1 Name Class Period Chapter 6: The Progressive Era ( - ) I. Intro to the Progressive Era A. So recall the Populists. 1. Who were they? a. mostly, rural Americans b. mostly poor, uneducated 2. What were their problems? a. overproduction = b. high tariffs = lack of sales c. tight money supply = high interest rates = hard to pay their d. victimized by banks, RRs, big biz = farmers paid higher rates 3. Populist Demands and Reforms (how did they think their problems could be solved? a. more gov t of big biz b. Gov t ownership of c. lower tariffs d. immigration restrictions e. silver standard = increased money supply + interest rates f. graduated income tax 4. Their Legacy? - fail to get their desired reforms or improve the economic condition of farmers, but.others will take on their cause and call for reform! B. Enter the Progressives.. 1. Progressivism: a political movement that crossed party lines. Progressives believed that rapid and had created many social problems and that should take a more active role in dealing with these problems 2. Who are the Progressives? Who is pushing for? a. Middle-class,, well-educated Americans b. Political parties call for reform (recall the significance of Third Parties) II. Rise of Progressivism A. The problems 1890+ 1. Industrialization with all its increase in productivity and the number of consumer goods created a. and labor unrest; poor working conditions b. use of natural resources c. Abuses of corporate power 2. Urbanization rapid growth of magnified problems of poverty, disease, squalid living conditions, crime and corruption 3. - free market lacked the ability to address those problems B. The Solution? Solve social problems through active leadership! (bye bye Laissez-faire)
C. The Reformers 1. - journalists who attacked corruption and scandal & investigated social conditions (term muckraker: raked up muck or dirt of American life) - Published articles in popular magazines - Led to public debate over social/economic problems and put pressure on politicians to introduce a. Exposing corruption in Government 1) Lincoln Steffens - exposed city in The Shame of the Cities 2) David Graham Phillips - criticized how money influenced the in Treason of the Senate b. Exposing corruption in Big Business 1) Ida Tarbell - exposed corruption in Big Business in The History of 2) Frank Norris - exposed the suffering caused by corrupt and greedy monopolies in The Octopus: A California Story c. Exposing Social Welfare Problems 1) Jacob Riis - exposed poverty, crime, disease in immigrant neighborhoods in How the Other Half Lives 2) John Spargo - criticized in The Bitter Cry of the Children 3) Upton Sinclair - exposed and problems in the meat-packing industry in The Jungle 2. Political Cartoonists especially effective since there was high illiteracy (couldn t read the newspaper but could understand the cartoons) a. : favorite target? Boss Tweed and the Tammany Hall Democratic Political Machine b. Frederick Opper: favorite target? Trusts and social ills 3. Socialists frustrated workers who promised to destroy. Led by Eugene Debs (who polled 900,000 votes for President in 1912). a. Socialism is by most Progressives as too extreme in their goal and methods b. Progressives want some government of business and industry. Socialists want government of some business and industry. c. Progressives believed in the superiority of the US system of D. 4 Groups of Progressives 1. Efficiency Progressives goal to make city more a. management applied to gov t - run gov t more like a b. City gov t required, not to head essential city services - change system to prevent boss or rule - support commission plan or council /mgr plan (pg 421) 2
- should run city depts - prompted by hurricane of 1900 2. Democracy Progressives goal to make US more make elected officials more responsive to voters. a. level reform efforts championed by Robert LaFollette of Wisconsin (Lab. Of Democracy) 1) Problem: indirectly controlled which candidates were chosen to run for office Solution: voters given control over candidates (voters decide who becomes the candidate in a presidential election) 2) Problem: unresponsive to voters Solution: to bring direct democracy to voters - allowed voters to initiate laws in state leg. - in some states, let voters accept or reject measures proposed by state legislatures - enabled voters to unsatisfactory elected officials from office 3) Problem: open ballots allow everyone to see your - voters subject to pressure and intimidation Solution: Secret Ballot b. level reform efforts 1) Problem: US Constitution stipulates that each state legislature elect Senators to DC but or trusts influenced election of those Senators repaid their supporters with fed. contracts & Solution: to the Constitution = direct election of by all state voters 2) Problem: of US population Solution: to the Constitution = women s suffrage c. Women 1) The status of women: considered inferior. Couldn t, serve on juries, or hold public office their place was in the. In most states, once married, a woman lost control of her property and wages to her husband. 2) The Road to Women s Suffrage a) Seneca Falls Convention (1848) = 1 st woman s rights convention. Organized by and Elizabeth Cady Stanton b) Amendment (1870) black men vote: expanded calls for women s vote c) National Women s Suffrage Assoc.(NWSA). Pushed for allowing women s suffrage 3
- Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton (Susan B arrested for voting in the 1872 presidential election) d) American Woman Suffrage Assoc. (AWSA) gain women s suffrage by convincing states to grant it before trying to amend constitution Lucy Stone, Julia W. Howe e) By 1900, only,, and had granted women full voting rights f) National American Woman Suffrage Assoc (1890) a combo of NWSA & AWSA. After 1910, progress made as middle-class women demand voting rights to promote & labor class women demand voting rights to ensure passage of to protect women g) Washington March March 3, 1913 (day before Wilson s inauguration) organized by who believed that were necessary to force Pres. Wilson to act on women s suffrage. h) 1915 Winning Plan organized as the final push to gain voting rights. NAWSA supports Wilson in 1916. Wilson calls on all states to give women suffrage i) 1918-19 : men went to fight, women went to factories, mills and mines in support of the war effort support for women s suffrage grew j) Amendment June 1919 passed by Senate Aug 1920 ratified by States 3. Social Welfare Progressives: goal to address problems such as: Illiteracy, alcohol abuse, child labor, safety a. Created ex. Jane Addams houses provided various services to the poor (Hull House) b. Pushed for to fix social problems 1) Problem: In 1900 ~ 2m kids worked outside the home. Solution: National Child Labor Committee - goal to child labor - some states establish minimum work / max work hours - Compulsory Laws 2) Problem: Many adult labored in difficult and dangerous conditions Ex. Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Solution: creation of : building codes, Workers compensation laws zoning laws - made work environment safer for workers Zoning laws and regulate how land and buildings can be used - separate business 3) Problem: responsible for many problems: loss of in the workplace, industrial accidents spousal & child abuse Solution: movement - moderation or elimination of alcohol 4
- Women s ChristianTemperance Union (WCTU) led by ; + Anti-Saloon League pushed for laws banning the manufacture, sale, & consumption of alcohol ( amendment) 4. Big Biz Progressives: goal to regulate/reform a. Pushed for new laws to biz Regulation: gov t imposed rule or law b. Problem: wealth in the hands of monopolies/trusts/holding companies too powerful too much Solution: 1) Interstate Commerce Commission strengthened 2) passed 3) (FTC) set up to regulate biz 4) Sherman & Clayton Acts 5) biz 6) public utilities (so they set rates) III. Theodore Roosevelt (R) (1901-1908) #26 A. Introduction 1. age Youngest US President 2. Social Darwinist = int l affairs; Progressive in domestic affairs believed should balance needs of competing groups a. = promise of fair & equal treatment for all b. Adopt reforms to maintain an efficient society that could compete successfully against other nations B. Roosevelt s Reforms 1. Necessary & Efficient, but some hurting public interest should be supervised, not destroyed ex. Northern Securities Case: TR used Sherman Anti-trust Act to attack a RR. Supreme Ct orders company dissolved TR earns reputation as a! 2. Establishes as broker between groups in society ex. Coal Strike of 1902 prices climbing, impending shortage. TR believes this an example of pursuit of private interest at expense of nation. Orders arbitration. Owners refuse. TR threatens to send in to run mines mine owners accept arbitration 3. new fed. Agency to investigate corps & publicize results a. goal to keep big biz from power thru knowledge & facts b. TR exercised ability to regulate big biz w/o sacrificing the efficiency of - B of C investigation of US Steel: possible law suit. US Steel 5
offered to open accounting books in exchange, gov t would allow US Steel to correct problems privately w/o going to 4. Acts of Congress a. Expedition Act suits given precedent in court dockets b. Hepburn Act gave ICC power to set rates, inspect books C. Social Welfare Action 1. Issues? a. Patent Medicine Biz - variety of potions passed off as etc. - many = just household mixtures. others = dangerous compounds b. Food/Meat - Upton Sinclair s The Jungle exposed appalling conditions in industry 2. Solutions? a. Pure Food & Drug Act (1906) prohibited manuf./sale/ship. of impure or falsely food, drugs, liquors, medicines required contents on labels b. Meat Inspection Act (1906) gave power to inspect meat packing plants: checked meat & set standards for cleanliness etc. D. Conservation (TRs most enduring ) 1. Issues? a. US being used up at alarming rate - lumber companies cutting, not - companies let oil/natural gas gush out unused b. Mismanagement of resources - ranchers - mining companies gouging huge in earth 2. TR supports a. Land Development in West -Newlands Reclamations Act: sale of western lands to be used for projects build dams b. Gifford Pinchot 1) US Service established (Pinchot in charge) 2) believed trained in forestry & resource management to conserve forests 3) rejected philosophy of leaving preservation up to the lumber companies (lumber co s would conserve to ensure future profits) E. TRs Legacy 1. Americans look to federal to solve nation s economic & social problems 2. of gov t grew in power - Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) sets RR rates - Ag Dept inspects food - Bureau of Corps monitors business - Anti-trust suits etc 6
