1. 8-3: Wilsonian Progressivism 1912-1920

2. Thematic Learning Objectives
WXT 2.0 Explain how patterns of exchange, markets, and private enterprise have developed, and analyze ways that governments have responded to economic issues.
WXT 3.0 Analyze how technological innovation has affected economic development and society.
POL 2.0 Explain how popular movements, reform efforts, and activist groups have sought to change American society and institutions.
POL 3.0 Explain how different beliefs about the federal government’s role in U.S. social and economic life have affected political debates and policies.
GEO 1.0 Explain how geographic and environmental factors shaped the development of various communities, and analyze how competition for and debates over natural resources have affected both interactions among different groups and the development of government policies.
CUL 3.0 Explain how ideas about women’s rights and gender roles have affected society and politics.

3. Key Concept
Growth expanded opportunity, while economic instability led to new efforts to reform U.S. society and its economic system.

4. Wilson’s Progressive Program
“New Freedom”
Vigorous reforms
Assault on tariffs, banks, and trusts
Big business immoral—break up rather than regulate
Tariff Reduction
Less fear of foreign competition
Income Tax

5. Wilson’s Progressive Program
Banking Reform
Federal Reserve Board created
Central banking structure
Regulates money in circulation
Adjusts interest rates
Federal Reserve notes backed by commercial paper and gold
Currency would expand and contract with the volume of business activity

6. Wilson’s Progressive Program
Business Regulation
Clayton Anti-trust Act
No investments in competing corporations
Outlawed price-fixing
Exempted unions
Federal Trade Commission
Prevents unfair business practices
Keating-Owens Act
Child labor laws

7. African Americans in the Progressive Era
Two Approaches
Booker T. Washington—Economics
Seek economic opportunities
Accommodation to white society
Self-help and industrial education
W.E.B. DuBois—Civil Rights
Full political and social equality
Focus on integration rather than separatism
Development of “talented tenth”
Civil Rights Organizations
Niagara Movement and NAACP
Use of courts to achieve equality

8. African Americans in the Progressive Era
Resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan
The Birth of a Nation--depicted as heroic
Favored white supremacy and immigration restriction
Outcome
Civil rights not a part of progressivism
Wilson segregated executive branch

9. Women, Suffrage, and Progressivism
The Campaign for Women’s Suffrage
Strong leadership (Anthony, Paul)
State gains
19th Amendment (1920)
Other Issues
Family
Parents more supportive, less authoritative
Public aid to mothers in some states
Work
Most women still worked in the home

10. Assessing the Progressive Era
Weaknesses and Disappearance
Material progress weakened zeal
Courts struck down legislation
Continued business influence
Outbreak of World War I
Heritage
Trust-busting
Role of government to act for the people’s welfare (“modern” president)
Regulation instead of laissez-faire