Brought to You By: Zach “the Big Handsome” Werlinger Cody “the Dirt Farmer” Conrad CQ7o

 1900s – 76 million Americans, 1 out 7 foreign born  A new reform movement immediately began, led by "Progressives". Their goals were to stop monopolies, corruption, inefficiency, and social injustice.  Strengthen the state  The roots of Progressivism began with the Greenback Party (1870's) and the Populist Party (1890's).  PEN-WIELDING KNIGHTS!  Other causes gained steam during the Progressive era.

 Room in a Tenement Flat, 1910

 Around 1902, a new group of social critics emerged—the muckrakers. They typically exposed what they saw as corruption or injustice in writings.  They were called "muckrakers" first by Teddy Roosevelt.  The muckrakers were very active and prolific…  “Muckrakers were loud about the ills, but didn't offer cures.”

In his muckraker speech (1906), Theodore Roosevelt said, “Now, it is very necessary that we should not flinch from seeing what is vile and debasing. There is filth on the floor, and it must be scraped up with the muck rake; and there are times and places where this service is the most needed of all the services that can be performed. But the man who never does anything else, who never thinks or speaks or writes, save of his feats with the muck rake, speedily becomes, not a help but one of the most potent forces for evil.”

 The progressives generally came from the middle class.  Broadly dispersed supporters  Progressives pushed for a variety of political reforms to help their cause:  Initiative  Referendum  Recall  Secret ballot – Australian ballot  Direct election  Female suffrage

 Jane Addams and Fellow Pacifists, 1915

 Progressivism really got its start and took off on a more local level rather than national.  Galveston, TX successfully used the city- manager system.  Local Progressives cracked down on "slumlords," rampant prostitution, and juvenile delinquency.  Wisconsin was the Progressive leader for states.

 Women were an indispensable catalyst in the Progressive army.  Court decisions impacted women.  Muller v. Oregon (1908)  Lochner v. New York  Alcohol had long been under fire by women.  During the Progressive era, temperance would reach its peak.

 President Roosevelt had been moved the by muckrakers and the Progressives' ideals. He pursued the "three C's": (1) control of the corporations, (2) consumer protection, and (3) conservation of natural resources.  A strike took place in 1902 at the anthracite coal mines of Pennsylvania. The workers called for a 20% pay increase and a reduction of work hours from 10 to 9 hours.  Roosevelt called on Congress to form the Dept. of Commerce and Labor, which it did. The department split in half ten years later.

 The Interstate Commerce Commission (1887) had been designed to regulate railroads but it was proving to be ineffective. Therefore, it was decided more needed to be done.  Elkins Act  Hepburn Acts  Teddy Roosevelt nurtured the reputation of a trust buster. TR concluded, however that there were "good trusts" and there were "bad trusts." The bad trusts had to go.  Northern Securities Company

 Modern-day political parties still reflect some of the views of the original Progressives in the early 1900s.  Progressive Democrats are usually recognized as what we know as Liberals.  Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton claim to be Progressives.  Progressive Republicans are typically called RINOS (Republican in Name Only).  Both believe in a big government, big spending, and more control of the people, but Liberals more than Republicans.