progressivism
DESCRIPTION
The Americans Chapter 9TRANSCRIPT
PROGRESSIVISM
1. Protecting social welfare2. Promoting moral
improvement3. Creating economic reform
4. Fostering eff iciency
4 Goals of Progressives
Aimed to restore economic opportunities and correct
injustices in american life.
Progressive Movement
Protecting Social Welfare
YMCA – opened libraries, sponsored classes, and built swimming pools and handball courts.
Salvation Army fed poor people in soup kitchens, cared for children, and teachers of values to immigrants.
Florence Kelley
Advocate for improving the lives of women and children.
Appointed chief inspector at factories. After she helped win passage of the Illinois Factory Act in 1893.
-it prohibited child labor and limited women’s working hours.
PROHIBITION – THE BANNING OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES
Promoting Moral Improvement
Prohibitionist groups felt that alcohol was undermining American morals.
WCTC – founded in Cleveland in 1874 Woman’s Christian Temperance Union Spearheaded the crusade for prohibition. Members would enter saloons and sing, pray, and
urge saloonkeepers to stop selling alcohol.
FRANCIS WILLARD
Transformed the movement from a small religious group to a national organization.
Largest women’s group in the nation’s history.
Opened kindergartens for immigrants
Visited inmates in prison
Worked for suff rage
WTCU
Trouble
Anti-Saloon League Founded in 1895 Sought to close saloons Immigrants grew angry because they liked alcohol Also, saloons cashed paychecks and served meals.
Creating Economic Reform
Eugene V. Debs –
organized the American Socialist Party in 1901.
Commented on uneven balance among big businesses, government, and ordinary people.
Muckrakers
Journalists who wrote about the corrupt side of business and public life in mass circulation magazines.
Ida B. Tarbell wrote “History of the Standard Oil Company”, an article in McClure’s Magazine.
Fostering Efficiency
Many progressives put faith in experts and scientific principles.
“Brandeis brief” – Oregon lawyer Louis D. Brandeis was defending an Oregon law that limited women factory workers to 10 hour days.
He looked at scientific data that showed the high cost of long hours both to the individual and society.
Frederick Winslow Taylor
IndustryBegan using time and
motion studies to improve efficiency by breaking tasks into simpler parts.
(The assembly line)
Problems?
Not all people can work at the same rate.
High worker turn over – often due to injuries suffered by fatigued workers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZfMjicmnms
Cleaning up Local Government
1900 – Hurricane in Galveston
Local government officials botched the rebuilding job
TX legislature appointed a 5 member commission to take over.
Each expert took charge of a different department.
The city adopted the commission idea as a local government and other cities followed.
1913 – flood in Ohio Led to adoption of the council-manager form of govt.
People elect a city council to make laws.
Reform Mayors
Hazen Pingree of Detroit
- introduced progressive reforms
fairer tax structurelowered fareswork relief for unemployedrooted out corruption
city workers built schools, parks, and a municipal lighting plant.
Tom Johnson of Cleveland, Ohio
Socialist mayor
Dismissed corrupt officials Greedy private owners of utilities Converted utilities to publicly owned enterprises.
believed citizens should play an active role in city government.
Reform at the State Level
Reform governorsRobert M. La Follette – Republican
Governor of Wisconsin – 3 terms “Fighting Bob” Major target was the railroad industry Taxed railroad property same as other business
property Set up a commission to regulate rates State officials – no free passes on rr
Other governors who attacked big business were
Charles B. Aycock
James S. Hogg of Texas
Protecting Working Children
More prone to accidents due to fatigueMany developed health problemsSuffered from stunted growth
1904 National Child Labor Committee sent investigators to gather evidence of children working in harsh conditions. Organized exhibitions – used photographs and
statistics Joined by labor union members
Keating-Owen Act - 1916
Prohibited the transportation across state lines of goods produced with child labor.
2 yrs. Later it was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.
Reformers did succeed in nearly every state by effecting legislation that banned child labor and set a maximum number of hours for laborers.
Efforts to Limit Working Hours
1908 – Case of Muller v. Oregon
Louis Brandeis – (Florence Kelley, Josephine Goldmark) Argued that poor working women were economically
insecure Women required the state’s protection Won 10 hour work day for women
1917 – persuaded the Court to uphold a 10 hour workday for men.
Progressives succeeded in winning worker’s compensation to aid the families of workers who were hurt or killed on the job.
1902 - Maryland was the first state to pass legislation requiring employers to pay benefits in these cases.
Reforming Elections
William S. U’Ren – prompted his state of Oregon to adopt
the secret ballot. Also called the Australian ballot
The initiative The referendum The recall
Initiative – a bill originated by the people rather than lawmakers, on the ballot. Citizens could petition to place one.