IV. William Howard Taft (R) (1909-1913) #27 A. Introduction 1. Picked by TR as his successor (was TRs Secretary of War) defeats William Jennings Bryan (D) in the election (WJB lost for the 3 rd time! ) 2. Taft hated - wanted a law career a. Very different from TR: agreed to become Pres. b/c his wife and TR wanted him to b. Had many ideas, but conflict with progressives over his personality & approach to politics B. Taft lost with Progressives over 3 issues: 1. Tariffs a. Taft believed tariffs should be as US businesses no longer needed special protection: believed lower tariffs would bring lower to consumers; drop in revenue from tariffs could be made up with b. Bill to lower tariffs introduced but in, head of Senate committee, supporter of high tariffs rewrote it (The Payne Aldrich Tariff) - Didn t reduce much and raised tariffs on some goods! 1) Taft trapped! If he it, he would upset conservative Republicans. If he signed it, he would anger 2) it & said it was the best tariff bill ever!! 2. The House Revolt a. Joseph Cannon was Speaker of the House - Anti-Progressive - Controlled assignments, order of business etc b. Progressives in Congress decided he must be, from the Rules Committee at least - Progressives ask for Taft s support in this issue he 3. Conservation a. Taft gets caught up in spat between Sec of Interior Richard Ballinger & Chief Forester Gifford Pinchot over leasing public land in to private developers b. Taft supports Ballinger. Pinchot goes to Europe to tell TR that his buddy was selling down the river C. Taft s Progressive Reforms Taft WAS a Progressive!! 1. Children s Bureau investigated/publicized labor problems 2. Mann-Elkins Act (1910) gave ICC power over telegraph,, (wireless) 3. Conservation a. Bureau of Mines oversees activity b. Forest Reserve Act expanded National c. Protected waterpower sites from private development 4. 90 suits (2 X as many as TR) 7
a. TR critical: said breaking up was destroying his system of cooperation & regulation between gov t/biz b. TR advocated allowing trusts to exist, while increasing ability to them c. TR breaks with Taft decides to reenter politics, runs for Pres in election V. Woodrow Wilson (D) (1913-1921) #28 A. Election of 1912 1. Taft/TR competing for Republican candidacy a. Conservatives = b. Progressives = 2. Taft has more support (TR scared them when he declares that the federal should be the steward over the public s ) 3. TR leaves the Republican Party and forms the Progressive Party aka the Party a. New Nationalism more powerful than national gov t and strong Executive Branch to big biz/trusts 4. Woodrow Wilson =, New Freedom a. Progressive Democrat from 1) Revamped election 2) Utility regulation 3) Cities changed to from in NJ b. Monopolies should be, not regulated - more important than efficiency 5. Woodrow Wilson elected a. TR & Taft split the Republican vote, so the Democrat easily b. Example of a Third Party as an election B. Wilson on the Economy 1. Tariffs a. Wilson personally appeared before to address the need to reduce tariffs b. Believed the pressure of foreign would lead US manufacturers to improve their products and lower - constant necessity to be efficient, economic, & enterprising c. Underwood Tariff (1913) 1) Reduced tariffs to about 30% of value of goods. 1890 rate 2) Provision for - direct tax on earnings of individuals & groups d. Amendment (1913): gave Congress the power to tax personal income 1) Constitution originally did not permit Congress to tax individuals income 8
2) established : tax based on income of an individual or business and which taxes different levels at different rates 2. Banking Reform a. To restore public in banking system b. Federal Reserve System/Act (1913) 1) 12 Regional bankers banks o Bankers kept a portion of their deposits in these to cushion against unanticipated 1) Board of Governors appointed by the President o Had the power to raise/lower - thus had the ability to fight inflation by raising interest rates & stimulate the economy during a recession 3. Anti-trust Action a. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) - Investigates business practices (that hurt competition), issues cease and desist orders b. Clayton Anti-trust Act - Banned tying agreements, price discrimination, volume C. Federal Aid & Social Welfare 1. Child Labor - Exempted from anti-trust laws - Keating-Owen Act: prohibited employment of under 14 in factories producing goods for interstate commerce (court ruled against this) 2. Adamson Act 3. Federal Farm Loan Act - work day for RR workers - 12 member banks provide w/ long-term, low interest loans D. Legacy of Progressives 1. More efficient gov t 2. More democratic gov t 3. Increased business 4. Improved working conditions 5. New to the Constitution 6. Role of to fix social & economic problems increased E. Limits to Progressivism: US still very 1. Niagara Mvmt (1905) 2. National Association for the Advancement of Colored People NAACP (1910) 3. WEB DuBois - is essential to bring about an end to racial discrimination 4. Anti-Defamation League : to fight against discrimination and stereotyping - Improved position of religious minorities (especially Jews in this era) 9
10 The Diagram below shows the structure of the Federal Reserve System. Study the diagram. Use The Fun at the Fed video and your textbook (pg. 223) to help you answer the questions that follow. 1. Who appoints the members of the Federal Reserve Board? 2. What power does the Federal Reserve Board have? 3. What is the function of the Federal Reserve Banks? 4. How does the Federal Reserve Board pump money into the economy? 5. How does the Federal Reserve System benefit the Economy?
Amendment 16 Summary of Progressive Era Constitutional Amendments What was the historical issue or problem that led to this amendment? How did this amendment change the Constitution? (summarize the amendment) 11 17 18 19 Susan B. Anthony I m a STAAR! What s my Claim to Fame? Francis Willard Theodore Roosevelt Upton Sinclair Woodrow Wilson W.E.B. DuBois Ida B. Wells