The Progressive Era

I. Reforms in the Workplace A. After the Triangle Shirtwaist Company fire, safety standards were improved B. States created labor depts. and developed workers’ accident insurance and compensation systems C. National Child Labor Committee worked to abolish child labor D. Lochner v. New York (1905) said states could not set maximum working hours, but this was overturned when Muller v. Oregon (1907) decided states could limit the number of hours in a workday

II. City Reforms A. Reformers attempted to remove corrupt city bosses and political machines from power (i.e., Tammany Hall in NYC) B. Cities, rather than private companies, took over utilities (water, gas, electricity) C. Some mayors provided work-relief programs, public baths, and parks

III. State Reforms A. Governor Robert LaFollette of WI began the direct primary method of choosing nominees for elections direct primary 1. LaFollette turned WI into a “laboratory of democracy” and inspired new democratic reforms at the state level: B. The initiative allowed citizens to introduce legislation by signing a petitioninitiative C. The referendum allowed proposed legislation to be submitted to the voters for approval D. The recall allowed voters to demand a special election to remove an elected official from office before his/her term expiredrecall E. Seventeenth Amendment (ratified 1913) allowed for the direct election of senators 1. This helped eliminate political corruption

IV. President Roosevelt’s Square Deal A. “trustbuster” for breaking up certain trusts (bad trusts) B. Arbitrated Coal Strike of 1902, siding with miners C. Consumer Protection:  Meat Inspection Act: required federal inspection of meat and set standards for cleanliness  Pure Food and Drug Act: prohibited the manufacture, sale, or shipment or impure or falsely labeled food and drugs

D. TR’s Conservation Efforts  Placed 150 million acres of land under control of U.S. Forest Service  Tripled the number of national forests, national parks, and national monuments  National Reclamation Act (1902) set aside money from sale of public lands to build dams and irrigation systems in the West

V. President Taft A.Trustbuster B.Disagreed with TR on Environment al policy C.Led to Split in Republican Party

VI Election Candidates  Woodrow Wilson - Democrat “New Freedom” – promised to use antitrust legislation to get rid of big corporations and to give small businesses and farmers better opportunities. Supported states’ rights and limited gov’t.  Theodore Roosevelt – Progressive (Bull Moose) “New Nationalism” – wanted to increase power of federal gov’t, decrease power of the courts, and expand the role of president; promoted social justice.  William H. Taft – Republican  Eugene V. Debs – Socialist

VII. Woodrow Wilson ( )  Reforms during Wilson’s presidency 16th Amendment – federal income tax 17th Amendment – direct election of senators Federal Reserve Act – established a national banking system controlled by Federal Reserve Board; regulated currency (inflation/deflation) and interest rates Federal Reserve Act Clayton Antitrust Act – outlawed unfair business practices, such as price discrimination and interlocking directorates Federal Trade Commission – had wide investigatory powers to prosecute corporations for “unfair trade practices;” regulated big business

VIII. The Limits of Progressivism Wilson reluctantly signed many pieces of legislation Industrial Workers of the World (IWW – “Wobblies) were formed by William “Big Bill” Haywood to address the needs of unskilled workers Women’s Rights (tomorrow’s lesson) Jim Crow laws - African Americans still struggled for equality  Wilson himself was very racist, segregating the federal gov’t According to the Republican Colored Advisory Committee, “No sooner had the Democratic Administration come into power than Mr. Wilson and his advisors entered upon a policy to eliminate all colored citizens from representation in the Federal Government” (1916).