Chapter 21 The Progressive Era

The Progressive Movement -An effort that started in the early 1900’s to bring government back to the people -An effort that started in the early 1900’s to bring government back to the people White collared workersWhite collared workers Religious groupsReligious groups Muckrakers Muckrakers Teddy Roosevelt named themTeddy Roosevelt named them Reported social injustices in business and governmentReported social injustices in business and government Mass circulation of magazinesMass circulation of magazines Upton Sinclair – The Jungle Upton Sinclair – The Jungle Meat packing industryMeat packing industry

Radicals Criticize Capitalism The Socialist Party The Socialist Party Organized by Eugene V. DebsOrganized by Eugene V. Debs Wanted to eliminate private ownership of the means of production – SocialismWanted to eliminate private ownership of the means of production – Socialism Progressives did not agree Progressives did not agree Liked CapitalismLiked Capitalism Wanted the government to deal with social issuesWanted the government to deal with social issues Two ways to reform Two ways to reform “Throwing the rascals out”“Throwing the rascals out” Making institutional changesMaking institutional changes

Reform Mayors Hazen Pingree – Detroit ( ) Hazen Pingree – Detroit ( ) Built schools, parks, and a lighting plantBuilt schools, parks, and a lighting plant Lowered street car and gas pricesLowered street car and gas prices Thomas Johnson – Cleveland ( ) Thomas Johnson – Cleveland ( ) Gave jobs to honest menGave jobs to honest men Held city meetings in circus tentsHeld city meetings in circus tents Socialist Mayors Socialist Mayors Took charge of water works and gas worksTook charge of water works and gas works

Commissions Commission form of government – A commission is put in place, with an expert in charge of a different city department Commission form of government – A commission is put in place, with an expert in charge of a different city department Council-manager form of government – The people elect a city council, then the council appoints a manager of the city departments Council-manager form of government – The people elect a city council, then the council appoints a manager of the city departments

State Reforms Reform Governor Robert M. La Follette Reform Governor Robert M. La Follette “Fighting Bob” reformed railroad business“Fighting Bob” reformed railroad business Taxed RR the same as all businesses Taxed RR the same as all businesses Set up commissions to regulate rates Set up commissions to regulate rates No free passes for state officials No free passes for state officials Direct Primary – Candidates for public office are chosen through a special election by the people, not by political machines Direct Primary – Candidates for public office are chosen through a special election by the people, not by political machines The 17 th Amendment The 17 th Amendment Ratified in 1913Ratified in 1913 Changed the way Senators took officeChanged the way Senators took office

Child Laws and Work Hours 1914 – Nearly all states required children to be in school till 14 and kids can not work until 14 as well 1914 – Nearly all states required children to be in school till 14 and kids can not work until 14 as well These laws did not cover farm work or domestic workThese laws did not cover farm work or domestic work 10 hour work days were passed in many states 10 hour work days were passed in many states Workers compensations laws Workers compensations laws

Teddy Gets Busy Theodore Roosevelt became president when McKinley was shot and killed in 1901 Theodore Roosevelt became president when McKinley was shot and killed in 1901 Re-elected in 1904Re-elected in 1904 “Square deal” “Square deal” The government should help out states and people when they need itThe government should help out states and people when they need it The Coal StrikeThe Coal Strike Workers wanted more pay, shorter hours, and a Union Workers wanted more pay, shorter hours, and a Union Mine owners were not giving in Mine owners were not giving in Roosevelt threatened to seize the mines if they did not agree to arbitration Roosevelt threatened to seize the mines if they did not agree to arbitration A deal was made for 10% raise, 9 hour work day, but no closed shop union. A deal was made for 10% raise, 9 hour work day, but no closed shop union.

