PROGRESSIVE ERA - PDF Free Download

PROGRESSIVE ERA 1900-1920

WARM UP What groups of people are considered the needy in today s society?

PROGRESSIVE ERA The Progressive Era was aimed to restore economic opportunities for Americans and correct injustices in American life. Were the Progressives successful in making government more responsive to the will of the people? Who were the needy in 1890?

ORIGINS OF PROGRESSIVISM Reaction to extremes of modern life Capitalism & individualism Urbanization & Industrialization Labor conflict Immigration Environmental exploitation

FOUR GOALS OF PROGRESSIVISM 1. Creating economic reform 2. Protecting social welfare 3. Promoting moral improvement 4. Fostering efficiency

CREATING ECONOMIC REFORM Panic of 1893 Economic depression (worst one to date) Americans begin to question capitalist economic system Some Americans (especially workers) embrace socialism Because of uneven balance among big business, government, and ordinary people

CREATING ECONOMIC REFORM Muckrakers: journalists who wrote about the corrupt side of business in mass circulation magazines Termed for cleaning/raking up the muck of the world Often worked to expose social ills and corporate and political corruption The Jungle by Upton Sinclair (1906) Intended to write a novel about labor exploitation Instead uncovered the sickening conditions of the meatpacking industry Let s read The Jungle!

PROTECTING SOCIAL WELFARE Social welfare reformers sought to soften the harsh conditions of industrialization Settlement House Movements Jane Addams YMCA (Young Men Christian s Association) Opened libraries, sponsored classes, built athletic facilities Salvation Army Soup Kitchens, Orphanages, etc. Florence Kelly Advocate for improving the lives of women and children Worked to end child labor and advocate for working women s rights

CHILD LABOR No regulations Few public schools Cotton fields, factories and coal mines People of color Immigrants Working class poor whites, southerners

CHILD LABOR Could perform unskilled jobs for lower wages Small hands could fit into tiny part of machinery! Wages so low for adults that everyone in family needed to work Accidents caused by fatigue Health problems from stunted growth

CHILD LABOR 1904 National Child Labor Committee Sent investigators to gather evidence of children working in harsh conditions Organized exhibitions with photographs & statistics to dramatize Joined by labor union members child labor lowers wages for all workers Keating-Owen Act of 1916 Prohibits transportation across state lines of goods produced with child labor Supreme Court decides that it s unconstitutional to regulate labor due to state s rights

WORKING WOMEN Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Women wearing shirtwaist blouses gather around a long table with gas-heated irons. Pressing was most often done by men. Photographer: unknown, ca. 1900

WORKING WOMEN Max Blanck and Isaac Harris Owners of the large Triangle Shir twaist factor y were known as the "Shirtwaist Kings. They immigrated to the United States from Russia and had made a for tune manufacturing "Gibson girl" style blouses.

WORKING WOMEN Triangle Shirtwaist Fire 1911 New York City Locked doors Workers trapped in the building 800 trapped 146 women died Fire Exposes: Female labor Poor working conditions, Lack of immigrant rights Lack of safety regulations

IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAW? The fire escape that ends in midair must be abolished.

WORKING WOMEN Triangle Shirtwaist Fire (cont.) Fire on 7 th, 8 th and 9 th floors Doors locked No sprinkler system Fire escape collapsed Factory owners guilty of manslaughter Effects Stronger laws regulating hours and conditions 1917 30 states had workers compensation laws Improved fire codes

PROMOTING MORAL IMPROVEMENT Reformers felt that morality, not the workplace, could improve the lives of poor people Wanted poor city dwellers to uplift themselves & improve personal behavior Prohibition the banning of alcoholic beverages Thought that alcohol was undermining American morals

PROHIBITION Temperance Movement: sought to make people refrain from alcohol consumption Alcohol linked to corrupt urban politics, prohibition, gambling, disintegrating families and slowing of work http://thecolbertreport.cc.co m/videos/ndmtp9/ken-burns

PROHIBITION Leaders Woman s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) Led by Frances Willard, almost 1 million members Largest women s group in nation s history Anti-Saloon League Carrie Nation: Smashed up bars with hatchet

PROHIBITION Opposition Some immigrant groups (especially Catholics) Working class (especially men

PROHIBITION Prohibition Law States first half of US dry by 1914, and ¾ of territory had outlawed saloons 18 th Amendment (1919) outlawed all alcohol sale, manufacture, and transport

FOSTERING EFFICIENCY Introduction of assembly lines into the work place tasks be performed much more quickly Leads to fatigued workers and injuries Henry Ford Automobile factory Reduced the work day to 8 hours Paid workers $5 a day Incentive attracted thousands of workers When I m through everybody will be able to afford [a car], and about everyone will have one -- Henry Ford, 1909

CLEANING UP GOVERNMENT Political Bosses reward supporters with jobs and buy votes with favors and bribes Reformers want to make government more efficient and responsive to constituents Many distrust immigrant participation in politics

CLEANING UP GOVERNMENT Natural disasters bring out flaws in system City councils are replaced with commissions Commissions = groups of experts taking charge of specific government departments

CLEANING UP GOVERNMENT Robert M. La Follette Senator from WI Drove corporations out of politics Attack big business interests Elections Initiative bill originated by the people rather than the lawmakers Referendum a vote on the initiative Recall enabled voters to remove public officials from elected positions Forced to face another election 17 th Amendment Direct Election of Senators Previously elected by state officials Power of the people!

