The Populist and Progressive movement

POPULISM AND AGRARIAN UNREST Response to abuses Response to abuses Political issues of the Gilded Age: Political issues of the Gilded Age: Labor unrest Labor unrest Government reform Government reform Third-party movements Third-party movements

DEVELOPMENT OF POPULISM The Grange The Grange Farm movement against Railroad Farm movement against Railroad Deflation Deflation Farm prices fall Farm prices fall Farmers unable to pay debts Farmers unable to pay debts

THE POPULIST PARTY Leaders Leaders Thomas E. Watson Mary Elizabeth Lease Mary Elizabeth Lease Members Members Farmers Farmers Led by lawyers and other professionals Led by lawyers and other professionals

FARMER DEMANDS Cheap money Cheap money Establish postal savings banks Establish postal savings banks Federal loan programs Federal loan programs Graduated Federal income tax Graduated Federal income tax “Free Silver” “Free Silver”

1896 Election Bryan vs McKinley Bryan vs McKinley Free Silverites vs Goldbugs Free Silverites vs Goldbugs Bi-metallism vs Gold Standard Bi-metallism vs Gold Standard Agriculture vs Manufacturing Agriculture vs Manufacturing South and West vs North South and West vs North

1896 Election Politicians William Jennings Bryan William Jennings Bryan “Cross of Gold” Speech “Cross of Gold” Speech “Stump” for votes – 1 st to do “Stump” for votes – 1 st to do William McKinley William McKinley “Front Porch” campaign “Front Porch” campaign Stable appearance and backing from Marcus (Mark) Alonzo Hanna Stable appearance and backing from Marcus (Mark) Alonzo Hanna Middle class feared inflation Middle class feared inflation

Successes of the Populists Graduated income tax Graduated income tax Government loans to farmers Government loans to farmers Direct election of US senators Direct election of US senators Secret ballot, recall, initiative Secret ballot, recall, initiative Shorter workday Shorter workday Agriculture prices rose Agriculture prices rose

THE PROGRESSIVES White collar workers joined the farmers demand for reform White collar workers joined the farmers demand for reform Movement from three sources Movement from three sources Religion Religion The Press The Press Radical political groups - Socialists Radical political groups - Socialists

POLITICAL REFORM UNDER THE PROGRESSIVES started at the local level started at the local level Tactics Tactics “throw the rascals out” “throw the rascals out” Institutional changes Institutional changes –“gas and water socialism” –Commission government –Council-manager government

PROGRESSIVE POLITICAL REFORMS State Government reforms State Government reforms “Fighting Bob LaFollette” “Fighting Bob LaFollette” attack “interests” attack “interests” Taxes Taxes regulations regulations

OTHER POLITICAL REFORMS Secret Ballot - end vote fraud Secret Ballot - end vote fraud Initiative - citizens introduce bills by petition - state and federal Initiative - citizens introduce bills by petition - state and federal recall - removed officials before the end of their terms recall - removed officials before the end of their terms referendum - people vote on bills after passed by legislature referendum - people vote on bills after passed by legislature

OTHER POLITICAL REFORMS Direct primary - candidates selected by popular election instead of machines Direct primary - candidates selected by popular election instead of machines Direct election of senators - popular election rather than legislatures Seventeenth Amendment Direct election of senators - popular election rather than legislatures Seventeenth Amendment

MUCKRAKERS MUCKRAKERS Investigative journalism to expose disturbing conditions “Yellow Journalism” – simple sensationalism to boost sales Lincoln Steffens – city corruption Ida Tarbell – Standard Oil corrupt Upton Sinclair – The Jungle

PROGRESSIVE PRESIDENTS THEODORE ROOSEVELT THEODORE ROOSEVELT “Square Deal” “Square Deal” Belief that all people should have equal opportunity to succeed through strong personal ethics, a sense of fairness and adherence to the spirit of the law. Belief that all people should have equal opportunity to succeed through strong personal ethics, a sense of fairness and adherence to the spirit of the law.

Roosevelt’s Square Deal “Trust Busting” “Trust Busting” Northern Securities Company Northern Securities Company Hepburn Act passed Hepburn Act passed stricter controls over railroads stricter controls over railroads increased power of the ICC increased power of the ICC Coal Strike set precedent used office prestige to settle strike Coal Strike set precedent used office prestige to settle strike

Roosevelt’s Square Deal Pure Food and Drug Act Pure Food and Drug Act allowed government inspection for purity and safety allowed government inspection for purity and safety 1906 Meat Inspection Act 1906 Meat Inspection Act Conservation Conservation 1902 Newlands Act 1902 Newlands Act used the Forest Reserve Act used the Forest Reserve Act

Roosevelt’s Square Deal Conservation continued Conservation continued Unpopular alignment with the “Old Guard” (Conservative Republicans) Unpopular alignment with the “Old Guard” (Conservative Republicans)

WILLIAM HOWARD TAFT Roosevelt’s successor Roosevelt’s successor Problems Problems Payne-Aldrich Tariff Payne-Aldrich Tariff Ballinger-Pinchot Controversy Ballinger-Pinchot Controversy

WILLIAM HOWARD TAFT SUCCESSES SUCCESSES the REAL “Trust-buster” the REAL “Trust-buster” shaped a federal budget shaped a federal budget gained support for the 16th and 17th Amendments gained support for the 16th and 17th Amendments New Mexico and Arizona statehood New Mexico and Arizona statehood

WOODROW WILSON WILSON’S “NEW FREEDOM” WILSON’S “NEW FREEDOM” Monopolies were evil Monopolies were evil Federal power should be used to ensure equality of opportunity Federal power should be used to ensure equality of opportunity

WOODROW WILSON WILSON’S REFORMS WILSON’S REFORMS the Underwood Tariff the Underwood Tariff the Federal Reserve Act the Federal Reserve Act Central banking system with 12 district banks Central banking system with 12 district banks created a “flexible” money supply -AKA“elastic currency” created a “flexible” money supply -AKA“elastic currency”

WOODROW WILSON Wilson’s Reforms Continued Wilson’s Reforms Continued Anti-Trust Legislation Anti-Trust Legislation Federal Trade Commission Act Federal Trade Commission Act Clayton Anti-Trust Act Clayton Anti-Trust Act Keating- Owen Child Labor Act Keating- Owen Child Labor Act 1908 National Conference on Conservation 1908 National Conference on Conservation National Conservation Commission National Conservation Commission Enforced existing laws against illegal occupation of public lands Enforced existing laws against illegal occupation of public lands