Referendum – a way in which voters accepted or rejected the initiative. (Voting on the initiative)
Recall – enabled voters to remove public officials from elected positions by forcing them to fade another election before the end of their term if enough voters asked for it.
1899 – Minnesota passed the first statewide primary system. Enabled voters to elect candidates for public office
through a special popular election.
Direct Election of Senators
17th Amendment – direct primary paved the way.
1912 – ratified in 1913 – made direct election of senators the law of the land.
SECTION 2
Women in Public Life
Women in the Work Force
Farm Women
Women’s roles in the South and Midwest had not changed Household chores Raising livestock Plowed and planted in the fields Harvested crops
Women in Industry
1900 – 1/5 American women held jobs25% working in manufacturing50% garment tradeleast skilled positionspaid about ½ as much as the men they
worked with.
New Jobs for Women Offices Stores Classrooms
All required a high school education 1890 women high school grads outnumbered men.
Business Schools
Bookkeepers
Stenographers
typists
Domestic Workers
Required no formal educationCleaned for other familiesCooksLaundressesScrubwomenMaids
Many were former slaves or immigrants1870 – 70% of women employed were
servants.
Women Lead Reform
Reasons for reform: Dangerous conditions Low wages Long hours
Female industrial workers pushed for reform, especially after the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire in 1911.
Women’s Clubs Upper and middle class women Discussed art or literature ½ million members by 1910 Sometimes grew into reform groups addressing issues
such as temperance or child labor.
Women in Higher Education
Vassar College – Many women activists had attended here Opened in 1865
Smith and Wesley Colleges - 1875
Columbia, Brown, and Harvard refused to admit women, but established separate colleges for them.
Options for Women Marriage was no longer their only option
work College
Many college educated women in the late 1800’s never married, choosing to keep their independence.
Many of them applied their skills to social reform.
Women and Reform
Women either strengthened existing reform groups or formed new ones.
Sought to improve conditions at home and work. Workplace reform Housing reform Educational improvement Food and drug laws
NACW National Association of Colored Women
Formed 1896 by African American women
Merged 2 earlier organizations
Managed nurseries, reading rooms, and kindergartens.
Seneca Falls convention in 1848
Women split over the 14th and 15th amendments
Granted equal rights to African American men, but excluded women.
Susan B. Anthony
Leading proponent of women’s suffrage.
NWSA
Founded in 1869 by Anthony and Cady Stanton.
1890 united with another group to become the NAWSA. National Woman
Suffrage Association
Other leaders – Lucy Stone and Julia Ward Howe
3-Part Strategy for Suffrage
1. tried to convince state legislatures to grant women the right to vote. Wyoming – 1869 1st state to allow women voters
Utah, Colorado, and Idaho followed. After 1869, efforts in other states failed.
2. pursued court cases to test the 14th Amendment.
14th – declares that states denying their male citizens the right to vote would lose congressional representation.
1872 – Susan B. Anthony and other women attempted to vote at least 150 times in ten states and the District of Columbia.
1875 – the Supreme Court ruled that women were citizens, but that did not give them the right to vote.
3. pushed for a national constitutional amendment to grant women the vote.
It was introduced in California and was killed later 41 yrs. This cycle continued.
SECTION 3
Teddy Roosevelt’s Square Deal
Upton Sinclair
Wrote The Jungle Novel about the human
condition of the stockyards in Chicago.
Instead of Americans feeling pity for the workers, they were repulsed by the conditions of the meatpacking industry.
Roosevelt was also repulsed by the conditions.
Rough Riding President
1900 – gov. of NY Ran as McKinley’s VP City bosses of NY
wanted to get rid of him.
McKinley served 6 months of his second term and was assassinated.
Roosevelt’s Rise
Born into a wealthy family in NY.
Attended HarvardBoxed and wrestled3 terms in NY State
AssemblyNY city’s police
commissionerAssistant Sec. of the U.S.
NavyGrabbed national
attention when he advocated war against Spain in 1898.
Roughriders
Spanish/American War
Volunteer cavalry brigade
Won public acclaim for its role in the battle at San Juan Hill in Cuba.
Roosevelt became a hero and was elected gov. of NY and later VP.
The Modern Presidency
1901 – at 42 he became the youngest president ever.
Still enjoyed boxing, horseback riding, etc.
Acted boldlyUsed his personality
and popularity to advance his programs
Became the model by which all future presidents would be measured.
Thought the federal govt. should assume control when states could not deal with problems.
Saw the presidency as a “bully pulpit” in which he could influence news media and shape legislation.