WOMEN IN PUBLIC LIFE At the turn of the century, 1/5 American women held jobs outside the home Leaving behind the cult of domesticity 25 percent worked in manufacturing ½ worked in garment manufacturing Growth of business more and more women worked in offices as stenographers and typists women sought high school educations to train for work. Middle- and upper-class women go to college number of women s colleges grew Graduates join reform movements Women get married at later ages

WOMEN S SUFFRAGE Political reformers believe women s votes would elevate political tone, advance reforms popular among women s groups Used taxation without representation reasoning

WOMEN S SUFFRAGE National American Women s Suffrage Association founded in 1890 by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony Changes in law/elevation women s status, and demanding the right to vote Carrie Chapman Catt led new wave of NAWSA Since women could do the work of men, women should also have the right to vote Black women formed separate group under Ida B. Wells (National Association of Colored Women) "I will not begin at this late day by doing what my soul abhors; sugaring men, weak deceitful creatures, with flattery to retain them as escorts or to gratify a revenge. Ida B. Wells

WOMEN S SUFFRAGE Three Part Strategy for Suffrage Tried to convince state legislatures Wyoming (1869) Utah, Colorado, Idaho (1890s) Courts: brought cases testing 14 th amendment Decided women are citizens, but voting isn t a citizenship right National constitutional amendment Rejected by Congress for 42 years 19 th Amendment (1920)

WOMEN S SUFFRAGE

PRESIDENTIAL TIMELINE Taft Hayes Arthur Hayes Harrison Cleveland Harrison McKinley Taft Cleveland Garfield Cleveland Cleveland Roosevelt Wilson McKinley Garfield Wilson Roosevelt Arthur

TEDDY ROOSEVELT Very popular with American Public Square Deal conservation of natural resources control of corporations consumer protection Successful Reforms: Mediated disputes between miners and owners Used Sherman Anti-Trust Act to break up some large businesses Used Interstate Commerce Act to regulate railroads Meat Inspection Act and Pure Food and Drug Act increased public health protections Conservation Conservation reforms protected environment Gifford Pinchot appointed head of forest service

TEDDY ROOSEVELT broke pro-business policies of Republican Party targeted monopolistic business practices for reform create a Bureau of Corporations to investigate and regulate big business over 40 major corporations were sued for antitrust or price-fixing violations expanded the powers of the government within the economy new power for organized labor to organize and exert leverage against employers Ex: threatened use of the U.S. Army to seize the coal mines and operate them until the owners agreed to arbitration to settle the strike.

1908 ELECTION TR promised not to run for reelection in 1908 Picked lawyer and judge William Howard Taft to be his successor

Bigger trustbuster than TR Broke up twice as many trusts in half the time Trouble carrying out TR s legacy Had promised lower tariff Payne-Aldrich Tariff passed, much higher tax Angers conservationists, appoint business-friendly Richard Ballinger as Secretary of the Interior Fires Pinchot from Forestry service TAFT

REPUBLICAN PARTY SPLITS Public (and Roosevelt) angry with Taft, decide to challenge him in 1912 election Roosevelt forms Progressive Party Nicknamed Bull-Moose Party 1912 Election: split between Taft (Republican) and Roosevelt (Progressive) helps Democrats

REPUBLICAN PARTY SPLITS

WOODROW WILSON Tried to distance himself from the Democratic party machine Had progressive ideals Reform program called the New Freedom

WOODROW WILSON Asked Congress to create legislation that would finally address trusts and tame the rampant monopolies Antitrust laws: Clayton Anti-Trust Act declared certain business practices illegal (exclusive contracts, local price cutting to freeze out competitors, inter-corporate stockholding) Gompers Magna Carta of Labor Federal Trade Act created Federal Trade Commission to investigate unfair business practice and violations of regulation

WOODROW WILSON Economic Reforms: Tariffs passed Underwood Tariff, reduced rates Federal Income Tax created by 16 th Amendment Graduated Tax the higher your income, the higher percentage of income goes to taxes Federal Reserve System established reserve banks that could lend money to national and state banks Made it easier to get credit

FAILURES OF PROGRESSIVISM Civil Rights Failed to address issues of African American rights World War I After 1914, war in Europe increasingly took up Wilson s attention

WORLD WAR I 1914-1918

ESSENTIAL QUESTION Is isolationism really an option for a country as powerful as the United States?

