Origins of Progressive Movement Aim: How “progressive” were the Progressives?

What is Progressivism? A response to the social problems brought by industrialization and urbanization. Trying to make things better. Moving forward

What caused the problems? Who is to blame? Laissez-faire; no gov’t regulation of business or society.

How do we fix the problems? Fix government Use modern ideas, science, and technology to make gov’t more efficient and effective

Who were the muckrakers? Ida Tarbell —criticized unfair business practices like trusts. Wrote “History of Standard Oil”

Lincoln Steffens Shame of the Cities Exposed corruption in urban politics.

Jacob Riis How the Other Half Lives Photographer, exposed poverty in NYC immigrant neighborhoods.

John Spargo The Bitter Cry of the Children Child labor

Upton Sinclair The Jungle Exposed unsanitary conditions in meat-packing industry

Progressive Campaigns Government Commission Plan--new style of efficient city gov’t. Modern cities need experts, not politicians. City depts. should be run by professionals and led by a city manager.

Galveston Hurricane 1900 leaves 6000 dead and city ruined

Increased Democracy Wisconsin becomes the Laboratory of Democracy under Governor Robert La Follette Felt party bosses and political machines had too much influence. Direct primaries—party members vote for their party’s candidates Initiative, Referendum, and Recall 1. Initiative: citizens introduce legislation for vote 2. Referendum: citizens vote on legislation 3. Recall: special election to remove an official

17th Amendment Direct Election of Senators citizens now vote for their Senators rather than state legislators appointing them. Removed influence of political machines and big business.

19th Amendment Women’s Suffrage Document A: Votes for Women Leaders: Elizabeth Cady Stanton Lucretia Mott Susan B. Anthony Julia Ward Howe Alice Paul Carrie Chapman Catt Tactics marches, speeches, picketing, hunger strikes

1920 19th Amendment passes

Child Labor Document C: Child Labor New laws passed that set minimum ages and maximum hours Children’s Bureau (Taft) investigated child labor abuses Compulsory education laws required children to go to school

Health and Safety Codes Called for new safety regulations and workers compensation Set zoning laws and building codes Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire in NYC 1911—150 women died trapped in building

Temperance movement leads to to 18th Amendment Document B: Pledge for Temperance Temperance= moderation or elimination of alcohol Alcohol led to poverty and abuse Progressives wanted to remove the temptation.

Regulating Big Business and the Economy Sherman Anti-Trust Act —to break up large companies to restore competition Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) regulated big business Federal Trade Commission (FTC) —a watchdog agency to monitor business to ensure fair trade practices Clayton Anti-Trust Act —gave unions the right to exist

Federal Reserve Act 1913 a central bank system for US Allowed the government to direct and guide the economy by controlling the amount of money in circulation and setting interest rates.

Is Socialism the answer? Some Progressives believed the gov’t should own and operate major industry for the benefit of all Americans Eugene Debs ran for Pres in 1912 as the American Socialist Party candidate. Received almost 1 million votes!

Consumer Safety 1906—in response to The Jungle, Congress passes: Meat Inspection Act and Pure Food and Drug Act

Environmental Conservation Managing our natural resources Newlands Reclamation Act 1902 – large scale irrigation and development Western US Gov’t regulation of timber, mining, and water resources Established National Parks and wildlife preserves.

Presidents of the Progressive Era Theodore Roosevelt Promised a “Square Deal” Known as the “Trustbuster” Believed in “Gentlemen’s Agreements” His Legacy: Stronger executive branch, the modern Presidency

William Howard Taft Taft’s Progressive Reforms more of a trust-buster than TR est’d Children’s Bureau—to fight child labor Mann-Elkins Act—strengthened ICC Conservation—Bureau of Mines, more nat’l forests

TR—charismatic, well-liked, loved the spotlight, big ideas. HOW DID TAFT DIFFER FROM T.R.? TR—charismatic, well-liked, loved the spotlight, big ideas. Taft—legalistic, less ambitious, less popular

Woodrow Wilson Underwood Tariff—cut tariffs in half 16th Amendment Federal Reserve Federal Trade Commission Adamson Act– 8-hr workday Clayton Antitrust Act– recognized unions

Election of 1912 Democrats: Woodrow Wilson Republicans: William Taft Progressives: Theodore Roosevelt

Legacy of Progressivism What did it do? Increased the gov’t’s intervention in economic and social issues (also the public’s expectation of that intervention) What did it not do? Did not address racial discrimination. African-Americans began that fight themselves. Formed NAACP. (Met in Niagara Falls)

Discussion Questions How is Progressivism different from Populism? To what extent is there a trade-off between human needs and profit in a capital economy? Explain. Why did support for socialism increase during the Progressive Era? How did muckrakers use media to effect reform? How effective were muckrakers in achieving their goals? To what extent was the Progressive movement based in the middle class? How did Progressives envision the role of government in American life? Why did some opponents of Progressive reform argue that Progressives were insensitive to the poor? To what extent do you agree with opponents of Progressivism? Explain.

“All Politics Is Local” -- Speaker of the House Thomas P.O’Neill Jr. Why would O’Neill put forth this argument? To what extent do you agree with this argument? Explain. Read “My Story” How can we evaluate the success (or failure) of the Progressive movement? How can we explain the poor treatment of workers in the US today in light of Progressive reform? To what extent was reform by community members during the Progressive Era? To what extent should reform be driven by community members today?