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Published byGarey Moore Modified over 9 years ago
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1. the Depression of the 1890s › highlighted the inadequacy of the old system poverty – urban and agrarian workers’ conditions, labor strife further growth of giant corporations › convinced middle class that farmers/workers had a point 2. rise of a new generation of middle-class Americans › grew up with the urbanized, industrialized new order › not so nostalgic, less tied to tradition of individualism began to turn to government to impose order › reversal of American political tradition › followed lead of Populists, unions – somewhat
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Progressives worked within the system to reform it › not looking to overturn the system but preserve it feared both big business and organized labor › sought to prevent revolution / radical change e.g., monopolies, socialism, class conflict, powerful unions
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1. education/publicity was key to reform › muckrakers › technology: newspapers & magazines, radio, movie newsreels 2. public awareness govt. regulation › once an act was passed, problem was solved › e.g., food and meat regulations Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle Pure Food & Drug Act, Meat Inspection Act Reform began locally in the 1880s and 1890s › often with middle-class women’s social groups › esp. in the cities 1890s-1900s: ineffective, so shifted to state, then federal level
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began in cities public health – clean water, sewage, parks gambling/prostitution/prison reform settlement houses › e.g., Chicago’s Hull House (Jane Addams) › origin of modern social work paternalism
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roots: › rural reaction against urban vice › nativist reaction against immigrant culture › middle-class reaction against working-class crime/violence (incl. domestic abuse) › middle-class ideal of family – reaction against saloons Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) › Frances Willard › Carrie Nation Anti-Saloon League state and county laws › Kansas (1880) 18 th amendment (1919) › Volstead Act (1919)
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Goals: › improve workers’ conditions › uplift/improve workers intellectually & morally › prevent unions/radicalism workmen’s compensation laws 10-hour day minimum wage › 13 states by 1920 (limited) child- & women-labor laws › restrict hours – Muller v. Oregon (1908) › minimum wage – MA (1912) › Keating-Owen Act (1916) Hammer v. Dagenhart (1918) › Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire (1911) NY labor code anthracite coal strike (1902)
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“Trustbusting” › Northern Securities Co. v. US (1902) › Hepburn Act (1906) › Clayton Antitrust Act (1914) › Federal Trade Commission (FTC) › Presidential styles › Roosevelt – regulation › Northern Securities the exception › Taft – › Wilson – breaking up the giants
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Goals: strengthen govt. power › federal income tax 16 th Amendment (1913) › Federal Reserve Act (1913) regulated banks; national currency increase the power of the people › direct election of US senators 17 th Amendment (1913) › primary elections › recall, referendum, initiative improve efficiency & break the machines › commission govt., city manager Cleveland Mayor Tom Johnson
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“Maternalism” › domesticity as a springboard into the public sphere Suffrage › Alice Paul › Progressive emphasis on democratic reform › key: new role of govt./law in reform now respectable/middle class › 19 th amdt. (1920)
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TR as the first modern president › actively pursued a legislative agenda use of public opinion – the “bully pulpit” › made frequent use of executive orders esp. re: conservation › brought lawsuits to enforce fed. regulations e.g., Northern Securities › active presidency popular more efficient 1912 election › popularity of Progressivism WW + TR = 70% Progressive Party (Bull Moose Party)
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