Bell Ringer What do you think was the biggest problem created during the Gilded Age? Why?

The Progressive Era Fixing the problems created by the Gilded Age

The Rise of Populism

Rise of Populism Better technology = more crops  lower prices & excess crops  higher debt for farmersBetter technology = more crops  lower prices & excess crops  higher debt for farmers High tariffsHigh tariffs Farmers felt victimized by banks and railroadsFarmers felt victimized by banks and railroads Failure of labor unionsFailure of labor unions Rise in immigrationRise in immigration

Rise of Populism National Grange of the Order of Husbandry (The Grange) and Farmer’s Alliance: ▫Farmer’s associations ▫Sought regulation of the RR, bank reform ▫Limited political success ▫Provided community and education for distant farmers Developed the People’s Party (Populists) – made up of farmers and industrial workers. “Raise less corn and more hell” - Mary Elizabeth Lease

The Omaha Platform: Government control of the railroads Limits on immigration A shortened workweek Free coinage of silver Eventually achieved most of their goals, though not for many years or through their own party

The Currency Question The Gold Standard “Gold Bugs” Fair repayment of debts Republicans Big business Banks The Silver Standard “Silverites”/“Free Silver” Easier repayment of debts Populists; some Democrats Westerners

“…you shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns. You shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold.”

Progressivism: A broad reform movement of the early 20th century that arose as a response to modernization and industrialization ▫Government should be more involved in solving the problems created by immigration and industrialization ▫Progressives were usually urban, middle- class Americans.

Election of 1880 Split in Republican Party ▫Stalwarts: Supported traditional machine politics and the spoils system ▫Half-Breeds: Supported civil service reform Grover Cleveland (D) v. James G. Blaine (R) ▫LOTS of mudslinging ▫Mugwumps: Half-Breed Republicans voted Democrat over the Stalwart candidate Pendleton Civil Service Act: Required merit to receive government positions

City Reforms Increasing government eficiency ▫Experts, not politicians City Governments ▫Mayor-Council Form ▫Council-Manager Form ▫Commission Form Voters Mayor Heads of City Departments City Council Voters City Council Mayor City Manager Heads of City Departments Voters City Council City Manager City Commissioners

State Reforms Robert LaFollette (WI): Proposed that candidates be nominated through a direct primary Initiative Referendum Recall

National Reform 16 th Amendment: Income Tax 17 th Amendment: Direct election of senators 19 th Amendment: Women’s suffrage

Frederick Taylor’s scientific management Interstate Commerce Commission Sherman Anti-Trust Act and Clayton Anti- Trust Act Labor unions emerge Early Business Reform

Mother Jones Organized strikes and boycotts ▫Children’s March Co-founder of Industrial Workers of the World (IWW, AKA: “Wobblies”) “Philadelphia’s mansions were built on the broken bones, the quivering ears, and drooping heads of these children… Some day the workers will take possession of your city hall, and, when we do, no child will be sacrificed on the altar of profit!”

Campaign Against Child Labor Over 1.7m children under 16 earning <$1/day (1900) ▫The Bitter Cry of the Children – John Spargo ▫Lewis Hine Children’s Bureau Horace Mann – Compulsory education

Health and Safety Reform March 25, 1911, a fire broke out at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in NYC. 146 female garment workers died from the fire or jumped to their deaths.

Results of the Fire Regulations on hours and conditions in factories: Worker’s compensation Fire safety equipment Health and safety procedures Zoning laws passed to organize cities’ business and residential needs.

Gospel of Wealth – Andrew Carnegie The rich have a moral obligation to give away their fortunes to benefit the community ▫Moral Philanthropy ▫Mixed reactions The Giving Pledge (2012) ▫Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, George Lucas