WORLD WAR I What? War involving nearly all the nations of the world When? 1914-1918

WORLD WAR I Why? Long Term Militarism Alliances Imperialism Nationalism Short Term Assassination of Franz Ferdinand of the Austro-Hungarian Empire

WORLD WAR I Who? Central Powers Germany Austria-Hungary Ottoman Empire Bulgaria Allies Russia France Great Britain Italy Japan United States (1917)

Where?

WORLD WAR I Which side should the US pick? Central powers 11 million German- Americans Irish-Americans hated Great Britain Allies Close Cultural ties Shared transatlantic cables (easier communication) Big business loaned much $ to allies US Exports to both Sides Nations 1914 1915 1916 Britain $594,271,863 $911,794,954 $1,526,685,102 France $159,818,924 $364,397,170 $628,851,988 Germany $344,794,276 $28,863,354 $288,899

US INVOLVEMENT What did it take to get the US involved? 1. Blockades Britain blockaded (stopped) all German ships going to America Germany announced a submarine war with Britain Lusitania torpedoed, sinking with 1200 passengers and crew (including 128 Americans) Eventually found out to be carrying 4200 cases of ammunition The US criticizes Germany for their action Germany agreed not to sink passenger ships without warning in the future

US INVOLVEMENT 2. Unlimited Submarine Warfare 1917 Germany announced unlimited submarine warfare in the warzone Why?? Otherwise their blockade would not be successful 3. Zimmerman Note US intercepted a note from Germany to Mexico Promised Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona back to Mexico in return for an alliance with Germany

HOW S THE WAR LOOKING FOR THE ALLIES? Not so good Russia left the war after its communist revolution in 1917 Made the war a one front war for Germany all its troops could concentrate on France

US ENTERS WAR American was not ready for war 200,000 men were in service when war was declared Congress passes Selective Service Act in 1917 By the end of 1918, 24 million had signed up and almost 3 million were called to duty About 2 million American troops reached Europe

US ENTERS WAR Fresh US Soldiers After 2.5 years of fighting, the Allied forces were exhausted Americans have fresh and enthusiastic troops American infantry -- many men had never ventured far from their hometowns

US ENTERS THE WAR Convincing the American People Propaganda Goals for War = Idealism 1. War to end all wars 2. Making the world safe for democracy

THE WAR AT HOME How can average Americans help with the war effort? Provide food, money, and fresh soldiers needed to win the war Women Filled factory jobs Helped bring passage of 19 th Amendment in 1920 African Americans Black soldiers served in segregated units Great Migration Thousands of African Americans move North to work in factories

THE WAR AT HOME Enforcing Loyalty Hatred of all things German ( sauerkraut = Liberty Cabbage) Espionage Act 1917 & Sedition Act 1918 Punished those against war (many are labor leaders losing workers) 1918 Flu Epidemic Influenza spreads from Europe to US 600,000 killed How would the flu epidemic lead to support for an isolated United States?

CONVINCING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE Idealism: Wilson s Fourteen Points Wilson s plan for after the war Fourteen promises including freedom of the seas & a League of Nations to work for peace

WILSON FIGHTS FOR PEACE Wilson s plan for peace is rejected by Allies Fourteen points included: No secret treaties Freedom of the Seas More free trade Reduction of arms Less colonialism A League of Nations to promote peace through collective security.

ALLIES REJECT WILSON S PLAN, SIGN TREAT Y OF VERSAILLES The Big Four leaders work out treaty details Wilson (U.S.) Clemenceau (France) Lloyd George (England) Orlando (Italy) Wilson conceded on most of his 14 points in return for the establishment of the League of Nations. June 28, 1919 Big Four and the leaders of the defeated nations Gather at Hall of Mirrors to sign the Treaty of Versailles

TREATY OF VERSAILLES The Treaty established nine new nations including Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia. It broke up the Austro- Hungarian Empire and the Ottoman Empire empires. It barred Germany from maintaining an army, required them to give Alsace-Lorraine back to France, and forced them to pay $33 billion in reparations to the Allies.

THE WEAKNESS OF THE TREATY The harsh treatment of Germany prevented the Treaty from creating a lasting peace in Europe The Treaty humiliated the Germans by forcing them to admit sole responsibility for the war (War-Guilt Clause) Furthermore, Germany would never be able to pay $33 billion in reparations.

DEBATE OVER TREATY AT HOME Treaty was hotly debated Conservative senators, headed by were suspicious of the League of Nations joint economic and military commitments Henry Cabot Lodge Many wanted the U.S. Congress to maintain the right to declare war itself. Ultimately, Congress rejected U.S. involvement in the very League the U.S. President had created

THE LEGACY OF THE WAR 22 million dead, more than half civilians. An additional 20 million wounded. Domestic: strengthened both the military and the power of the government propaganda campaign provoked powerful fears in society. Foreign: Many countries have political instability and violence that lasted for years Russia established the first Communist state during the war Americans called World War I, The War to end all Wars unresolved issues drag the U.S. into even more conflict.