Square Deal
If big business victimized workers, he would see to it that the common people received what he called a Square Deal.
Square Deal – term used to describe the various progressive reforms sponsored by the Roosevelt administration.
Using Federal Power
His knowledge of history convinced him that America required a powerful government.
Trustbusting – He did not believe all trusts were harmful Wanted to curb actions of those that weren’t fair 1902 – he ordered the Justice Department to sue the
Northern Securities Company, which had established a monopoly over the nw railroads. 1904 the Supreme Court dissolved the company
He filed 44 antitrust suits and won many of them Broke up some of the trusts
1902 Coal Strike – 140,000 coal miners went on strike in Pennsylvania Demanded 20% raise, 9 hr. work day, right to organize
a union. Lasted 5 months – coal reserves were running low Roosevelt called both sides to the White House to talk.
He threatened to take over the mine. Arbitration commission listened to both sides Miners won 10% pay hike and a 9 hr. work day. Could not strike or form a union for 3 yrs.
2 results –
Citizens now expect the govt. to intervene when a strike threatens public welfare.
Citizens believe that disputes can be settled in an orderly way with the help of experts.
Railroad Regulation
Roosevelt wanted federal regulationInterstate Commerce Act, ICCRoosevelt urged Congress to move and the
Elkins Act was passed.Elkins Act – 1903 made it illegal for rr
officials to give, and shippers to receive, rebates for using particular rr. Railroads could not change set rates without notifying
the public.
Hepburn Act – 1906
Limited the distribution of free railroad passes Gave ICC power to set maximum railroad rates. Its passage boosted the government’s power to
regulate railroads.
Health and the Environment
Regulating Foods and Drugs
Roosevelt read Sinclair’s The Jungle and appointed a commission of experts to investigate the meatpacking industry.
The commission issued a report that supported Sinclair’s account.
1906 – Roosevelt pushed for passage of the Meat Inspection Act. It dictated strict cleanliness requirements for
meatpackers
Created the program of federal meat inspection that was in use until it was replaced.
Govt. - paid for inspections Did not require companies to label their canned goods
with date of processing information. Meatpackers were granted the right to appeal
negative decisions in court.
Pure Food and Drug Act
Before action was taken companies could say anything about their products.
Children’s medicines contained opium, cocaine, or alcohol.
Dr. Harvey Washington complained that harmful preservatives were being put in foods.
1906 – PFD Act
Halted the sale of contaminated foods and medicines
Called for truth in labeling.
Conservation and Natural Resources
Conservation Measures Roosevelt made conservation a primary concern
Set aside 148 million acres of forest reserves 1.5 million acres of water power sites 80 million for exploration of mineral and water resources 50 wildlife sanctuaries Several national parks
National Reclamation Act of 1902
Money from the sale of public lands funded large-scale irrigation projects.
Established the precedent that the federal government would manage the water resources of the West.
Roosevelt and Civil Rights
Often accused of not doing enoughInvited Booker T. Washington to the White
HouseFaced opposition from W.E.B. Du Bois who
thought he was indifferent to racial injustice.
1909 – Du Bois and other black and prominent white reformers formed the NAACP – National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Wanted full equality among races.
Muckrakers
Investigative reporting that uncovered corruption
Ida M. Tarbell – “The History of the Standard Oil Company”
Upton Sinclair – “The Jungle”
Lincoln Steffens – Leading figure of the
muckraker movement Exposed business and
govt. corruption in McClure’s magazine. Stories are collected in
2 books: “The Shame of the
Cities” The Struggle for Self-
Govt.”
SECTION 4
Progressivism Under Taft
Taft Becomes President
William Howard Taft
Secretary of War for Roosevelt.
Hand picked by Roosevelt to run against William Jennings Bryan
Taft won the election
Taft Stumbles
Busted 90 trusts in his 4 yr. term
Could not subdue troublesome members of his party.
1st problem – tariffs and conservation
Payne-Aldrich Tariff
Payne bill – lowered rates on imported goods
Senate proposed an alternative bill – Aldrich bill Aldrich bill – made fewer cuts
Increased rates
Payne – Aldrich Tariff – only moderated the high rates Angered Progressives Taft defended it
2nd problem – Disputing Public Lands Taft appt. Richard Ballinger as his secretary Ballinger disagreed w/conservatives
He removed 1 million acres of forest and mining lands from the reserve list and returned it to the public domain.
2 govt. officials accused Ballinger of letting commercial interests exploit natural resources that belonged to the public.
Taft supported Ballinger and fired Pinchot – one of the accusers.
The Republican Party Splits
Republicans, Progressives, and Conservatives split over Taft’s support of political boss Joseph Cannon.
Joseph Cannon – chairman of House Rules Committee.
