1. Unit 7
Progressive Era

2. Roots of the Progressive Movement
Reform Tradition (social injustices)
Support of Women & Workers (favored women’s suffrage)
Legacy of Populism (rural support)
Socialism, Anarchism, Communism (wanted to end capitalism)
Problems of Industrial Society (brutal working conditions)
Rising Consumer Consciousness (government intervention needed)
Influence of the Middle Class (urban support)
New form of Journalism (human-interest stories)
Social Gospel Movement (Protestant ministers offered support)

3. Early Progressives Muckrakers
Exposed some of the most ugly problems of the new industrial society
Wrote stories for McClure’s Magazine and American Magazine
Started investigative journalism

4. Social Reform Jane Adams
Ran a “settlement house” in Chicago know as Hull House
These houses provided services like English lessons, childcare, and healthcare to immigrants and the urban poor
Associations were established to promote social change
American Bar Association
National Women Suffrage Association
NAACP
Anti-Defamation League

5. State Reform Municipal Reform
Social reform also began at the city level
Cities realized public contracts were valuable and wanted to prevent corruption in awarding them
Progressives introduced the use of city commissions or a city manager to discourage corruption
Progressives thought this would make city governments more democratic and transparent, as well as less corrupt
State Reform
Robert La Follette of Wisconsin broke the power of political bosses and established regulatory commissions to regulate public utilities

6. Political Reforms
Secret Ballot – Voters marked their ballots in private
Initiative – Voters can introduce bills directly into state legislatures
Referendum – Voters can repeal an already passed law
Recall – Elected officials could be kicked out of office in special election
Direct Primary – All party members voted for their nominee, not just party leaders
Direct Election of Senators – 17th Amendment gave state citizens the power to vote for their U.S. Senators
Women’s Suffrage – National Women Suffrage Association founded in Many individual states gave women the right to vote.

7. Social & Economic Reforms
States began regulating conditions in urban housing, employment of young children, safety and health in factories, worker’s compensation, regulating railroads & public utilities, conserved natural resources, and prohibited alcohol
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory – This disaster (146 female workers killed) and public outcry forced fire safety codes for factories

8. Four Women Reformers
Susan B. Anthony - She published The Republican, and fought for women to have the right to vote
Florence Kelley – Lived in Hull House in Chicago, fought to establish a minimum wage, and 8 hour workday, no child labor, and better working conditions.
Carrie Chapman Catt – Became president of NAWSA, founded the League of Women’s Voters, fought for women’s rights overseas and international peace.
Alice Paul – Organized a march in Washington D.C. for women’s suffrage, was arrested and went on a hunger strike in prison. Her tactics persuaded President Wilson to support an amendment supporting women’s suffrage. She later proposed the “equal Rights Amendment”

9. Progressive Presidents
Theodore Roosevelt & the “Square Deal”
Roosevelt loved being outdoors, and as president he created national parks and encouraged the conservation movement
He also broke up the “bad” trusts in the U.S. and left the “good” trusts. He established government authority over business
As president, he viewed his role as the manager of the people’s interest. He promised Americans a “Square Deal” of fair play and equal opportunities
He also launched consumer protection laws….Meat Inspection Act, Pure Food and Drug Act….he also started the Interstate Commerce Commission to regulate the railroads

10. William Howard Taft
Taft was supported by Roosevelt, and he continued many of Roosevelts reform ideas.
Taft opposed restriction on immigration
Taft prevented railroads from unreasonably raising rates
Taft proposed the first corporate income tax and the 16th Amendment (individual income tax)
Taft’s downfall was his inability to work politically with his own party angering many Progressive Republicans

11. Woodrow Wilson
Wilson won the election of 1912 because Roosevelt and Taft split the Republican vote
Wilson was cool and confident, and a good public speaker
Revived the annual State of the Union Address to congress
Promised a “New Freedom” for consumers by breaking up trusts and creating new competition, giving people more choices
Started a graduated income tax, and the Federal Reserve System
Strengthened the Sherman Antitrust Act by proposing the Clayton Antitrust Act & the Federal Trade Commission Act