1. The Progressive Movement
Chapter 15
The Progressive Movement

2. The Roots of Progressivism
Progressivism was a collection of different ideas and activities
reaction against laissez-faire
Many problems in social living
Believe gov’t should play a more active role in finding solutions
Believed using scientific principles could also produce solutions for society

3. Roots of Progressivism
Group to articulate these ideas were writers nick-named “muckrakers”
They uncovered corruption in many different areas
Other writers wanted to expose the social problems much of the population faced

4. Roots of Progressivism
Women’s Suffrage
Slow to start
Wanted same voting rights as African Americans
National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA)
Famous leaders: Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, Lucy Stone, Julie Ward Howe

6. Roots of Progressivism
As movement grew, women began organizing marches and speeches
More states were giving women the right to vote, Congress began to favor a constitutional amendment
It took 2 tries to get passed
August 26, 1920 – 19th Amendment – granted women the right to vote

8. Roots of Progressivism
Progressives focused on reforming the political system and social problems
Ways to try and solve social problems:
Created charities to help the poor
pushed for new laws

9. Roots of Progressivism
Labor conditions were bad for both adults and children
Child Labor
“The Bitter Cry of Children”
Presented detailed evidence of child labor conditions
These reports led to laws for minimum employment age and limited working hours

11. Roots of Progressivism
Adult workers labor
Progressives pressured states for workers compensations laws
Progressives established insurance funds, zoning laws – to protect public

13. Roots of Progressivism
Prohibition
Progressives believed alcohol explained many of society’s problems
Many urged that people stop or at least moderate their consumption
Organizations pushed for prohibition

14. Roots of Progressivism
Progressives Vs Big Business
Progressives agreed big business needed regulation
Breakup big companies to restore competition
Big business was most efficient way to organize the economy

15. Roosevelt and Taft Roosevelt was popular with progressives
Believed U.S. was in competition with other nations
Believed gov’t should actively balance the needs of competing groups in American society

16. Roosevelt and Taft
Agreed with big business but worried about the monopoly power hurting public interest
Fought trust who abuse power
He took many active roles in preventing too much power in big business
Proposed creating a new federal agency to investigate corporations and publicized the results
Many companies made private deals with Roosevelt if problems were found to keep from going to court

17. Roosevelt and Taft Consumer Protection Meat Inspection Act – 1906
Pure Food and Drug Act

18. Roosevelt and Taft Roosevelt's Legacy
He changed role of federal gov’t and nature of the presidency
Americans began looking to gov’t to solve nations economic and social problems

19. Roosevelt and Taft William Howard Taft would be Roosevelt's successor
Taft’s Presidency
Lowered tariffs
Replaced Roosevelts secretary who was a conservative
Children’s Bureau

20. Roosevelt and Taft
Roosevelt would publicly criticize Taft about his decisions he made in office for destroying what Roosevelt had started/set up in his presidency

21. The Wilson Years Election of 1912 Taft - Republican
Roosevelt -Republican
New Nationalism
Wilson – Democrat - would win
New Freedom

22. Wilson’s Reforms Tariffs Reduce tariffs
Wilson believed lowering tariffs would benefit both American consumers and manufacturers
Underwood Tariff Act
17th Amendment – gov’t power to tax the income of individuals directly

23. Banks Federal Reserve Act 1913
Created 12 regional banks to be supervised by a Board of Governors
National supervision of the banking system
BOG set interest rates, the reserve banks charged other banks, controlled rates and amount of money in circulation

24. The Wilson Years Antitrust Action
Worked toward limiting business activities that unfairly limited competition
Wilson built up Roosevelt’s foundation
Expanded role of federal gov’t and power of president
Gov’t continued to play an active role in regulating the economy and solving social problems