Mass Culture and Origins of the Progressive Movement

Agenda 1. Bell Ringer: How would the South limit the rights of African Americans in the Gilded Age? 2. Notes: Mass Culture in the 1880s (20 minutes) 3. Sears and Roebuck Catalog Excerpts, Discussion (15 minutes) 4. Origins of Progressivism (20) 5. Chart Analysis and Local and State Efforts (25 minutes) HW:

Mass Culture Leisure included Amusement Parks such as Coney Island. Bicycling and Tennis became popular for men and women. Increase in women’s freedom Baseball became an American pastime. Mark Twain and fiction becomes dominant theme of the time. Rural Free Delivery would connect the country and send catalogs so people could purchase goods. The Amazon.com of 1900.

Origins of Progressivism Four major goals of Progressivism Protecting Social Welfare - Social Gospel movement and settlement houses attempted to improve living conditions for the poor immigrant population Promoting Moral Improvement Prohibition became a dominant subject, banning the sale of liquor and other alcohol. Carry Nation would go into saloons and break liquor bottles to limit consumption.

3. Creating Economic Reform - Eugene V 3. Creating Economic Reform - Eugene V. Debs, a labor leader, would embrace a socialist mindset. He claimed that free-market capitalism expanded the poor and limited advancement. - Muckrakers would look into corruption and bad business practices and advocate for change. - Upton Sinclair and the Jungle. 4. Fostering Efficiency - There were studies to see how long it took someone to complete a task. That would increase efficiency at the expense of the worker.

Local Level Progressivism Local governments were reformed to be more efficient. Galveston, TX devastated by a hurricane, relief efforts were hampered by the government so a “Commission” was set up. Council Manager layout also became popular. It had a manager run day to day operations with a council to make laws. Mayors also promoted reform at the local level, advocating for progressive ideas such as tax structures and creating parks.

State Level Progressivism Reform governors such as Robert La Follette would attempt to regulate big business. Attempted to regulate the railroad monopoly, by removing them from government operations. Child Labor was also questioned, and while nationally it was not successful, statewide there were limits placed on working hours and banned child labor below a certain age. Muller v. Oregon would limit working hours for women to ten hour days, supporting state efforts to help workers. Worker’s Compensation upon death was also passed during this period.

Election Reform Voters gained more power to decide laws and remove corrupt public officials. They also began secret ballots, ending the intimidation of big business to have their workers vote for a certain candidate. Prior to 1913, each state chose senators from legislative branch of state government. 17th Amendment was passed, allowing for direct election of senators.