Joseph Cannon Weakened or ignored Progressive bills Republicans and Democrats wanted to strip him of his
power
3/1910 – The House elected the Committee on Rules and excluded the Speaker from membership in the committee.
1910 – The Republican party was in shambles
Bull Moose Party
1912 – Roosevelt decided to run for office a 3rd time.
Republican Progressives formed a 3rd party – The Progressive Party
Roosevelt was nominated for president.
Bull Moose = Progressive Party Got the name Bull Moose because Roosevelt said he
was as strong as a bull moose. Proposed: direct election of senators Adoption in all states of the initiative, referendum,
and recall Advocated Women’s suffrage worker’s compensation 8 hr. work day min. wage for women Law against child labor federal trade commission to
reg. bus.
The split in the Republican party gave the Democrats a chance at the White House.
1912- Democrat Woodrow Wilson was nominated
Reform gov. of NJ
Democrats Win 1912
Wilson endorsed a progressive platform called the “New Freedom”
Demanded stronger anti-trust legislation, banking reform, and reduced tariffs.
Taft and Roosevelt were name calling
Wilson stayed out of the fight and won the election.
Wilson’s New Freedom
Background – from the South Son of Presbyterian minister Strict upbringing Former lawyer, history professor, and president of
Princeton University
Two Key Antitrust Measures
Clayton Antitrust Act – 1914 Strengthen the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890 Prohibited corporations from acquiring the stock of
another if doing so would create a monopoly. If a company violated a law the officers would be
prosecuted. Specified that labor unions and farm organizations
had the right to exist but would no longer be subject to anti-trust laws. Strikes, picketing, boycotts became legal
Federal Trade Commission Given the power to investigate possible violations of
regulatory statues Could require reports from corporations, and put an end
to a number of unfair business practices. Under Wilson, FTC administered almost 400 cease-and-
desist orders to companies engaged in illegal activity.
A New Tax System
Summoned Congress to a special session to plead his case. Established the precedent of delivering the State of
the Union Address in person. Battled with senators and lobbyists for the Underwood
Act on 1913. He urged citizens to monitor their senator’s votes. Senate voted to cut tariff rates even more than the
House had done.
Federal Income Tax
Govt. had to replace the revenue the tariffs supplied
16th amendment legalized a graduated federal income tax. Provided revenue by taxing individual earnings and
corporate profits. Larger incomes taxed at higher rates than smaller
incomes. Today it is the government’s main source of revenue.
Federal Reserve System
A decentralized banking system under federal control.
Divided the nation into 12 districts.Established a central bank in each district.
Could issue new paper currency in emergency situations
Member banks could use the new currency to make loans to their customers.
Could transfer $ to member banks in trouble. Still serves as the basis of the nation’s banking
system.
Women Win Suffrage
Women continued to fight for the right to vote.
They saw the possibility of success with the results of 3 new developments:
The increased activism of local groups The use of bold new strategies to build enthusiasm for
the movement Rebirth of the national movement under Carrie Chapman
Catt
Local Suffrage Battles Boston Equal Suffrage Association for Good
Government College Equal Suffrage League
Used door to door campaigns to reach supporters Trolley tours with women speakers
Emmeline Pankhurst
British suffragist
Used bold tactics
Inspired American women.
Carrie Chapman Catt
President of NAWSA Succeeded Susan B.
Anthony Organized tactics for
success Formed the NY
Women’s Suffrage Party
Lucy Burns Alice Paul
Lucy Burns and Alice Paul formed a radical organization, the Congressional Union and its successor, the National Woman’s Party.
Pressured govt. officials Picketed the White House “round the clock” 1917 Some were arrested, jailed, and force fed when they
attempted a hunger strike.
19th Amendment
The acts of women suffragists and America’s involvement in WWI finally brought about the 19th Amendment.
19th Amendment – passed in 1919, ratified 1920 Gave women the right to vote
The Limits of Progressivism
Wilson and Civil Rights Wilson retreated on civil rights when in office During the election of 1912 he promised to speak out
against lynching and support equality among races. He would not address lynching once in office. The Capitol and federal offices which had been
desegregated were segregated soon after Wilson’s election.
11/12/1914 – Wilson allowed an African American delegation to enter the White House.
The delegation was led by William Monroe Trotter Accused Wilson of increasing segregation and not
delivering what he had promised. Wilson grew angry and asked the delegation to leave.
Twilight of Progressivism “There’s no chance of progress and reform in an
administration in which war plays the principal part.” Woodrow Wilson, 1913
Wilson realized that the war demanded America’s involvement.
Reform efforts stalled and all attention was placed on the war.
The Progressive Era had come to an end.