More Regulation Attacked large Trusts that were hurting the public Attacked large Trusts that were hurting the public Railroads, beef industry, sugar trusts, etcRailroads, beef industry, sugar trusts, etc Railroad Reform Railroad Reform Elkins Act – It is illegal to give/receive rebates to shippers or RR officialsElkins Act – It is illegal to give/receive rebates to shippers or RR officials Hepburn Act – Gave the ICC power to set price ceilingsHepburn Act – Gave the ICC power to set price ceilings

Health Issues The Jungle The Jungle Made claims that the meat industry was unsanitaryMade claims that the meat industry was unsanitary Meat Inspection Act (1906) Meat Inspection Act (1906) Pure Food and Drug Act (1906) Pure Food and Drug Act (1906) Restrictions on the amount of pesticides usedRestrictions on the amount of pesticides used No misleading labelingNo misleading labeling Restrictions on medicine and prepared foodsRestrictions on medicine and prepared foods

Conservation Cities were polluting rivers and lakes Cities were polluting rivers and lakes Cutting and burning of forests Cutting and burning of forests Over farming Over farming Over grazing Over grazing Roosevelt responded by taking 148 million acres of land from public sale Roosevelt responded by taking 148 million acres of land from public sale Set up parks, sanctuaries, and national monumentsSet up parks, sanctuaries, and national monuments

After Roosevelt Taft is elected Taft is elected Promises to lower tariffs, create a federal income tax, and make new ant-trust lawsPromises to lower tariffs, create a federal income tax, and make new ant-trust laws Taft signed the Payne-Adrich Tariff Act Taft signed the Payne-Adrich Tariff Act It raised, not lowered tariffsIt raised, not lowered tariffs Conservation Conservation Taft appointed BallingerTaft appointed Ballinger He gave back protected land for public sale He gave back protected land for public sale Taft supported Joseph Cannon Taft supported Joseph Cannon Speaker of the House that nobody likedSpeaker of the House that nobody liked Cannon only appointed conservatives to committee postions Cannon only appointed conservatives to committee postions

The GOP Splits “New Nationalism” “New Nationalism” The federal government would use its power for “The welfare of the people” – T. RooseveltThe federal government would use its power for “The welfare of the people” – T. Roosevelt Roosevelt runs for President in 1912 Roosevelt runs for President in 1912 Republicans who supported Taft prevented Roosevelt supporters from entering the convention Republicans who supported Taft prevented Roosevelt supporters from entering the convention Roosevelt supporters formed the Progressive Party, also known as the Bull Moose PartyRoosevelt supporters formed the Progressive Party, also known as the Bull Moose Party

Progressive Party Nominated Roosevelt Nominated Roosevelt Ran on Progressive issues Ran on Progressive issues Direct election of senatorsDirect election of senators Women’s suffrageWomen’s suffrage Federal child labor lawsFederal child labor laws Minimum wage for womenMinimum wage for women 8 hour work day8 hour work day National worker compensationNational worker compensation Federal trade commission to regulate businessFederal trade commission to regulate business Woodrow Wilson (Dem) would win in 1912 Woodrow Wilson (Dem) would win in 1912 Split GOP was the reasonSplit GOP was the reason

Banking Elastic Currency Elastic Currency The amount of money in circulation would change depending on what the economy neededThe amount of money in circulation would change depending on what the economy needed Federal Reserve Act Federal Reserve Act The Nation is broken into 12 districtsThe Nation is broken into 12 districts Each one had a Federal Reserve bankEach one had a Federal Reserve bank State banks could join the systemState banks could join the system Federal Reserve System Federal Reserve System Regulates how much money is in the systemRegulates how much money is in the system The system was run by the Federal Reserve BoardThe system was run by the Federal Reserve Board

Trusts The Federal Trade Act The Federal Trade Act Set up the Federal Trade CommissionSet up the Federal Trade Commission Investigated unfair business practicesInvestigated unfair business practices Would tell companies to stop practices, or be shut down by the governmentWould tell companies to stop practices, or be shut down by the government The Clayton Antitrust Act The Clayton Antitrust Act Strengthened Sherman Antitrust ActStrengthened Sherman Antitrust Act Defined certain business practices illegalDefined certain business practices illegal Unions did not count as trustsUnions did not count as trusts Strikes, boycotts, and peaceful picketing were legalStrikes, boycotts, and peaceful picketing were legal