Rise of Progressivism Objective 7.01

Who were the Progressives? Not tightly organized Not tightly organized Collection of different ideas for reform Collection of different ideas for reform From both parties From both parties Usually urban, educated middle- class Usually urban, educated middle- class Journalists, social workers, educators, politicians, and clergy Journalists, social workers, educators, politicians, and clergy

General Beliefs Industrialism and urbanization created many social problems Industrialism and urbanization created many social problems Government should take a more active role in solving problems Government should take a more active role in solving problems Science and technology would better society Science and technology would better society

Beginnings of Progressivism Partly a reaction to laissez-faire economics Partly a reaction to laissez-faire economics Didn’t believe that poverty and urban filth could be solved w/o govt. intervention Didn’t believe that poverty and urban filth could be solved w/o govt. intervention Believed that govt. had to change before it could handle problems Believed that govt. had to change before it could handle problems

4 Goals: -protecting social welfare (YMCA) -promoting moral improvement (Prohibition- Carrie A. Nation) -creating economic reform (socialism) -fostering efficiency (scientific Management)

Muckrakers Among first to articulate Progressive ideas Among first to articulate Progressive ideas Group of journalists who investigated social conditions and political corruption Group of journalists who investigated social conditions and political corruption Competed to see who could expose the most corruption and scandal Competed to see who could expose the most corruption and scandal

Upton Sinclair- The Jungle (meat packing industry) Ida Tarbell :”Men like Rockefeller have eliminated the race.” Lincoln Steffens (Shame of Cities) Jacob Riis- Took photos of the urban slums.

Urban Slums

Goals of the Movement End to “white slavery” (prostitution and sweat shops) End to “white slavery” (prostitution and sweat shops) Prohibition Prohibition “Americanization” of immigrants “Americanization” of immigrants Immigration restrictions Immigration restrictions Anti-trust legislation Anti-trust legislation

Full govt. ownership of private utilities Full govt. ownership of private utilities Women’s suffrage Women’s suffrage End child labor End child labor Destruction of urban political machines Destruction of urban political machines Political Reform Political Reform

Development of health and safety codes Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire NYC—1911 Fire caused death of almost 150 women workers Doors trapped them; locked from outside Led strict building codes dealing with fire hazards and unsafe machinery and working conditions