1. The Roots of Progressivism

2. Progressivism
Not a unified political movement, but rather a broad range of reform movements
Rejected Social Darwinism, laissez-faire economics, & Individualism
Blamed industrialization & urbanization for the filth, crime, and poverty of American cities, yet embraced the power of science and technology to build a better society
Believed change can only come through government regulation of the economy and providing direct help to those in need
Progressives tended to be urban, educated, middle-class Americans
Leadership came from journalists, educators, social workers, and the clergy

3. Muckrakers
Journalists who investigate social conditions, unfair business practices, and political corruption (today, this is called “investigative journalism”)
Term first coined by Theodore Roosevelt in a 1906 speech

4. Ida Tarbell 1857 – 1944 Magazine journalist
Wrote The History of Standard Oil Company (1904), an expose of Rockefeller’s unethical business practices
For many Americans, this was their first lesson in the dangers of trusts and monopolies

5. Charles Edward Russell
1860 – 1941
Journalist
Exposed the conditions in Chicago’s stockyards, badly damaging the reputation of the beef industry
One of the founders of the NAACP in 1909
Later became a socialist, ran for office in NY

6. David Graham Phillips 1867 – 1911 Journalist / Novelist
Exposed how campaign contributions had led to corruption in the Senate; the public uproar that followed led to the passage of the 17th Amendment, changing how Senators are elected
Shot and killed by a man who believed Phillips’ exposé had led to the downfall of his family’s reputation

7. Lincoln Steffens 1846 – 1936 Journalist
Wrote The Shame of the Cities (1904), an exposé on political corruption within the US’ major cities
Later became a communist, declaring after a visit to the Soviet Union in 1919: “I've seen the future, and it works”

8. Jacob Riis 1840 – 1914 Danish immigrant
Worked as a journalist and crime scene photographer
Wrote How the Other Half Lives (1890): Used photographs to expose the squalor and horrible living conditions in the tenements and slums of NYC
Worked with then NYC police-commissioner Theodore Roosevelt to effect reforms within the NYPD

9. Progressive Philosophers

10. Henry George 1839 – 1897 Wrote Progress and Poverty (1879)
Argued that a gap was opening up between the rich and poor due to industrialization
Wanted government to tax the wealthy (through property taxes) to raise the money for social programs to help the poor
Also supported free trade, limits on Chinese immigration, use of secret ballots in voting
Died of a stroke while running for mayor of New York – over 100,000 people attended his funeral!

11. Lester Frank Ward 1841 – 1913 Wrote Dynamic Sociology (1883)
Used Darwin’s ideas to argue that humans were different from animals because of the ability to think and plan; we succeed not because of the ability to compete, but rather because we have the ability to cooperate (through government)
This idea is called Reform Darwinism

12. Edward Bellamy 1850 – 1898 Wrote Looking Backward, 2000 – 1887 (1888)
Predicted a future where the US has become a utopia – no crime, poverty, or politics, government owns all industry and distributes wealth equally
His cousin wrote the Pledge of Allegiance
Died of tuberculosis

13. Naturalists
Group of novelists who argued that, contrary to “survival of the fittest,” sometimes people fail through no fault of their own – they are caught up in circumstances that they can’t control; part of the Realism movement

14. Stephen Crane
1871 – 1900
Wrote Maggie, A Girl of the Streets (1893): tale of a girl forced by family circumstances into prostitution and death
Also wrote The Red Badge of Courage (1895), the short-story The Open Boat
Died of tuberculosis which he contracted while covering the Spanish-American War

15. Jack London 1876 – 1916 Author of The Call of the Wild (1903)
Wrote stories of man’s struggle against the uncontrollable power of nature
Also a socialist
Was his death a suicide?

16. Theodore Dreiser
1871 – 1945
Wrote Sister Carrie (1900): a story of how sex and wealth can slowly corrupt the innocent without them even being aware of it
Devoted socialist

17. The Social Gospel
1870 – 1920
Work to improve society through the biblical ideals of charity and justice
Primarily church-centered
Churches began to evolve from being simply places of worship to being community centers and taking on missions designed to help the poor – provide gyms, social programs, day care

18. The Salvation Army
Began in England in 1865 as the Christian Mission, spread to US in 1880
Dedicated to “The advancement of the Christian religion as promulgated in the religious doctrines the advancement of education, the relief of poverty, and other charitable objects beneficial to society or the community of mankind as a whole.”

19. The YMCA The Young Men’s Christian Association
Began in England in 1844, spread quickly throughout US
Aim was to help urban workers by offering Bible studies, prayer meetings, citizenship classes
Facilities included gyms, pools, libraries, auditoriums, and temporary low-cost lodging

20. Jane Addams
1860 – 1935
Founded Hull House, a settlement house in Chicago
First woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize
Supported the idea that Christians have a moral responsibility to fix society’s problems & help the less fortunate

21. Settlement Houses Most famous settlement house = Chicago’s Hull House
Middle class “settlers” moved into working class neighborhoods to help provide education, meals, childcare, medical care, and general advice to immigrants and poor workers

22. Public Education
Industrialization increased demand for a trained, educated workforce
Schools were also necessary for Americanizing immigrants’ children: they learned English, US History, patriotism, responsibilities of citizenship

23. School to Work Pipeline
Schools were used to teach the traits necessary to succeed in the industrial workforce: punctuality, attendance, neatness, efficiency, attention to detail, obedience to authority
High schools offered a variety of technical and vocational skills

24. Public Universities
Due to the Morrill Land Grant Act, the number of public universities rose dramatically
Between 1870 and 1890, the number of American students in college tripled
New colleges opened aimed specifically at educating female and black students