PARTY MEMBERS VOTE FOR A CANDIDATE TO
RUN IN THE GENERAL ELECTION
Initiative:
CITIZENS PROPOSE LEGISLATION THAT THE
STATE MUST CONSIDER & VOTE ON

7. Referendum:
PEOPLE VOTE ON AN ISSUE DIRECTLY
Recall:
PEOPLE CALL FOR A SPECIAL ELECTION TO TRY
TO REMOVE A PUBLIC OFFICIAL

8. Socialists
Some groups went even further and wanted to eliminate private ownership of industry as a way to control big business (Socialists, led by Eugene Debs)

9. Accomplishments of the Progressives
17TH Amendment:
DIRECT ELECTION OF SENATORS, 1913
18th Amendment:
TEMPERANCE/PROHIBITION, 1919
19TH Amendment:
WOMEN’S RIGHT TO VOTE, 1920
Child labor laws and health/safety industry laws

10. More Accomplishments Pure Food and Drug Act (1906)
People started to look to government to be a protector of the people, not just an umpire to settle disputes
African Americans were largely left out by the Progressives because they were not accepted or seen as equals in society

11. Progressive Presidents
Teddy Roosevelt
Youngest to ever serve as president
Very competitive and strong-willed
Became president when William McKinley was assassinated; Had been nominated V.P. by people in New York that wanted to get rid of him (V.P. seen as dead-end job)

12. Square Deal: Roosevelt wanted to provide a “Square Deal” for all Americans—Tried to regulate the trusts (nicknamed the “Trustbuster”), passed the Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Act, took the side of the workers in the 1902 coal strike (first time the federal government supported the workers)

13. He was very expansionist
Believed in Social Darwinism (survival of the fittest in society)
Big Stick Policy: Speak softly but carry a big stick—back up what you say with a strong military
Roosevelt Corollary: The U.S., not Europe would intervene in Latin America if intervention was necessary
Great White Fleet: Brand new Navy that Roosevelt was very proud of and sent around the world to show off America’s strength

14. William Howard Taft
Hand-picked successor to Roosevelt
Broke up more trusts than Roosevelt
Dollar Diplomacy: The U.S. should get involved in foreign affairs to protect American business interests
Later served as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the only man to hold both offices

15. Woodrow Wilson
Became president because of a dispute between Roosevelt and Taft—Roosevelt was not happy with Taft and ran for the Republican nomination for president; Taft won the nomination, so Roosevelt ran as an independent splitting the Republican vote

16. New Freedom: Social reform aimed at ending trusts, establishing a Federal Reserve System to regulate banks and a Federal Trade Commission to regulate businesses, and create new tariffs to protect American businesses
Moral Foreign Policy: The U.S. would get involved in foreign affairs if it was the right thing to do