1. The Progressive Era 1893 – 1920 What does it mean to be “progressive”? Progressivism (urban), like Populism (rural) before it, was an effort to help the common man. The Gilded Age had produced many problems. The Progressive Era would try to remedy those problems.

2. Inequality in America The Panic of 1983 caused wide economic depression. The gap between rich and poor continued to grow. American workers were poorly paid and worked long hours in unsafe conditions. Many women and children were forced to work.

3. The Rich get Richer The Poor get Poorer While the average American suffered, wealthy Americans enjoyed large estates, yachts, and all the best that money could buy. In 1900, Andrew Carnegie was worth 25 million dollars. The average worker made $10 per week. In 1904, 12% of the population was “underfed, underclothed, and poorly housed”. The poor could not turn toward the government for help for the rich dominated it too.

4. The Rise of Socialism Frustrated with their lives and government, some Americans turned toward socialism. Edward Bellamy’s novel told a tale of a man waking up in the year 2000 to find all business merged into a giant company run by the people. In this future world there was no crime or poverty. There was also plenty of time for leisure. Bellamy’s socialistic future world sounded great to many poor Americans. His novel sold over 1 million copies.

5. Eugene V. Debs Many Americans began to seek change. Eugene V. Debs, the former leader of the American Railway Union, preached to workers to take control of the government. He formed the American Socialist Party and later ran for president. He received nearly 1 million votes in the 1912 election.

6. The Wobblies In 1905, Debs and another socialist Daniel De Leon, formed a labor union, the Industrial Workers of the World. The I.W.W. declared “the working class and the employing class have nothing in common”. They talked of murder and sabotage to achieve their goals. By the time of World War 1, Americans grew tired of their radical confrontational ways. Americans sought new more moderate progressive leaders to find solutions to their problems.

7. Enter the Progressives Progressives were people who wanted to wanted to change America for the better. Progressives were both Democrats and Republicans. They were from all parts of the country and in all levels of government. They were from all walks of life and all income levels. They were both male and female.

8. Social Gospel Social Gospel developed among priests, rabbis and ministers in the United States. Its message was to tell the poor in the United States that they were not evil or condemned because of their poverty. A religious organization founded by William Booth called the Salvation Army set up groups in every major American City to help the poor by providing food, clothing, and shelter William Booth

9. Jane Addams Many of the leading Progressives were women. Jane Addams founded Hull House in Chicago, a settlement house for immigrants. Florence Kelly established the National Consumers League which boycotted companies that used child labor and/or had unsafe working conditions. Julia Lathrop founded the U.S. Children’s Bureau in the Department of Labor in 1912.

10. Pragmatism The idea was to test scientific methods to see if the results were “possible”. The concept was promoted by Harvard Philosopher William James. This method was adopted by Progressives to test solutions to solving social problems. Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. used pragmatic thinking in his decisions as a member of the U.S. Supreme Court.

11. Muckrakers The term was coined by Teddy Roosevelt. It is used to describe writers of the time that exposed social and governmental problems of the Gilded Age. Perhaps the most well known was Upton Sinclair. Sinclair’s novel The Jungle discussed the unsanitary conditions in the meatpacking industry. His book led to governmental reforms in the area of food and drugs.

12. Other Famous Muckrackers Ida Tarbell – The History of Standard Oil Ray Stanndard Baker – Following the Color Line Lincoln Steffens – The Shame of the Cities Frank Norris – The Octopus Sinclair Lewis - Babbitt

13. The Reform Movement What is meant by reform? Reform requires new solutions to old problems. What needed to be reformed in the Gilded Age? Reform occurred in all levels of government.

14. Different Types of Reform After a devastating hurricane hit Galveston, Texas in 1900, the city instituted a commission style government to meet the needs of the city. The traditional mayor- council government could not handle the city’s many problems. A panel of 5 commissioners could each tackle a different aspect of the city’s reconstruction.

15. The City-Manager Plan With the success of the commission plan of government in Texas, other cities sought new types of government as well. A different type of city government which developed was the City- Manager type. Cities hired a manager (usually an engineer) to run the city. The idea was based on how companies hire mangers to operate their businesses.

16. Voting Reforms Robert La Follette, a reformer from Wisconsin, found ways to keep party machines from controlling politics in his state. The direct primary allowed for the people to choose the candidates to run for office rater than the political bosses. By using Australian ballots, voters could vote secretly without anyone knowing their choices.

17. Robert La Follette La Follete adopted other methods to empower voters in his state. Initiative gave voters the right to introduce legislation. Referendum allowed voters to vote on proposed laws. Recall was the power to remove politicians by popular vote. “Fighting Bob” La Follette

18. Progressive Amendments In 1913, the 17 th Amendment was added to the Constitution calling for the direct election of Senators Also in 1920, after many hard fought years, women gained the right to vote with the 19 th Amendment (Women could vote in some state elections prior to this.)

