Progressive America

Completely Useless Information On average, there are 178 sesame seeds on each McDonalds Big Mac bun. The Baby Ruth candy bar was actually named after Grover Cleveland's baby daughter, Ruth. The plastic things on the end of shoelaces are called aglets.

Progressive Movement A response at the beginning of the 20 th century to the Industrial Revolution Causes Income disparity –Lack of economic opportunities for the poor, lavish lifestyles of the rich –Practices of robber barons Working conditions –Dangerous working conditions –Child labor –Company towns –Employment of women –Long hours, low wages, no job security, no benefits

Progressive Movement Goals Governments controlled by the people (not bosses and machines). –People start questioning work conditions and the role of big corporations (trusts/monopolies) and seek a government that is more responsible to the people. Guaranteed economic opportunities through government regulation (Stop unfair business practices that eliminate competition) Elimination of social injustices (remove ill effects of industrialism on workers and larger society)

Rise of Progressivism Muckrakers - journalists who exposed and described the corruption in business and government in American life. –Combined careful research with sensational details. –Competed with each other for readers by producing the most outrageous stories. –Led to advancements in child labor laws. White urban middle class people read these stories and began to organize political groups to solve these problems. Wanted increased stability in America.

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Examples of Government Reform Roosevelt’s Square Deal  Became president in 1901 following the assassination of President McKinley.  Roosevelt believed the president should be active and embraced a progressive agenda.  Square Deal-Roosevelt’s progressive reform agenda, included: o Trustbusting-tougher stance on trusts. o Intervention-helped settle the Coal Strike of 1902 (federal intervention in labor disputes)

Examples of Government Reform Cont. Roosevelt’s Square Deal (Continued) Health and Safety-Meat Inspection Act (1906) and Pure Food and Drug Act (1906) Conservation-U.S. Forest Service (1905) – set aside hundreds of millions of acres of land for federal forests. Wilson’s New Freedom Woodrow Wilson elected president in Like Roosevelt, he believed the president should be active. New Freedom-Wilson’s progressive reform agenda that included: Stronger anti-trust law (Clayton Antitrust Act) Lower tariffs = lower prices for consumers (Underwood-Simmons Tariff) Federal Trade Commission – gave the government more power to investigate “unfair trade practices”.

Examples of Government Reform Cont. Wilson’s New Freedom Federal income tax - created by the 16th Amendment: First permanent income tax in American history Taxed individuals and corporate profits Graduated tax-Make more, pay more Brought a large amount of money into the government. 2 Federal Reserve Act (1914) – gave the United States its first central banking system since the Second National Bank in Wilson rejected the call for a private national bank and proposed a system of 12 district banks supervised by the Federal Reserve Board. Federal Farm Loan Act (1916) – provided low-interest rate loans to farmers. By 1916 Wilson supported women’s suffrage.

Gains Against Big Business Sherman Antitrust Act (1890): Prevented any business structure that “restrains trade” (trusts=large monopolies). Not effective-Supreme Court sided with business. Government stopped trying to enforce. Clayton Antitrust Act (1914): Expanded and strengthened the Sherman Act- outlawed price-fixing and prevents formation of trusts. Government had power to punish business managers who restricted competition. Court injunctions could not be used against labor unions.

De Brazza’s Monkey

Gains in Government Progressive reforms gave the people power to change state politics: Initiatives-voters propose legislation (not politicians/bosses). Referendum-voters approve legislation (not politicians/bosses). Recall-gave voters the power to remove elected officials. Secret Ballot-preserved integrity of the ballot box. Direct Primary-allowed people, not machines, to select candidates for public office. Before 1913, state legislatures chose members to the U.S. Senate (empowered bosses and corporate leaders). 17th Amendment (1914)-Allowed for the people to directly elect senators.

Gains in Local Government Reformers sought to make local governments work for the people, not the bosses and their political machines. New forms of government for cities: Commission-experts run separate departments=more efficient. City Council-people elect councils that make laws and select a manager=responsible to the people. Expanded to cities across the country quickly.

Gains in the Workplace Labor unions fought for changes and the workplace and achieved successes-limited work hours, regulated work conditions, and child labor laws. Keating Owen Act (1916)-goods produced by children could not shipped across state lines. Declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, but reformers had child labor laws passed in most states. Muller v. Oregon (1908)-upheld law that called for 10-hour workday for women. Other states passed similar laws. Bunting v. Oregon (1917) upheld similar law for men. Worker’s compensation for those injured/killed on the job.

Gains in Women’s Suffrage Women became more present in the workforce in the 20th century as the American economy grew. Movement benefited from strong leadership and organization-Susan B. Anthony and Carrie Chapman Catt. Catt argued that empowering women with the vote would allow to take better care of the families they were raising. More militant suffragists like Alice Paul. Women’s strong support for World War I leads to the passage of the 19th Amendment (gives women the right to vote) in 1920.

End of Progressive Movement World War I brings Progressive Era to an End-people became more concerned with foreign affairs than domestic as Europe goes to war in 1914.