1. The Progressive Movement (1890-1920)

2. I. The Roots of Progressivism
The Rise of Progressivism
The era in American history from about 1890 to 1920 is known as the Progressive Era
Progressivism was a collection of different ideas and activities about how to fix the problems within American society

3. I. The Roots of Progressivism
The Muckrakers
The muckrakers were a group of journalists who investigated social conditions and political corruption
Muckrakers uncovered corruption in many areas (government, unfair business practices, social problems)

4. I. The Roots of Progressivism
Ida Tarbell:
Published a series of articles critical of Rockefeller’s Standard Oil Company
Lincoln Steffens:
Reported on vote stealing and other corrupt practices of urban political machines (The Shame of the Cities)

5. I. The Roots of Progressivism
Jacob Riis
Mostly though photography, described the poverty, disease, and crime that affected many immigrant neighborhoods in NYC (How the Other Half Lives)

13. I. The Roots of Progressivism
Upton Sinclair
Exposed the horrible conditions of the meat packing industry in his book The Jungle
-Led to the passage of the Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act

14. I. The Roots of Progressivism
In spite of the phenomenal success of The Jungle, Upton Sinclair lamented (expressed grief) what he considered to be its failure when he made his often-quoted assessment:
“I aimed at the public’s heart, and by accident, I hit it in the stomach.”

15. I. The Roots of Progressivism
What Was the Impact of the Muckrakers?
They put pressure on politicians to introduce new reforms

16. I. The Roots of Progressivism
Who Were the Progressives?
Belonged to both major political parties
Usually were urban, educated middle-class Americans
Many worked as journalists, social workers, educators, politicians, and members of the clergy

17. I. The Roots of Progressivism
What Did Progressives Believe?
Generally agreed that industrialization and urbanization had created many social problems
Most agreed that the government should take a more active role in solving society’s problems

18. I. The Roots of Progressivism
Why Did the Movement Begin?
Began partly as a reaction against laissez-faire (“hands off”) economics, in which the government stays completely out of the business world
They doubted that the government, in it’s present form, could fix the problems of poverty, crime, filth, disease, etc

19. Political Corruption in the Cities
Problem
In most cities the mayor chose the heads of city departments
These jobs often went to the mayor’s political supporters and/or friends
-Many had very little knowledge or experience in their appointed position
Sometimes offices were even sold to the highest bidder

20. Political Corruption in the Cities
Solution
Commission Plan: introduced by progressive reformers
-divides a city’s government into several departments each placed under the control of an expert commissioner

21. Political Corruption in the Cities
Voters elect a Board of Commissioners
Board of Commissioners appoint…
-Police Commissioner
-Fire Commissioner
-Parks Commissioner
-Finance Commissioner
-Public Works Commissioner
Each of these appointees would be considered “experts” in their fields

22. Political Corruption in the Cities
Impact
1900: Galveston, TX was devastated by one of the worst hurricanes on record
-6,000 people died
-The political machine in power was not able to deal with the situation effectively, so the city adopted the commission plan
-The city quickly recovered and other cities across the nation adopted the plan

24. Political Corruption in State Gov’t
Problem
State governments were often run by corrupt governors and representatives
Solution
Robert La Follette: “Battling Bob” – Governor of Wisconsin – Most famous progressive governor
-Wisconsin…“Laboratory of Democracy”

25. Political Corruption in State Gov’t
Direct Primary: allows all party members to vote for a candidate to run in the general election
-In the past, political machines often controlled which candidates were chosen to run in elections (corruption)
Initiative: allowed a group of citizens to propose new laws, by petition, and required the state legislatures to vote on it

26. Political Corruption in State Gov’t
Referendum: allowed laws passed by the state legislatures to be submitted to voters for approval or rejection
Recall: allowed voters to demand a special-called election to remove an elected official from office before his/her term ends

27. Political Corruption in State Gov’t
17th Amendment (1912) provides for the direct election of U.S. Senators
-In the past, U.S. Senators were chosen by the state legislatures (corruption)
Impact
These state reforms led to a more democratic society (meaning, citizens had more of a “voice” in politics)

