The Progressive Era 1890-1920 Chapter 18 Section 1

Progressivism Progressivism – different reform mvmts going on at the same time Progressives b/l… Industrialism and urbanization had created many social problems Govt. needs to take an active role in solving society’s problems Progressives belonged to both of the political parties and were usually urban, educated middle-class Americans

The Beginnings Reaction against laissez-faire economics B/c of the poverty, filth and crime of urban The current corrupt govt. needs to be fixed b/f it could fix the problems in America Muckrakers – crusading journalists who investigated social conditions and political corruption Muckrakers exposed… Unfair practices of large corporations, govt. corruption and social problems, etc.

Political Reforms Direct primary – all party members could vote for a candidate to run in the general election To prevent party bosses from controlling the selection of convention delegates Three new reforms… Initiative – allowed a group of citizens to introduce legislation and required the legislature to vote on it

Political Reforms Referendum – allowed voters to proposed legislation to be submitted to the voters for approval Recall – allowed voters to demand a special election to remove an elected official from office b/f his term had expired The electoral changes were in an effort to enforce state legislators to respond to voters

Electing Senators Originally in the US Constitution… Each state legislature was to elect 2 senators from that state This had b/c a problem b/c political machines or large trusts often influenced the election of senators They were repaid w/ federal contracts and jobs Muckrakers charged that the Senate had b/c corrupt due to the process of electing senators

A New Process Progressives called for the direct election of senators 1912 – Congress passes a direct-election amendment Senators would be directly elected by all state voters 1913 – This b/c the 17th Amendment to the Constitution

Seneca Falls Convention Seneca Falls, NY in 1848 Organized by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott The first women’s rights convention Their first priority was women’s suffrage Suffrage – the right to vote Begins the Suffrage Movement – getting women the right to vote

The NAWSA 1890 – National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) Organization led by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony Led marches, protests, women to b/c politically active They were interested in negotiating w/ political leaders to gain ground They didn’t want to be too aggressive

The NWP The National Woman’s Party – 1913 Created by Alice Paul – a Quaker social worker To be more aggressive in the fight for suffrage They wanted to use protests to force President Wilson to take action on suffrage Picketed the White House Blocked sidewalks Chained themselves to lampposts Went on hunger strikes if arrested

Political Allies The NAWSA supported Wilson in the election of 1916 Although Wilson did not endorse a woman’s suffrage amendment, he did support the Democratic Party’s call for states to give women the right to vote More and more states b/g to give women the right to vote Congress b/g to favor a Constitutional amendment

Finally Voting! 1918 – The House of Reps passed a woman suffrage amendment Wilson asked the Senate to vote for the amendment, but it failed by 2 votes 1919 – The Senate finally passed the 19th Amendment by a small margin of the 2/3 vote needed 1920 – after ¾ of the states had ratified it the 19th Amendment went into effect

Child Labor 1904 – National Child Labor Committee To abolish child labor Muckrakers helped to expose harsh child labor conditions States b/g to pass laws regarding child labor Minimum age for employment Maximum hours children could work Compulsory education laws – requiring young children to be in school instead of work

Temperance Many progressives blamed alcohol for the problems in American life Scarce wages spent on alcohol Drinking led to physical abuse and sickness Employers thought drinking hurt workers’ efficiency Temperance Movement – advocated the moderation of alcohol Mostly led by women

Prohibition The original goal of the Temperance movement was to reduce alcohol consumption The goal turned into prohibition Prohibition – laws banning the manufacture, sale, and consumption of alcohol

Progressives for Socialism? Some progressives b/l wealth was distributed unfairly Too few were rich, too many were poor Socialism – the idea that govt. should own and operate industry for the community as a whole Govt. buy up large companies that effected everyone (railroads and utilities) Most progressives did not support socialism