The Progressive Era1890-1917

Dr. Megan Birk

UTPA

Important topics

• American Imperialism

• Immigration

• Reform

• Political divisions

• Industrialization and Labor

What’s a Progressive?

• Progressives were normally white, middle class people who wanted reform

• Any type of reform during this period is considered “progressive”

• Progressives often tried to force their own concepts of America onto others

Middle Class

Middle Class known as “Victorians”

Strict social rules

Improving the lower class while pretending to be the upper class

New features – department stores, electricity

Immigration • Ellis Island in New

York City

• Ellisisland.org

• People from all over the world

• Chinese Exclusion Act 1888

Urban Boom

• Cities grow rapidly

• Poor housing built quickly called tenements

• In 1850 only 5 U.S. cities have over 100,000 residents, by 1900 36 cities have that many

• Half the nation lives in a city by 1910

• Horse poop factoid

Work

• 2/3 of industrial workers made less than $12 a week

• $15 the minimum for providing for a family

• Seasonal farm workers came from Japan and Mexico

• 60% of city residents were immigrants

The “Gilded” Age

• A small % of people gained enormous wealth using immigrant labor

• John Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie decide to donate money

• Wealthier than any Americans – ever

Theodore Roosevelt

• Considered the first true Progressive President

• Served from 1901 until 1909

• Used Sherman Anti-Trust Act to bust up big monopolies

• Food and Drug Act

Other Progressive issues• Workplace safety• Maximum hours-Minimum wages, child labor

laws• Corruption• Temperance (Prohibition)• Australian ballots/initiatives and recalls,

women’s voting

Populists• Common goal of improving

life for farmers• Movement begins with

Farmer’s Alliance in Texas • saw success in state and

local elections before going national

• Follow strong tradition of 3rd party politics – Greenbacks, Socialists

Foreign Affairs

• McKinley Tariff alienates other countries by restricting trade

• The Influence of Sea Power in History by Alfred Thayer Mahan

• Generally follow policy of isolationism • Europeans seeking out new colonies • U.S. joins Spanish-Cuban War to uphold Monroe

Doctrine (1898)• Helps U.S. expand to Carribean and Pacific

Hawaii• Island ruled by royal

family• American investors

moved in• Business men

overthrew queen• Pressured U.S. to

annex territory • 1898 Hawaii became

U.S. territory

Theodore Roosevelt’s foreign policy

• Panama Canal• Will reinforce U.S

role in Western Hemisphere

- American part started in 1904

Global activityWorld War I ends spirit

of optimistic reform in U.S.

Progressive ideals divided – some effective, others not

Dominance of middle class ideals and business interests remains