Unit 7 Progressive Era

Roots of the Progressive Movement Reform Tradition (social injustices) Support of Women & Workers (favored women’s suffrage) Legacy of Populism (rural support) Socialism, Anarchism, Communism (wanted to end capitalism) Problems of Industrial Society (brutal working conditions) Rising Consumer Consciousness (government intervention needed) Influence of the Middle Class (urban support) New form of Journalism (human-interest stories) Social Gospel Movement (Protestant ministers offered support)

Early Progressives Muckrakers Exposed some of the most ugly problems of the new industrial society Wrote stories for McClure’s Magazine and American Magazine Started investigative journalism

Social Reform Jane Adams Ran a “settlement house” in Chicago know as Hull House These houses provided services like English lessons, childcare, and healthcare to immigrants and the urban poor Associations were established to promote social change American Bar Association National Women Suffrage Association NAACP Anti-Defamation League

State Reform Municipal Reform Social reform also began at the city level Cities realized public contracts were valuable and wanted to prevent corruption in awarding them Progressives introduced the use of city commissions or a city manager to discourage corruption Progressives thought this would make city governments more democratic and transparent, as well as less corrupt State Reform Robert La Follette of Wisconsin broke the power of political bosses and established regulatory commissions to regulate public utilities

Political Reforms Secret Ballot – Voters marked their ballots in private Initiative – Voters can introduce bills directly into state legislatures Referendum – Voters can repeal an already passed law Recall – Elected officials could be kicked out of office in special election Direct Primary – All party members voted for their nominee, not just party leaders Direct Election of Senators – 17th Amendment gave state citizens the power to vote for their U.S. Senators Women’s Suffrage – National Women Suffrage Association founded in 1869. Many individual states gave women the right to vote.

Social & Economic Reforms States began regulating conditions in urban housing, employment of young children, safety and health in factories, worker’s compensation, regulating railroads & public utilities, conserved natural resources, and prohibited alcohol Triangle Shirtwaist Factory – This disaster (146 female workers killed) and public outcry forced fire safety codes for factories

Four Women Reformers Susan B. Anthony - She published The Republican, and fought for women to have the right to vote Florence Kelley – Lived in Hull House in Chicago, fought to establish a minimum wage, and 8 hour workday, no child labor, and better working conditions. Carrie Chapman Catt – Became president of NAWSA, founded the League of Women’s Voters, fought for women’s rights overseas and international peace. Alice Paul – Organized a march in Washington D.C. for women’s suffrage, was arrested and went on a hunger strike in prison. Her tactics persuaded President Wilson to support an amendment supporting women’s suffrage. She later proposed the “equal Rights Amendment”

Progressive Presidents Theodore Roosevelt & the “Square Deal” Roosevelt loved being outdoors, and as president he created national parks and encouraged the conservation movement He also broke up the “bad” trusts in the U.S. and left the “good” trusts. He established government authority over business As president, he viewed his role as the manager of the people’s interest. He promised Americans a “Square Deal” of fair play and equal opportunities He also launched consumer protection laws….Meat Inspection Act, Pure Food and Drug Act….he also started the Interstate Commerce Commission to regulate the railroads

William Howard Taft Taft was supported by Roosevelt, and he continued many of Roosevelts reform ideas. Taft opposed restriction on immigration Taft prevented railroads from unreasonably raising rates Taft proposed the first corporate income tax and the 16th Amendment (individual income tax) Taft’s downfall was his inability to work politically with his own party angering many Progressive Republicans

Woodrow Wilson Wilson won the election of 1912 because Roosevelt and Taft split the Republican vote Wilson was cool and confident, and a good public speaker Revived the annual State of the Union Address to congress Promised a “New Freedom” for consumers by breaking up trusts and creating new competition, giving people more choices Started a graduated income tax, and the Federal Reserve System Strengthened the Sherman Antitrust Act by proposing the Clayton Antitrust Act & the Federal Trade Commission Act