Progressivism

Progressivism

ProgressivismIn the late 1800s a reform movement arose to address many of the social problems that industrialism created.This movement was known as progressivismProgressivism was brought forward by writers called muckrakers journalists that worked to expose the injustices they saw. Called muckrakers because they raked up or exposed the filth of society

Housing ReformsBy 1920 more than half of all Americans lived in citiesPeople endured horrible living conditions, lack of sanitation, and were in danger of robberies and other crimesIn 1901 the New York Legislature passed the Tenement Act of 1901Forced landlords to install lighting in public hallwaysProvide at least one toilet for every two familiesEventually outhouses were banned in New York CityWith these and other changes within 15 years the death rate in New York City dropped and people in other cities pushed for laws similar to those in New York.

Civil RightsIn 1909 several African-American and white leaders founded the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People). It was founded to fight for the rights of African AmericansTwo of the most influential African-American leaders during this time period were Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois.Even though they were both African-American they had very different ideas for how to best help black citizens in America.

PovertyJacob Riis emigrated from Denmark in 1870 when he was 21 years old.He had trouble finding a job in New York City and lived in povertyEventually Riis found a job working for a magazine called the New York TribuneRiis wrote a book called How the Other Half Lives which stunned Americans with its photographs and descriptions of urban poverty

Big BusinessIda Tarbell a muckraker who wrote a report that condemned the business practices of the Standard Oil Company. Tarbell revealed how John D. Rockefeller would crush his competition and take over the oil industry. Progressive leader Florence Kelley founded the National Child Labor Committee to persuade the government to pass child labor laws and laws to limit the work day for women.Unions and labor groups fought for a minimum wageIn 1908 the Supreme Court ruled that states could limit the work number of hours worked by women in one day. In 1917 the Supreme Court ruled the same for men.

Working ConditionsIn 1911 a disaster occurred at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in New York City.While watching the movie collect evidence to answer the following questions:1) What caused the disaster at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory (be specific!)2) What was the lasting impact of the disaster at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory?Triangle Shirtwaist FactoryScandal in the GovernmentIn 1869 under the Credit Mobilier scandal hit the Grant administration members of Congress and the Vice President helped to funnel federal railroad money to the Credit Mobilier stockholders.In 1883 James A. Garfield was assassinated by a person who was angry that he had been passed over for a government job.In response President Chester Arthur pushed for the Pendleton Civil Service Act required that jobs and promotions within the government must be based on merit and not political connections.GovernmentIn the late 1800s many local governments were controlled by political machines an organization of professional politicians that often looked out for their own interestsThe most notorious political machine was Tammany Hall in New York City run by Boss Tweed. Tweed used his position to obtain great wealth. He was eventually convicted of tax fraud and sent to prison.In order to prevent political machines from running local governments progressive reformers worked to make sure that this would not happen anymore.

GovernmentMany cities began to create city councils - groups of people who help to run the city and are elected by the peoplePoliticians like Governor Robert LaFollette in Wisconsin pushed for changes in government such as limits on campaign spending, regulation of railroad and utilities, and changes in the civil service system

ElectionsDuring the Progressive Era there were many changes made in electionsDirect primary allowed voters to select their partys candidate for public office17th Amendment allowed for direct election of SenatorsSecret ballot people could vote without fear of persecutionInitiative allow citizens to propose new laws and put them on a ballotReferendum citizens can ask that a law passed be put up to a vote by the peopleRecall allows voters to remove an elected official from office

Women During the Progressive EraIn the late 1800s more women began to obtain higher education by attending collegeMost women who attended college were part of the middle or upper classHowever, after graduating many women still found themselves shut out of many high prestige careersWomen worked as teachers, nurses, journalists, and in industryOpportunities for WomenWomen became some of the most important leaders of the Progressive EraLillian Wald founded the Henry Street Settlement to tend to the needs of poor children in New York CityWomen were particularly active in the prohibition movement called for a ban on making, selling, and distributing alcoholGroups like the Womens Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) and leaders like Cary Nation (who went into saloons in Kansas with a hatchet and a bible) fought to eliminate alcohol in AmericaProhibitionists eventually won when the 18th Amendment was passed in 1919. However, it was so unpopular that the amendment was repealed in 1933 when the 21st Amendment was passed.Political Experience

African-American women also fought for civil rightsMany African-American women joined the National Association of Colored Women (NACW). The NACW campaigned against lynchings, segregation, and poverty.Civil Rights

Women had been campaigning for suffrage since the 1848 Seneca Falls ConventionREAD: Declaration of SentimentsMany women were especially angered that the 15th Amendment did not include womenIn 1869 Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony founded the National Woman Suffrage Association (NWSA). The NWSA pushed for a constitutional amendment to give women the right to vote.In 1872 many NWSA women supported Victoria Woodhull, the first female candidate for PresidentWomens Suffrage

