Unit 4: Imperialism and Progressivism. Chapter 13 The Progressive Movement 1890-1919.

Unit 4: Imperialism and Progressivism

Chapter 13 The Progressive Movement 1890-1919

I. The Roots of Progressivism A.Introduction 1. Progressivism: a political movement that crossed party lines. Progressives believed that rapid industrialization and urbanization had created many social problems and that govt should take a more active role in dealing with these problems Intro to Progressivism

2. Sources of Progressive Reform a. Industrialization, with all its increase in productivity & the # of consumer goods created: - unemployment and labor unrest, poor working conditions - wasteful use of natural resources - abuses of corporate power b. Growing cities magnified problems of poverty, disease, squalid living conditions, crime & corruption c. Influx of immigrants & rise of new managerial/middle class upset traditional class alignments d. Economic Depression (1893-1897) convinced many that = opportunity was out of reach for many Americans

Tenement Slum Living

Poor working conditions, child labor

3. Roots of Progressivism Who is pushing for reform? a. Liberal Republicans of 1870s, Mugwumps of 1880s, Populists in late 1800s 4. Diffs btwn Populism & Progressivism a. Populism grew in rural areas Progressivism grew in cities b. Populists = poor & uneducated Progressives = middle class, well- educated, both political parties c. Populists = more radical/socialist Progressives = moderate/compromised d. Populism = failed Progressivism = success!

5. The solution? Solve social problems through active govt leadership! T. Roosevelt W. Wilson W. H. Taft The Progressive Era

B. The Rise of Progressivism 1. Who were the Progressives? a. New middle class composed of young professionals - journalists, social workers, educators, politicians, clergy mainly urban b. Muckrakers - journalists who attacked corruption and scandal & investigated social conditions - published articles in popular magazines - led to public debate over social/economic problems & put pressure on politicians to introduce reforms

Lincoln Steffens Exposed city political machines in The Shame of the Cities Exposing Corruption in Govt

David Graham Phillips Criticized how $ influenced the Senate in Treason of the Senate

Ida Tarbell Exposed corruption in Big Biz in The History of Standard Oil Exposing Corruption in Big Biz

Jacob Riis Exposed poverty, crime, disease in immigrant neighborhoods in How the Other Half Lives Exposing Social Welfare problems

John Spargo Criticized child labor in The Bitter Cry of the Children View of the Ewen Breaker of the Pa. Coal Co. The dust was so dense at times as to obscure the view. This dust penetrated the utmost recesses of the boys' lungs. A kind of slave-driver sometimes stands over the boys, prodding or kicking them into obedience. S. Pittston, Pa.

Upton Sinclair Exposed health and safety problems in the meat-packing industry in The Jungle

c. Political Cartoonists

d. Political Reformers those opposed to traditional party politics e. Socialists - frustrated workers who promised to destroy capitalism. Led by Eugene Debs (who polled 900,000 votes for President in 1912). - rejected by most Progressives as too extreme in their goals and methods - Progressives (& most Americans) believed in the superiority of the US system of free enterprise Socialism

The Socialist Ticket 1912

C. 4 Groups of Progressives 1. Efficiency Progressives goal to make govt more efficient a. Scientific management applied to govt - run govt more like a biz b. City govt required EXPERTS, not POLITICIANS (to head essential city services) - change system to prevent boss or machine rule - support commission plan or council /mgr plan (pg 421) - specialists should run city depts - prompted by Galveston, TX hurricane of 1900

Replacing the City Machines

2. Democracy Progressives - goal to make US more democratic make elected officials more responsive to voters a. State level reform efforts championed by Robert La Follette of Wisconsin (Lab. Of Democracy) 1) Problem: party bosses indirectly controlled which candidates were chosen to run for office Solution: Direct Primary voters given control over candidates (voters decide who becomes the candidate in presidential election)

2) Problem: state legislatures unresponsive to voters Solution: Election reforms to bring direct democracy to voters Initiative allowed voters to initiate laws in state leg. Referendum in some states, let voters accept or reject measures proposed by state leg. Recall enabled voters to remove unsatisfactory elected officials from office Fighting Bob La Follette Recall in Action: CA 2003 Davis OUT, Arnold IN!

b. Federal level reform efforts Problem: US Constitution stipulates that each state leg. elect 2 senators to DC but machines or trusts influenced election of those Senators repaid their supporters with fed. contracts & jobs Solution: 17 th Amendment to the Constitution = direct election of Senators by all state voters

c. Womens suffrage Problem: 50% of US population disenfranchised Solution: 19 th Amendment to the Constitution = womens suffrage Womens Suffrage

