Progressivism

Collection of ideas to solve problems in American society, many of which grew out of industry Examples of problems with industry?

Believed laissez-faire economics and unregulated market cause problems Examples of problems due to laissez-faire

economics?

What is Progressivism?

Fix current government, then government can fix problems Major ideas of reform?

Strong belief in science and technology Why?

Progressive Ideals

Crusading journalists who investigated social conditions and political corruption Where did they get the name from?

Examples Charles Edward Russell (Everybody’s Magazine): Beef Industry Ida Tarbell (McClure’s): Standard Oil Lincoln Steffens (Shame of Cities): Political Machines Jacob Riis (How the Other Half Lives): Urban life Upton Sinclair (The Jungle): Meat Industry

Muckrakers

1848: Elizabeth Cady Stanton & Seneca Falls Biggest Issue: Civil War & Slavery

Questions over how to approach issue in late 19th Century

Paid lobbyists, delivered speeches, organized marches March on DC before Wilson’s inauguration Questions still around about how to approach issue

w/ Wilson

NAWSA: Carrie Chapman Catt and the final push

Women’s Suffrage

Women’s Suffrage Map

Child Labor Laws Breaker Boys, Farm Workers

Health Codes Worker’s Compensation Laws,

Restaurant Codes

Prohibition Women’s Christian Temperance

Union

Progressive Reforms

PROGRESSIVISMUnited States History

Progressive Ideas

Essentially a movement based in responses to America’s problems

Laissez-Faire policies do not work

Science and technology will help society

Industrialization/Urbanization cause problems

Government should fix problems, but government itself needs to be reformed

Muckrakers

Crusading journalists who investigated social conditions and political corruption Charles Edward Russell

attacked the beef industry in Everybody’s Magazine

Ida Tarbell crushed Standard Oil Company in McClure’s

Lincoln Steffens exposed voting fraud in Shame of Cities

Jacob Riis photographed inner-city life in How the Other Half Lives

Democratic Reforms

Robert LaFollette, Governor of Wisconsin Pushed for direct primaries, where people

voted for a candidate to run in the general election

Other Progressive Reforms Initiative: citizen-introduced legislation Referendum: citizens vote on proposed

laws Recall: voters can have special election

to remove government official Direct election of Senators

Other Reforms Happening

Women’s Suffrage

Child Labor

Health Codes and Worker Safety Laws

Prohibition (WCTU)

Big Business Breakdown

Theodore Roosevelt

Social Darwinist

Reform Plans (Square Deal) Took on big business Roosevelt (big stick) with 1902 mine

strike Government sets railroad rates and

regulates some business (Hepburn Act) Protect Consumers (Meat Inspection Act

and Pure Food & Drug Act) after Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle

Environmental Conservation

William Howard Taft

Succeeded Roosevelt…perfect for job?

Tariff Reform (Roosevelt warns about splitting party)

New Secretary of Interior Ballinger Tries to turn protected lands into private development Pinchot fired for insubordination (disobedience to

authority)

Passed many Progressive Reforms

Woodrow Wilson’s Rise

Roosevelt challenges Taft for Republican nomination Splits party (Republicans and Progressives/Bull

Moose) Wilson wins easily

Wilson Reforms (New Freedom) Lowered tariffs, levied income taxes Federal Reserve created Federal Trade Commission to watchdog

business

Progressive Thinkers

Teddy Roosevelt

Square Deal Programs Economy, Conservation

Draw line against misconduct, not wealth Trusts help economy more often than not

Don’t promote self interest at nation’s expense (ex—Coal Strike of 1902)

Regulate industry through negotiations

New Nationalism (1912)

William Howard Taft

Perfect replacement for TR…or so they thought

Replaced many of TR’s reformers and upset progressives with environmental stance

Actually a stronger trustbuster and conservationist than Roosevelt

Woodrow Wilson

“New Freedom” Reforms

Believed monopolies should be destroyed

Promoted “freedom” over “efficiency”

Reduced tariffs on goods and created the income tax

Attacked child labor and banks

Key Acts

Sherman Antitrust Act Prohibited conspiracy to restrain trade across

state lines

Interstate Commerce Commission Limited railroad rates to reasonable and just

rates and made it illegal to charge more for shorter hauls

Hepburn Act Strengthened ICC by allowing them to set rates

More Acts

Payne-Aldrich Tariff Taft wanted to lower tariffs, TR tells him to avoid

topic Ends up doing very little, but divides party

Underwood Tariff Act Lowered tariffs and created an income tax on

individuals

Federal Reserve Act Indirectly controls interest rates and money

circulation

More Acts

Federal Trade Commission Stop unfair trade practices that hurt

competition

Clayton Antitrust Act Toughened Sherman Act, and added guidelines

on stock sales, price regulation, and trade

Others to note… Keating-Owen Child Labor (declared

unconstitutional in 2 years) and Adamson Act (8 hour worked)

The Good and Bad of Progressivism

Good Health Reforms New Regulations Women’s Rights

Bad Racial and Religious Equality not addressed Some acts declared unconstitutional