1. L16: Progressivism: Reaction to the Gilded Age 1890 - 1920 Agenda Objective: 1.To understand what Progressivism was and how it was response to the problems of the Gilded Age 2.To explore why Progressivism was a successful reform effort. Schedule: 1.Lecture Homework None!

2. Entities in American Society Post-Gilded Age People Corporations Government

3. Question Activists Are Asking: Is Corporate Industrialization Here to Stay? Reactionaries: No! (Populists & Knights of Labor) Go back to the way life was before the creation of corporations! Uproot the system and go back! Union: Knights of Labor Political Movement/Ideology: Populism Reformers: Yes! (Progressives & AFL) We have to accept the existence of corporate industrialization, but we can reform it to make it better for the people The roots of the system are here to stay, but we can pick the weeds! Union: American Federation of Labor Political Movement/Ideology: Progressivism Revolutionaries: No! (Socialists) Destroy the capitalist system and create a new system predicated on workers rights and primacy in society Union: None Political Movement/Ideology: Socialism

4. Progressivism WHO? “Progressives” –urban middle-class: managers & professionals; women WHY? Address a range of interconnected problems they see originating from how capitalism is playing out: –industrialization ( big business, labor strife) –urbanization (slums, political machines, corruption) –immigration ( ethnic diversity) –inequality & social injustice (women & racism) Emphasis is on REFORM! Make industrial capitalism more accountable to the people 1920 s 1890 s 1901191 7 WHEN? “Progressive Reform Era”

5. Progressivism WHAT are their goals? –Democracy – government accountable to the people –Promote Social Welfare– workers, poor, minorities –Regulation of corporations & monopolies –Promote efficiency in government and management HOW? –Work within the system Government (laws, regulations, programs) –Reform the system to promote efficient solutions oriented to improving the work life and private life of the working class value experts, use of scientific study to determine the best solution Pragmatism – William James, John Dewey Scientific Management/Taylorism - Frederick Taylor ???

6. Promote Democracy

7. What are some things we already know the Progressives did to promote democracy?

8. Promote Democracy Primary System Direct election of senators (17 th Amendment 1913) Referendum Recall Initiative

9. Promote Social Welfare

10. Settlement House Movement Temperance Movement Women’s Suffrage Eugenics Use Efficiency to promote the better functioning of business and gov’t –Taylorism –Introduction of bureaucracy into business Salvation Army Shelter

11. Regulation of Corporations and Monopolies

12. Ending Child Labor As the number of child workers rose, reformers worked to end child labor. Children were more prone to accidents caused by fatigue. Nearly every state limited or banned child labor by 1918

13. Efforts To Improve Working Conditions The Supreme Court and the states enacted or strengthened laws reducing women’s hours of work. –Workers rights legislation but also reinforced gender discrimination –Muller v. Oregon (1908) Progressives also succeeded in winning worker’s compensation to aid families of injured workers.

15. Teddy Roosevelt’s Square Deal President from 1901- 1909 (Republican) –Will later leave the Republicans and form the Bull Moose Party The Square Deal was his domestic program formed upon three basic ideas: –Conservation of natural resources –Control of Corporations –Consumer Protection Informed by his notion of the golden mean

16. Trust-Busting By 1900, trusts – legal bodies created to hold stock in many companies – controlled 80% of U.S. industries. Roosevelt filed 44 antitrust suits under the Sherman Anti- Trust Act of 1890

17. 1902 Coal Strike In 1902, 140,000 coal miners in Pennsylvania went on strike for increased wages, a 9-hour work day, and the right to unionize. Mine owners refused to bargain. Roosevelt called in both sides and settled the dispute. Thereafter, when a strike threatened public welfare, the federal government was expected to step in and help.

18. “The Jungle” Leads to Food Regulation After reading The Jungle by Upton Sinclair, Roosevelt pushed for passage of the Meat Inspection Act of 1906. The act mandated cleaner conditions for meatpacking plants.

19. Pure Food and Drug Act In response to unsubstantiated claims and unwholesome products, Congress passed the Pure Food and Drug Act in 1906. The Act halted the sale of contaminated foods and medicines and called for truth in labeling.

20. Roosevelt’s Environmental Accomplishments Roosevelt set aside 148 million acres of forest reserves, 1.5 million acres of water-power sites, 50 wildlife sanctuaries, and several national parks.

22. Progressivism under President Taft Republican William Howard Taft easily defeated Democrat William Jennings Bryan in the 1908 presidential election. Among his accomplishments, Taft “busted” 90 trusts during his four years in office – more than Theodore Roosevelt during his eight years in office.

23. Wilson’s New Freedom Serves as President from 1913-1921 (Democrat) With a strong mandate from the American people, Wilson moved to enact his program, the “New Freedom.” He planned his attack on what he called the triple wall of privilege: –Trusts, –Tariffs –High finance

24. Clayton Anti-Trust Act In 1914 Congress enacted the Clayton Anti-Trust Act that strengthened the Sherman Act. It had an anti-trust provision that prevented companies from: –Price discrimination between different purchasers to create an effective monopoly –Sales on the condition that the buyer not contract with competitors –Mergers and acquisitions which may limit competition –Having any person be a director of two or more competing corporations Contained important provisions to protect labor: –Boycotts, peaceful strikes, peaceful picketing, and collective bargaining could not be regulated by the statute

25. Federal Trade Commission Formed Formed in 1914 Promotes consumer protection and the elimination and prevention of anticompetitive business practices.

26. Federal Income Tax 1913 16 th Amendment “The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration.”

27. Federal Reserve System 1913 Goal is to use a central institution of to promote monetary policy which: –Maximizes employment –Stabilizes prices –Moderates long-term interest rates

28. Why Were the Progressives Successful? Progressivism reflected a growing, if temporary, consensus among Americans that major changes in the late 19 th century had produced unwelcome imbalances in their society. Because of the populists people were also willing to view government as a positive tool to intervene on behalf of the needs of people The “invention” of society Emergence of the notion of the “common good” as a counter-ideology to laissez- faire individualism Dynamic leaders: William Jennings Bryan, Theodore Roosevelt, Robert LaFollete Reformist, not radical Consistent with racial inequality Was a movement to improve the lives of middle=-class whites