28. Suffrage for Women Problem
After the Civil War, leaders of the woman suffrage movement wanted the 14th and 15th Amendments to be applied to women as well (didn’t happen)

29. Suffrage for Women Solution
The movement for women’s voting rights became know as the suffrage movement
This was an important issue for progressives, though the movement began well before the progressive movement
-Elizabeth Stanton and Susan B. Anthony were important early leaders

30. Suffrage for Women
National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA)
-Formed in 1890
-Susan B. Anthony was the most recognized leader of the movement
-Organized marches and protests, delivered speeches and lobbied lawmakers
-1915: Carrie Chapman Catt became NAWSA’s leader – wanted to mobilize the suffrage movement nation-wide in one final push to gain voting rights (the “Winning Plan”)

32. Suffrage for Women
19th Amendment: guarantees women the right to vote

33. Health and Safety in the Workplace
Problem
No health codes, no safety codes, no workers’ compensation, etc.
-Factories, coal mines, and railroads were especially dangerous
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire: in NYC – 150 women died mainly because the doors were locked from the outside

35. Health and Safety in the Workplace
Solution
Progressives pushed for workers’ compensation for those injured on the job
Building codes set minimum standards for lighting, air circulation, room sizes, sanitation, and required fire escapes
Health codes required restaurants to maintain clean environments

36. Child Labor
Problem
1900: Over 1.7 million under the age of 16 worked outside the home
John Spargo: a muckraker who wrote the book The Bitter Cry of the Children presented detailed evidence on child labor conditions
-EX: “breaker boys” in the coal mines were paid 60 cents for a 10-hour day – the work bent their backs permanently

38. Child Labor
Solution
Progressives established a National Child Labor Committee in 1904 to work to abolish child labor
Reports by Spargo and others convinced states to pass laws to limit the hours children could work – age limits also put into place

39. Child Labor
Some states began to pass compulsory education laws, requiring children to be in school and not at work
Impact
By the early 1900s, the number of child laborers had declined
Women also began to work outside the home because the children could not

40. Alcohol Abuse
Problem
Alcohol abuse was considered by many to be the cause of many of society’s problems

41. Alcohol Abuse Solution
The Temperance Movement called for the moderation or elimination of alcohol
-The movement was led by the Women’s Christian Temperance Union
18th Amendment

43. Big Business and Monopolies
Problem
Laws passed by the federal and state governments to prevent monopolies were not enforced

44. Big Business and Monopolies
Solution
A group of progressives focused on regulating big business, but they disagreed on the solutions
-One side believed the government should break up big companies to restore competition
-The other group wanted the creation of government agencies to regulate big companies and prevent them from abusing their power

45. Big Business and Monopolies
Socialism, the idea that the government should own and operate industry for the community as a whole, was an idea share by a small minority of progressives
-Eugene Debs led the American Socialist Party and was the party’s candidate for president in 1912

47. Big Business and Monopolies
Most progressives believed in the American system of free enterprise
Presidents during the Progressive Era (esp. Teddy Roosevelt) often used their authority to break up businesses that had monopolies
-Roosevelt was sometimes called the “Trust-Buster”

48. I. The Roots of Progressivism
Progressive Presidents
The Progressive Movement involved 3 Presidents:
1) Theodore Roosevelt
2) William Howard Taft
3) Woodrow Wilson

50. Big Business and Monopolies
During his second term, Theodore Roosevelt’s reform program was known as “Square Deal”
-felt gov’t should try to balance the needs of all the groups in American society

52. Big Business and Monopolies
Coal Strike of 1902: United Mine Workers called a strike to protest low wages
-T. Roosevelt. acted as a 3rd party between the union and owners
-1st example of federal gov’t supporting labor (i.e. workers)

53. Other Important Legislation
Hepburn Act: required railroads to get permission from the U.S. gov’t before raising rates
16th Amendment: created a federal income tax
National Park Service: protected and ran the national parks
Federal Reserve Act: – regulates the supply of money in the U.S.