1. The Progressive Era
Chapter 18 Section 1

2. Progressivism
Progressivism – different reform mvmts going on at the same time
Progressives b/l…
Industrialism and urbanization had created many social problems
Govt. needs to take an active role in solving society’s problems
Progressives belonged to both of the political parties and were usually urban, educated middle-class Americans

3. The Beginnings Reaction against laissez-faire economics
B/c of the poverty, filth and crime of urban
The current corrupt govt. needs to be fixed b/f it could fix the problems in America
Muckrakers – crusading journalists who investigated social conditions and political corruption
Muckrakers exposed…
Unfair practices of large corporations, govt. corruption and social problems, etc.

4. Political Reforms
Direct primary – all party members could vote for a candidate to run in the general election
To prevent party bosses from controlling the selection of convention delegates
Three new reforms…
Initiative – allowed a group of citizens to introduce legislation and required the legislature to vote on it

5. Political Reforms
Referendum – allowed voters to proposed legislation to be submitted to the voters for approval
Recall – allowed voters to demand a special election to remove an elected official from office b/f his term had expired
The electoral changes were in an effort to enforce state legislators to respond to voters

6. Electing Senators Originally in the US Constitution…
Each state legislature was to elect 2 senators from that state
This had b/c a problem b/c political machines or large trusts often influenced the election of senators
They were repaid w/ federal contracts and jobs
Muckrakers charged that the Senate had b/c corrupt due to the process of electing senators

7. A New Process Progressives called for the direct election of senators
1912 – Congress passes a direct-election amendment
Senators would be directly elected by all state voters
1913 – This b/c the 17th Amendment to the Constitution

8. Seneca Falls Convention
Seneca Falls, NY in 1848
Organized by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott
The first women’s rights convention
Their first priority was women’s suffrage
Suffrage – the right to vote
Begins the Suffrage Movement – getting women the right to vote

9. The NAWSA 1890 – National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA)
Organization led by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony
Led marches, protests, women to b/c politically active
They were interested in negotiating w/ political leaders to gain ground
They didn’t want to be too aggressive

10. The NWP The National Woman’s Party – 1913
Created by Alice Paul – a Quaker social worker
To be more aggressive in the fight for suffrage
They wanted to use protests to force President Wilson to take action on suffrage
Picketed the White House
Blocked sidewalks
Chained themselves to lampposts
Went on hunger strikes if arrested

11. Political Allies The NAWSA supported Wilson in the election of 1916
Although Wilson did not endorse a woman’s suffrage amendment, he did support the Democratic Party’s call for states to give women the right to vote
More and more states b/g to give women the right to vote
Congress b/g to favor a Constitutional amendment

12. Finally Voting!
1918 – The House of Reps passed a woman suffrage amendment
Wilson asked the Senate to vote for the amendment, but it failed by 2 votes
1919 – The Senate finally passed the 19th Amendment by a small margin of the 2/3 vote needed
1920 – after ¾ of the states had ratified it the 19th Amendment went into effect

13. Child Labor 1904 – National Child Labor Committee
To abolish child labor
Muckrakers helped to expose harsh child labor conditions
States b/g to pass laws regarding child labor
Minimum age for employment
Maximum hours children could work
Compulsory education laws – requiring young children to be in school instead of work

14. Temperance
Many progressives blamed alcohol for the problems in American life
Scarce wages spent on alcohol
Drinking led to physical abuse and sickness
Employers thought drinking hurt workers’ efficiency
Temperance Movement – advocated the moderation of alcohol
Mostly led by women

15. Prohibition
The original goal of the Temperance movement was to reduce alcohol consumption
The goal turned into prohibition
Prohibition – laws banning the manufacture, sale, and consumption of alcohol

16. Progressives for Socialism?
Some progressives b/l wealth was distributed unfairly
Too few were rich, too many were poor
Socialism – the idea that govt. should own and operate industry for the community as a whole
Govt. buy up large companies that effected everyone (railroads and utilities)
Most progressives did not support socialism