19. Consumer Protection Caveat Emptor – Let the buyer beware. Progressives, like Charles Evans Hughes, sought to protect consumers from the dishonest practices of business. President Theodore Roosevelt called on Congress to pass the Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Act (in response to Sinclair’s The Jungle). The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was formed in the Federal Government.

20. Protecting Workers Progressives worked with Labor Leaders to obtain workers’ compensation. In 1903, in Muller v. Oregon, a Supreme Court Case, women won the right to work as long as they wanted. Child Labor Laws were passed and the Children’s Bureau was established (in response to John Spargo’s book, The Bitter Cry of Children).

21. Additional Reforms Tax Reform – 16 th Amendment Regulation of Public Utilities (Water, Gas, Electric, etc.) Conservation Laws Public Education Requirements Prohibition – 18 th Amendment (passed after the protest from groups like the Women’s Christian Temperance Union.)

22. The Limits of Progressivism Reform was much easier to achieve at the state and local levels. National reform was much more difficult and happened less frequently. Congressional reform was weakened by party politics and conservatism. The Supreme Court however did rule favorably on reform issues several times during the early 1900s.

23. Reform and the “New Americans” Mass immigration from Southern and Eastern Europe created new problems in The U.S.. Since many could not read and write English more public education was necessary. Labor Unions wanted laws passed to restrict immigration or give literacy tests to the new arrivals. Some “New Immigrants” brought new ideas about government like socialism and anarchism. Progressives wanted to reform American Government not abolish it.

24. Little Progress for Racial Equality For the many “progressive” ideas that the reformers had, racial equality was not one of them. While President Theodore Roosevelt invited Booker T. Washington to the White House, he ignored the plight of African-Americans. This lack of acknowledgement forced African-Americans to seek their own leaders to solve their problems.

25. New Black Leadership W.E.B. DuBois did not like Booker T. Washington’s passive views on racial equality. DuBois felt the racial discrimination and educational equality had to be demanded immediately. He and other African-Americans met in Niagara Falls in 1905 to discuss solutions to their problems. Out of this conference, the N.A.A.C.P. was formed.

26. The End of the Progressive Era Even though two reform amendments were passed later than 1916, the Progressive Era ended with America’s entry into World War 1. As the civilized world was being torn apart by war, the United States had to look outside its borders to solve its problems. Progress and reform would be placed on the back- burners of American politics for nearly two decades.

27. Progressive Presidents Teddy Roosevelt becomes president upon the death of President McKinley. “The Square Deal” Trustbusting (good and bad trusts) 1904 Supreme Court Case – Northern Securities – violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act Creation of the Department of Commerce and Labor

28. No Teddy Bear Coal Strike 1902 – U.M.W. on strike against the mine owners. Roosevelt threatens to use the Army to take over the mines. By using the power of his office and his strong personality, Roosevelt forced the two sides to talk and end the strike.

29. Protecting Mother Nature Teddy Roosevelt was a hunter and “outdoorsman”. Conservation Movement – John Muir Yellowstone National Park created in 1872 National Park Program Influenced many later and modern preservation movements.

30. Protecting the Environment Newlands Reclamation Act – helping to irrigate arid lands in the West Forest Reserve Act – set aside land for federal forests National Conservation Commission – protection of the nations natural resources

31. Federal Regulations Despite negative feelings toward Roosevelt by “Old Guard”, Roosevelt was elected to a full term in 1904. He immediately went after the railroads who had been using unfair business practices against costumers and shippers. Roosevelt got Congress to pass the Hepburn Act in 1906 to bolster the power of the I.C.C. to regulate the railroad industry. The most important part of the act was giving the I.C.C. the power to “fix rates” to protect customers. Another important victory for Roosevelt was the passage of the Meat Inspection Act in 1906.

32. A Man of Peace In 1906, Theodore Roosevelt was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace for negotiating a settlement to the Russo-Japanese War. The two sides had met in New Hampshire with Roosevelt serving as mediator. As part of the agreement, Japan was given Manchuria a mineral rich area of China. Roosevelt had also helped organize the Hague Peace Conferences shortly before the outbreak of World War 1.

33. The Best of the Progressives It could be argued that Teddy Roosevelt was the best of the Reform Era Presidents. Though wealthy, he championed the cause of the common man against the abuses of big business and bad government. His presidency brought a “square deal” to every American. The effects of his administration continues to impact the people of America today.

34. William Howard Taft Taft was the “hand-picked” successor to Theodore Roosevelt. He had served as the 1 st governor of the Philippines. He did not really wish to be president, but rather desired to serve as a judge. Taft is the only person to serve as both the President and as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

35. Tariff Reform Taft had promised tariff reform. As president he signed the Payne-Aldrich Tariff into law which did lower tariffs to a small degree. Many reformers felt betrayed by Taft for doing this. Taft had begun his presidency by alienating fellow Republicans almost immediately.

