The Gilded Age and the Progressive Movement Chapter 21 Section 1 The Gilded Age and the Progressive Movement

The Problems of the late 1800s Poverty The spread of Slums Poor working conditions in factories Economic depression Corrupt politicians Corporations with lots of control

Solutions to the Problems SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEMS? -- A reform movement known as Progressivism The Progressives had 3 Major Goals 1. Expand Democracy 2. Protect Social Welfare 3. Create Economic Reform

Political Machines Organized group that controlled the activities of a political party in a city and offered services to voters and businesses in exchange for political or financial support. Traded favors for votes Committed illegal acts / accepted bribes Tammany Hall Machine in NYC – Wm. Tweed - stole from city Also built parks, sewers, schools, roads, helped immigrants find jobs/homes (supported them gratefully)

The Political Machine, Cont. Closely connected to urban growth was the emergence of the powerful city machine The machines traded services for votes Streets Buildings Public services Immigrants were in need of even more services

Organization of Political Machine Precinct Workers – Worked to gain voters’ support on a city block or in a neighborhood and reported to the ward boss. Ward Boss – Helped the poor and gained votes by doing favors or providing services. In return for votes they would provide city jobs, contracts or appointments. City Boss – Controlled thousands of municipal jobs, including police, fire and sanitation departments. Controlled business licenses and inspections. Had a lot of influence over courts and other municipal agencies.

ROLE OF THE POLITICAL BOSS The “Boss” (typically the mayor) controlled jobs, business licenses, and influenced the court system Precinct captains and ward bosses were often 1st or 2nd generation immigrants so they helped immigrants with naturalization, jobs, and housing in exchange for votes Boss Tweed ran NYC

MUNICIPAL GRAFT AND SCANDAL Some political bosses were corrupt Some political machines used fake names and voted multiple times to ensure victory (“Vote early and often”) – called Election fraud Graft (bribes) was common among political bosses Construction contracts often resulted in “kick-backs” The fact that police forces were hired by the boss prevented close scrutiny

William Marcy Tweed Became head of New York City’s Tammany Hall in 1863 Tammany Hall was the powerful Democratic political machine Between 1869 and 1873, the Tweed Ring pocketed as much as $200 million from the city in kickbacks and payoffs

What are some examples of Boss Tweed corruption?

Jane Addams and Hull House Reformers Organize The Social Gospel Movement preached salvation through service to the poor Some reformers established Settlement Homes These homes provided a place to stay, classes, health care and other social services Jane Addams was the most famous member of the Settlement Movement (founded Hull House in Chicago)

CIVIL SERVICE REPLACES PATRONAGE Nationally, some politicians pushed for reform in the hiring system The system had been based on Patronage; giving jobs and favors to those who helped a candidate get elected Reformers pushed for an adoption of a merit system of hiring the most qualified for jobs The Pendleton Civil Service Act of 1883 authorized a bipartisan commission to make appointments for federal jobs based on performance Applicants for federal jobs are required to take a Civil Service Exam

Expanding Democracy & Voting Reforms More people should be receiving benefits of democracy Direct Primary: voters choose candidates Initiative: voters propose laws directly Referendum: law is proposed – people vote either for it, or against it Recall: voters directly remove somebody from elected office 17th Amendment: U.S. Senators are now elected directly by the voters

Robert La Follette Known as “Fighting Bob” Served as Wisconsin governor and later as senator Spearheaded many Progressive reforms Decreased power of political machines Fought for clean government Fought for laws that made politicians accountable

The Rights of Women and Minorities Chapter 21 Section 3 The Rights of Women and Minorities

Goals of the Progressives The goals of the Progressives were many They regularly fought for laws – Against child labor That promoted democracy That created economic reforms

Female Progressives The early 1900s saw a spike in the number of college-educated women Many were pushed away from male-dominated professions, leading many educated women into Progressive causes Temperance Women’s suffrage Child Welfare & Political reform

The Temperance Movement Called for the avoidance and elimination of alcohol The Woman’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) fought for state/local laws restricting alcohol Many saw alcohol as a social evil, which led to violence against women and children Movement led to the passage of the 18th Amendment

The Suffrage Movement Opinions varied on why some believed women should not vote. Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony founded the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) Some women earned the right to vote on a state-by-state basis Wyoming first, followed by Colorado, Idaho, & Utah

Other female suffragists and aspects of the movement Carrie Chapman Catt: Pres. of the NAWSA, helped to mobilize more than 1 million members Alice Paul: Founded the National Woman’s Party (NWP). Used parades, demonstrations, picketing, etc. to draw attention to the movement 19th Amendment: Granted Women the right to vote. Ratified in 1920.

Discrimination faced by African Americans Economic hardships Lynching: Racially motivated murders, usually inflicted upon African-Americans for violation of a social code. More than 3,000 African-Americans lynched between 1885-1915. Barriers to voting Literacy Tests Poll Taxes Grandfather Clauses

Segregationists in the South tried to weaken the political power for Black people. How did they do this with each of the following tactics? a. Literacy Tests – Difficult, nearly impossible test to determine ability to read/write. b. Poll Taxes – Fee charged to Blacks only for the purposes of voting c. Grandfather Clause – Voting rule that stated you could vote as long as your grandfather had the right to vote

African American Leaders vs. Discrimination Booker T. Washington: Fought vs. discrimination by encouraging African Americans to improve educational and economic conditions W.E.B. Du Bois: Called for direct action and protests of racial injustice. NAACP: Early Civil Rights group that attacked discrimination through court cases.

The Progressive Presidents Chapter 21 Section 4 The Progressive Presidents

Teddy Roosevelt Became President in 1901 when Pres. William McKinley was assassinated Became the first “Progressive” President Wanted to ensure a “square-deal” or “fairness” for workers, consumers, and business

Roosevelt the “trust-buster” The Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890 made it illegal for corporations to form trusts (stops businesses from controlling an entire industry) Roosevelt was the first president to enforce the Sherman Antitrust Act Broke up the railroad, tobacco, and Standard Oil Company trusts Also targeted poor conditions in meat-packing plants Largely caused by Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle

Roosevelt & Conservation T.R. was very worried about the loss of natural resources Preserved more than 200 million acres Wildlife refuges National parks Protected the Grand Canyon in Arizona

William H. Taft Taft won the presidency in 1908, promising continued Progressive reforms As president, Taft upset Progressives by not aggressively pursuing reforms Taft passed the Payne-Aldrich Tariff of 1909 Roosevelt and Progressives furious with Taft

Promoting Social Welfare Aid to the unemployed Minimum wage laws Limits on the number of hours women and children could work Prohibition

Creating Economic Reform Breaking up Trusts Regulating industry The Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890 made it illegal for corporations to form trusts (stops businesses from controlling an entire industry)