Progressivism
A Growing Need for Reform Tycoons were getting very rich while their workers suffered laissez-faire lack of both business regulation and protection for workers Progressive Era period of much reform (involving various aspects of U.S.) stop unfair business competition and political corruption (econ & political reform) protect public from Industrialism s bad effects (social reform) led primarily by educated middle-class whites
Early Attempts at Reform (1887) Interstate Commerce Act [M] 1 st time Fed government regulates an industry (railroads) (1890) Sherman Anti-Trust Act prohibited monopolies/trusts that hindered competition failed to provide adequate definitions (loop holes) the U.S. v EC Knight case showed its weaknesses NYC passed new fire & safety codes after Triangle Shirtwaist fire sweatshop fire killed several women due to cramped/unsafe conditions
Movement for Progressive Reforms Jacob Riis published How the Other Half Lives contained photos of urban poor and sparked reform movement!!! muckrakers (like Riis) were reform minded journalists & writers Upton Sinclair exposed the meatpacking industry with The Jungle Rockefeller exposed by Ida Tarbell [M] muckrakers sometimes seen as too mischievous (even by Roosevelt) belief in Social Gospel played a role in sparking reform Josiah Strong was another leader (like Rauschenbusch) opposite of Social Darwinism (Salvation Army)
Photos from How the Other Half Lives
The first Progressive President Theodore Roosevelt was first president to push Progressive reforms he promised a Square Deal (fair treatment) for all Americans even owners his (Republican) presidency signified abrupt end to laissez-faire government used White House as bully pulpit to uphold stewardship theory belief that the president should use power to protect U.S. citizens
Roosevelt s Square Deal (1902) Pennsylvania Coal Strike concerned much of the nation became more serious as winter approached many used coal as heat source TR used arbitration to settle dispute (set ex. of president as mediator ) Conservation of U.S. wilderness and resources very important to TR Forest Reserve Act set aside land for public parks and to protect resources Teddy also sought to improve Public Health Meat Inspection Act inspired by The Jungle and the Pure Food and Drug Act led to the FDA
Roosevelt and Big Business Roosevelt earned a reputation for being a trust-buster attacked bad trusts he viewed as corrupt, unfair, & irresponsible but encouraged good trusts that were responsible and good for public Progressive Supreme Court case: Northern Securities v. United States represents example of TR busting up a corrupt railroad monopoly [M]
Political Reforms by Progressives Pendleton Civil Service Act passed to stop spoils system [M] govt jobs on merit instead of inside connections must pass Civil Service Exam Governor Robert La Follette enacted many of the political reforms Wisconsin became known as the laboratory for democracy success at state level inspired adoption of reforms at national level various election reforms adopted nationwide during Progressive Era Seventeenth Amendment direct election of Senators secret ballots could now vote w/o fear initiative citizens can propose new laws referendum citizens vote on laws recall voters can remove elected officials
Local Government during the Progressive Movement several towns & cities adopted the Council-Manger form of government towns elected a group of officials to represent the people usually led by an impartial City Manager from a different area created to end political machines and stop spoils system locally
Progressive Women Susan B. Anthony kept the suffrage movement alive in late 1800s faced uphill climb but American Suffrage Association lobbied state govts achieved right to vote on school issues 1 st and then universal suffrage in 1920 women also had leading role in Temperance (prohibition) Movement founded national organizations like the Women s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) Supreme Court ruled on female labor in Oregon v. Muller [M] decision upheld laws that limited the hours that women could work seen as a success by some but a failure to others (restricted personal choice) women would finally gain suffrage in 1920 with passage of the 19 th Amendment
William H. Taft s Presidency (1909-1913) fun facts about the second of the Progressive presidents weighed about 350 lbs & got stuck in White House bath tub (had sleep apnea) had a pet cow that grazed on the White House lawn the last president with facial hair 1 st president to throw the First Pitch at a baseball game Taft had been Teddy Roosevelt s friend & Secretary of War TR helped him win the Republican Presidential nomination in 1908 Progressives developed different opinions about Taft s actions they LIKED how Taft attacked trusts actually more trust-busting than TR did they DISLIKED his high tariffs & weak conservation policy (split the party!!!)
the Election of 1912 Roosevelt s anger with Taft inspired him to end retirement and run for president formed Progressive Party ( Bull Moose ) and promised New Nationalism the Bull Moose Party new party divided the Republican Party the 1912 election had 4 candidates William H. Taft (Republican) Teddy Roosevelt (Bull Moose) Eugene V. Debs (Socialist) Woodrow Wilson (Democratic) Wilson won b/c of the split Republican vote only the 2 nd Democrat since the Civil War
Woodrow Wilson s Presidency (1913-1921) Wilson promised Americans New Freedom during his campaign tariff reductions, stronger business regulation, banking reform WW was a Progressive too but slightly different than the others Underwood-Simmons Tariff of 1913 lowered duties on imports Wilson s Federal Reserve Act created the Federal Reserve System a new central banking system first since Jackson killed the BUS and his Clayton Anti-Trust Act further strengthened business regulation and greatly increased the rights of labor unions
Life at the Turn of the Century Progressive reforms created more leisure time for many Americans caused an increase in the growth and popularity of sports & recreation improved healthcare increased the average life expectancy new literature emerged to shape popular culture Mark Twain became a famous American author Horatio Alger wrote several rags to riches stories Hearst & Pulitzer published penny newspapers ragtime became the most popular style music was the forerunner to jazz