36. Reversing Reform A rift developed between Taft’s Secretary of the Interior Richard Ballinger and The Chief Forester Gifford Pinchot (a friend of Teddy Roosevelt). Ballinger wanted to sell off Federal Forest Land which Roosevelt had set aside. Pinchot a strict conservationist objected to this. Taft sided with Ballinger and fired Pinchot. Reformers were outraged at Taft for not supporting conservation measures.

37. Rebellion in the Republican Party Some Republicans had become angered at Taft. The were known as “the Insurgents”. The Insurgents began to move against Taft and the Old Guard Republicans (non-Progressives). In 1910, the Insurgents greatly limited the power of “Uncle Joe” Cannon, the Speaker of the House (Old Guard Republican) and an ally of Taft. Cannon had been like a dictator in the House and had opposed conservation and progressive measures.

38. The Split Roosevelt had become upset with his successor and in 1912 decided to seek the presidency again. Roosevelt promised the American people a New Nationalism (a very progressive agenda). The Republican Party refused to nominate Roosevelt over Taft. Roosevelt turned around and formed his own party (The Progressive Party a.k.a Bullmoose Party)

39. The Presidential Election of 1912 The Candidates Woodrow Wilson – Democratic Party William Howard Taft – Republican Party Teddy Roosevelt – Progressive Party Eugene V. Debs – Socialist Party Eugene Chafin – Prohibition Party

40. The Bull Moose Party Roosevelt decided to seek a third term (despite having said he wouldn’t) to unseat his former friend Taft. When the Republican Party failed to nominated him, Roosevelt formed his own party – The Progressive Party. The Progressive Party was soon called the “Bull Moose Party”. The name came from a quote from Roosevelt. When asked if he was too old to be president Teddy responded, “I’m as strong as a bull moose!”

41. The New Freedom In reality, all Teddy Roosevelt managed to do was split the Republican Party vote in the election and allow for the victory of the Democrat, Woodrow Wilson. Wilson announced he would bring “new freedom” to America. Wilson wished to have Americans free of the monopolistic practices of “big business” and to enjoy the freedom of economic equality. Wilson was able to continue the progressive measures his predecessors had started.

42. The Convict The former leader of the American Railway Union and I.W.W., Eugene Debs also ran for the presidency in 1912 as the Socialist Party candidate. Debs had been arrested and jailed in 1893 for refusing a court order to end a railroad strike against the Pullman Railway Company. Over 100,000 railroad workers had joined the strike in what was called “Debs Rebellion”. Debs and seven other A.R.U. leaders were convicted of contempt of court and were sent to prison. Because they served their time in Woodstock, Illinois, the group was referred to as the “Woodstock Eight” (Debs converted to Socialism while in prison there).

43. Wilsonian Democracy The election of 1912 clearly showed that the American people wanted progressive reforms from their government. With the support of Democrats in the Congress, Wilson set out on a campaign to use the power of the federal government to rid the nation of its evils. Evils which he identified as the “inexcusable waste of natural resources” and ending of the use of government “for private and selfish purposes”.

44. Making America a Better Place Wilson was concerned with the “human cost” of what was happening in American government and society. For the most part his progressive measures were designed to protect the underprivileged against the wealthy and powerful. His goals were to seek reform in tariffs, banking, opportunity in business, and in conserving the nation’s natural resources.

45. Reform Measures The Underwood Tariff – the first major reduction in tariffs since 1857. The 16 th Amendment – Federal Income Tax – made up for revenues lost due to tariff reform. The Federal Reserve Act – reformed/ regulated the banking system and established the “lending rate” Creation of the Federal Trade Commission – enforced fair trade practices in business. Clayton Antitrust Act – designed to halt business practices which threatened competition (severe price cutting, tying contracts, interlocking directorates, etc.)

46. Danbury Hatters Case Antitrust legislation had proved at times to be a double-edged sword. It sometimes was used against labor unions. When workers at the Danbury Hat Company boycotted their employer, the company was able to prove that their actions “restricted free trade” The Clayton Antitrust Act was carefully worded to exclude labor unions.

47. Wilson and African Americans Like most other Progressives, Wilson basically ignored the plight of African Americans. Like many whites of the time, Wilson believed in the policy of segregation. In the nation’s capital, segregation of many public places as-well-as government buildings became the norm under Wilson. African Americans, many who had supported Wilson in his presidential bid, turned against him and his racial prejudice.

48. The 19 th Amendment Originally President Wilson had not supported giving women the right to vote. However, during his second term as president, the 19 th Amendment was passed. This amendment, also known as the Women’s Suffrage Amendment, had been fought for by women such as Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton for many years