1. The Progressives 1876-1916 Domestic
1898 Prosperity due to:
Crop failures in Europe took U.S. farm surplus
Gold (a lot) found in Alaska and South Africa (British Rand Finds)

2. McKinley: NOT a Progressive President
First four years: concentrated on Spanish American War
Election of 1900 v Bryan again was concerned with colonies gained from Spain

3. Progressive Movement 1898 to U.S. entry into WWI Prosperity
People generous
Union membership tripled
Progressive movements were supported by both major parties as reflected in party platforms

4. Progressives had what Populists lacked
Populists: Farmers and silver miners 3rd Party
Progressives: Middle class professionals Both Parties
Populists leaders: Sockless Jerry Simpson, Tom Watson, William Peffer
Progressive leaders: Governors and Presidents: TR, Wilson, LaFollette

5. Progressives Populists lacked literary champions
Progressives had Muckrakers
Populists sacrificed everything for inflation through free silver
Progressives had prosperity. Could spend time and money on other reforms
Progressives got everything the Populists failed to get…except child labor laws

6. 3 Levels of Reform: Municipal (city) State National
Progressives set out to expose corruption in city government and worked for reform:
The Party Boss System
Public utilities: Gas and water Socialism
(By /3 American cities)

7. Muckrakers TR coined the name. From Pilgrims Progress
McClures Magazine first to hire investigative reporters:
Lincoln Steffans “The Shame of the Cities”
Ida Tarbell “The History of Standard Oil”
Jacob Riis “How the other Half Lives”
Daniel Graham “Treason of the Senate”
Edward Bok: Editor of Ladies Home Journal
Studied ingredients of common products in:
Lydia Pinkham’s Tonic and Winslo’s Syrup

8. Social Gospel Movement
Salvation through Public Service
Protestants AND Catholics
Contrast with 1st and 2nd Great Awakenings
YMCA
Temperance
Women’s Clubs
Salvation Army

9. Municipal Reform New York City: Toledo: Minimum wage for city workers
Improved Public Transportation
Cut local street railway fares
Passed tenement house laws
Toledo: Minimum wage for city workers
Cleaned up Milwaukee, Jersey City, etc.
Many times reform did not last long

10. Don’t Forget:
Gas and Water Socialism: 2/3 of American cities publically owned waterworks, etc by 1915

11. Progressivism on the State Level
Direct Primary: enabled members of a political party to choose candidates through Australian Ballot rather than by selection at a convention (Wisconsin First)
Initiative: Most states today
Referendum: 20 states today (S. Dakota first)
Recall: 13 states today (Oregon first)

12. Direct Election of Senators
17th Amendment: Probably the single most important piece of Progressive Legislation

13. New Jersey Formerly: Mother of Trusts
Woodrow Wilson (D) Governor:
Established a Public Utility Commission to evaluate properties of RR’s, Gas, Electricity, Telephone
Commission fixed rates and established standards

14. Other States New York: 1st for Insurance laws
Nebraska: 1st for bank deposit laws
Minnesota: 1st for inheritance taxes
Georgia: raised taxes big time on corporations
Wisconsin Governor LaFollette: The Model Progressive State:
Did everything NJ did and more: conservation laws, library and university professors for state legislature

15. Lockner v New York
The first time the Court struck down a Progressive state law which said that bakers were limited to a 10-hour day