1. The Gilded Age and the Progressive Movement
Chapter 21 Section 1
The Gilded Age and the Progressive Movement

2. The Problems of the late 1800s
Poverty
The spread of Slums
Poor working conditions in factories
Economic depression
Corrupt politicians
Corporations with lots of control

3. Solutions to the Problems
SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEMS? -- A reform movement known as Progressivism
The Progressives had 3 Major Goals
1. Expand Democracy
2. Protect Social Welfare
3. Create Economic Reform

4. Political Machines
Organized group that controlled the activities of a political party in a city and offered services to voters and businesses in exchange for political or financial support.
Traded favors for votes
Committed illegal acts / accepted bribes
Tammany Hall Machine in NYC – Wm. Tweed - stole from city
Also built parks, sewers, schools, roads, helped immigrants find jobs/homes (supported them gratefully)

5. The Political Machine, Cont.
Closely connected to urban growth was the emergence of the powerful city machine
The machines traded services for votes
Streets
Buildings
Public services
Immigrants were in need of even more services

6. Organization of Political Machine
Precinct Workers – Worked to gain voters’ support on a city block or in a neighborhood and reported to the ward boss.
Ward Boss – Helped the poor and gained votes by doing favors or providing services. In return for votes they would provide city jobs, contracts or appointments.
City Boss – Controlled thousands of municipal jobs, including police, fire and sanitation departments. Controlled business licenses and inspections. Had a lot of influence over courts and other municipal agencies.

7. ROLE OF THE POLITICAL BOSS
The “Boss” (typically the mayor) controlled jobs, business licenses, and influenced the court system
Precinct captains and ward bosses were often 1st or 2nd generation immigrants so they helped immigrants with naturalization, jobs, and housing in exchange for votes
Boss Tweed ran NYC

8. MUNICIPAL GRAFT AND SCANDAL
Some political bosses were corrupt
Some political machines used fake names and voted multiple times to ensure victory (“Vote early and often”) – called Election fraud
Graft (bribes) was common among political bosses
Construction contracts often resulted in “kick-backs”
The fact that police forces were hired by the boss prevented close scrutiny

9. William Marcy Tweed Became head of New York City’s
Tammany Hall in 1863
Tammany Hall was the powerful Democratic political machine
Between 1869 and 1873, the Tweed Ring pocketed as much as $200 million from the city in kickbacks and payoffs

10. What are some examples of Boss Tweed corruption?

11. Jane Addams and Hull House
Reformers Organize
The Social Gospel Movement preached salvation through service to the poor
Some reformers established Settlement Homes
These homes provided a place to stay, classes, health care and other social services
Jane Addams was the most famous member of the Settlement Movement (founded Hull House in Chicago)

12. CIVIL SERVICE REPLACES PATRONAGE
Nationally, some politicians pushed for reform in the hiring system
The system had been based on Patronage; giving jobs and favors to those who helped a candidate get elected
Reformers pushed for an adoption of a merit system of hiring the most qualified for jobs
The Pendleton Civil Service Act of 1883 authorized a bipartisan commission to make appointments for federal jobs based on performance
Applicants for federal jobs are required to take a Civil Service Exam

13. Expanding Democracy & Voting Reforms
More people should be receiving benefits of democracy
Direct Primary: voters choose candidates
Initiative: voters propose laws directly
Referendum: law is proposed – people vote either for it, or against it
Recall: voters directly remove somebody from elected office
17th Amendment: U.S. Senators are now elected directly by the voters

14. Robert La Follette Known as “Fighting Bob”
Served as Wisconsin governor and later as senator
Spearheaded many Progressive reforms
Decreased power of political machines
Fought for clean government
Fought for laws that made politicians accountable

15. The Rights of Women and Minorities
Chapter 21 Section 3
The Rights of Women and Minorities

16. Goals of the Progressives
The goals of the Progressives were many
They regularly fought for laws –
Against child labor
That promoted democracy
That created economic reforms

17. Female Progressives
The early 1900s saw a spike in the number of college-educated women
Many were pushed away from male-dominated professions, leading many educated women into Progressive causes
Temperance
Women’s suffrage
Child Welfare & Political reform

18. The Temperance Movement
Called for the avoidance and elimination of alcohol
The Woman’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) fought for state/local laws restricting alcohol
Many saw alcohol as a social evil, which led to violence against women and children
Movement led to the passage of the 18th Amendment

19. The Suffrage Movement
Opinions varied on why some believed women should not vote.
Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony founded the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA)
Some women earned the right to vote on a state-by-state basis
Wyoming first, followed by Colorado, Idaho, & Utah

20. Other female suffragists and aspects of the movement
Carrie Chapman Catt: Pres. of the NAWSA, helped to mobilize more than 1 million members
Alice Paul: Founded the National Woman’s Party (NWP). Used parades, demonstrations, picketing, etc. to draw attention to the movement
19th Amendment: Granted Women the right to vote. Ratified in 1920.

21. Discrimination faced by African Americans
Economic hardships
Lynching: Racially motivated murders, usually inflicted upon African-Americans for violation of a social code. More than 3,000 African-Americans lynched between
Barriers to voting
Literacy Tests
Poll Taxes
Grandfather Clauses

22. Segregationists in the South tried to weaken the political power for Black people. How did they do this with each of the following tactics?
a. Literacy Tests –
Difficult, nearly impossible test to determine ability to read/write.
b. Poll Taxes –
Fee charged to Blacks only for the purposes of voting
c. Grandfather Clause –
Voting rule that stated you could vote as long as your grandfather had the right to vote

23. African American Leaders vs. Discrimination
Booker T. Washington: Fought vs. discrimination by encouraging African Americans to improve educational and economic conditions
W.E.B. Du Bois: Called for direct action and protests of racial injustice.
NAACP: Early Civil Rights group that attacked discrimination through court cases.

24. The Progressive Presidents
Chapter 21 Section 4
The Progressive Presidents

25. Teddy Roosevelt
Became President in 1901 when Pres. William McKinley was assassinated
Became the first “Progressive” President
Wanted to ensure a “square-deal” or “fairness” for workers, consumers, and business

26. Roosevelt the “trust-buster”
The Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890 made it illegal for corporations to form trusts (stops businesses from controlling an entire industry)
Roosevelt was the first president to enforce the Sherman Antitrust Act
Broke up the railroad, tobacco, and Standard Oil Company trusts
Also targeted poor conditions in meat-packing plants
Largely caused by Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle

27. Roosevelt & Conservation
T.R. was very worried about the loss of natural resources
Preserved more than 200 million acres
Wildlife refuges
National parks
Protected the Grand Canyon in Arizona

28. William H. Taft
Taft won the presidency in 1908, promising continued Progressive reforms
As president, Taft upset Progressives by not aggressively pursuing reforms
Taft passed the Payne-Aldrich Tariff of 1909
Roosevelt and Progressives furious with Taft

30. Promoting Social Welfare
Aid to the unemployed
Minimum wage laws
Limits on the number of hours women and children could work
Prohibition

31. Creating Economic Reform
Breaking up Trusts
Regulating industry
The Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890 made it illegal for corporations to form trusts (stops businesses from controlling an entire industry)