In 1869 the Wyoming territory became the first to grant women suffrageSusan B. Anthony fought tirelessly for womens suffrageIn 1872 she led a small group of women in a protest. The women registered to vote and actually voted on Election day.Two weeks later she was arrested for unlawfully votingAt her trial the judge refused to allow Anthony to testify on her own behalfIn 1875 the Supreme Court ruled that women were citizens, but that citizenship did not grant the right to voteWomens Suffrage

Many people were against womens suffrage for several different reasonsSHEG: Anti-Suffrage movementWomens Suffrage

There were disagreements among women about how to obtain suffrage.One group wanted to work state by state, while others wanted immediate suffrageIn 1913 Alice Paul and Lucy Burns broke away from the NWSA and founded the National Womans Party (NWP).This group focused on passage of a constitutional amendment to give women the right to voteIn 1917 the NWP picketed the White House and chained themselves to the railingsIron Jawed AngelsMany of the women were arrested. Some went on hunger strikes and there was much violenceIron Jawed Angels Womens SuffrageIn 1917 the United States entered World War I. During the war women worked for the war effort which led to a weakening in the opposition to suffrageUnder the leadership of Carrie Chapman Catt, the NWSA campaigned for womens suffrage on the state and national levelIn 1920 the 19th Amendment was passed finally giving women the right to vote.Unfortunately Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and many of the other suffrage fighters were not alive to see passage of the 19th amendment.Women get the Vote

Progressivism from the White House

Teddy Roosevelt became President in 1901 when President William McKinley was shot by an anarchist.Roosevelt became the youngest person to serve as PresidentAs President, Roosevelt saw his office as a bully pulpit - a platform to publicize important issues and seek support for his policiesPresident Teddy Roosevelt

Early in his presidency, Roosevelt worked with mine owners and striking workers to compromise. This marked the first time that the government successfully intervened in a strikeRoosevelt then promised the country a square deal, meaning that the needs of workers, business, and consumers should be balanced.The Square Deal had two main areas of focus: big business and environmental conservationThe Square DealTeddy Roosevelt was known as a trust buster Roosevelt was the first President to sue a company for violating the Sherman Antitrust Act.The Roosevelt administration sued dozens of companies for forming trusts and monopolies that it believed was not in the best interests of the people.Roosevelt especially went after trusts that sold inferior products, competed unfairly, or corrupted public officialsBig Business

In 1903 Congress passed the Elkins Act prohibited railroads from giving discounts to its favorite customers and overcharging othersIn 1906 the Hepburn Act gave the government power to set maximum railway ratesRailroads

During the Progressive Era consumers were angered over food quality and safetyAnger turned into outrage and disgust when Upton Sinclair wrote The Jungle which exposed the unsanitary and disgusting conditions at meatpacking plants.NPR: The JungleAfter reading The Jungle and sending his own investigators that confirmed Sinclairs findings, Roosevelt pushed for the passage of two laws1) Meat Inspection Act required federal inspection of meat shipped across state lines2) Pure Food and Drug Act forbade the manufacture, sale, or transportation of food and medicine containing harmful ingredients.Protecting ConsumersPresident Roosevelt realized the need to protect part of Americas land for future generationsRoosevelt set aside millions of acres of land, established the U.S. Forest Service, and helped to create 18 national monuments

Environmental Conservation

In 1908 Roosevelt made sure that his friend and advisor William Howard Taft became PresidentDuring Tafts presidency the 16th Amendment was passed created the income tax that Progressives felt was a more fair method of taxationDue to a disagreement between Taft and Roosevelt the Republican Party split, allowing the 1912 Presidential election to be won by the Democrat Woodrow WilsonThe Socialist candidate Eugene V. Debs received 900,000 votesPresident Taft

During his campaign Wilson promised continued Progressive reform, which he called his New FreedomWilson and Congress created the Federal Reserve System in 1913 which allowed for banks to borrow money to prevent a collapse during bad financial times.Congress also passed the Clayton Antitrust Act which extended the Sherman Antitrust ActWilson also supported the creation of the Federal Trade Commission enforced antitrust laws and punished companies that used deceptive advertising.President Wilson

While Wilson could be considered progressive in his business and political ideas, he was far from it when it came to civil rightsWilson opposed an anti-lynching lawAllowed Cabinet members to segregate their officesDuring his presidency Washington D.C. passed a law that made it a felony for blacks and whites to marryHe segregated the navyHe segregated the entire federal government system, which had been open to blacks since Reconstruction

President WilsonThe End of Progressivism