The Progressive Era 1890-1917 Dr. Megan Birk UTPA.
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Transcript of The Progressive Era 1890-1917 Dr. Megan Birk UTPA.
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