Seneca Falls Convention (1848) 1 st womens rights convention Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth Cady Stanton 14 th 15 th Amendments (1868- 1870): expanded calls for womens vote National Womens Suffrage Assoc (NWSA) pushed for constitutional amendment allowing womens suffrage Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton ( Susan B arrested for voting in 1872 presidential election) Susan B. Anthony

Opposition to Womens Suffrage Suffragists considered unfeminine/immoral Some attacked Early movement weakened by focus on abolitionist mvmt

Propaganda against womens suffrage

Womens Suffrage American Woman Suffage Assoc- (AWSA) - gain womens suffrage by convincing state govts to give womens suffrage before trying to amend constitution Lucy Stone, Julia Ward Howe By 1900, only WY, ID, UT and CO had granted women full voting rights National American Woman Suffrage Assoc (1890) a combo of the NWSA & AWSA little progress initially After 1910 more progress as middle class women demand voting rights to promote social reforms & labor class women demand voting rights to ensure passage of labor laws to protect women

Womens Suffrage Movement

Womens Suffrage Washington March - March 3, 1913 (day before W. Wilsons inauguration) organized by Alice Paul who believed that protests were necessary to force Pres. Wilson to act on womens suffrage 1915 Winning Plan organized as the final push to gain voting rights. NAWSA supports Wilson in 1916, Wilson calls for all states to give women suffrage 19 th Amendment June 1919 passed by Senate Aug 1920 - ratified Alice Paul

The Washington March March 13, 1913

3. Social Welfare Progressives - goal to address social problems such as: illiteracy, alcohol abuse, child labor, safety a. Created charities ex. Jane Addams settlement houses provided various services to the poor (Hull House) b. Pushed for new laws to fix social probs 1) Problem: In 1900 ~ 2m kids under 16 worked outside the home. Solution: National Child Labor Committee - goal to end child labor - some states establish minimum work age/ max work hrs - compulsory ed. Laws

2) Problem: Many adult workers labored in difficult and dangerous conditions. Solution: creation of health & safety codes: building codes, workers compensation laws, zoning laws - made work environment safer for workers zoning laws and building codes regulate how land and buildings can be used - separate biz from residential Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire film Labor conditions

Triangle Shirtwaist Company

3) Problem: alcohol responsible for many problems: loss of productivity in the workplace, spousal & child abuse Solution: temperance movement - moderation or elimination of alcohol. In 1874 the Womens Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) ; Anti- Saloon League temperance movement worked to reduce alcohol consumption 1st, but later pushed for prohibition laws banning the manufacture, sale, & consumption of alcohol (18 th amendment) Temperance Mvmt

4. Big Biz Progressives- goal to regulate/reform Big Biz - Pushed for new laws to regulate biz Problem: wealth in the hands of too few monopolies/trusts/holding companies too powerful too much political pwr Solution: a. ICC strengthened b. Consumer laws passed c. FTC set up to regulate biz d. Sherman Anti-trust Act e. biz licensing f. regulate public utilities (so they set fair rates)

II. Theodore Roosevelt (R) (1901-1908) #26 A.Introduction 1. age 42 Youngest US President 2. Social Darwinist = intl affairs; Progressive in domestic affairs believed govt should balance needs of competing grps a. Square Deal = promise of fair & equal treatment for all b. Adopt reforms to maintain an efficient society that could compete successfully against other nations The Square Deal Teddy Roosevelt

B. Roosevelts Reforms 1. Trusts 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 monopoly. Supreme Ct orders company dissolved TR earns reputation as a trustbuster! 2. Establishes Govt as broker btwn grps in society ex. Coal Strike of 1902 prices climbing, impending shortage. TR believes this an ex. of pursuit of pvt interest at expense of nation. Orders arbitration. Owners refuse. TR threatens to send in army to run mines mine owners accept arbitration

TR the Trustbuster

3. Bureau of Corporations new fed. Agency to investigate corps & publicize results a. goal to keep big biz from abusing pwr thru knowledge & facts b. TR exercised ability to regulate big biz w/o sacrificing the efficiency of trusts - B of C investigation of US Steel: possible anti-trust law suit. USS offered to open acct books in exchange, govt would allow USS to correct probs privately w/o going to court 4. Acts of Congress a. Expedition Act anti-trust suits given precedent in court dockets b. Hepburn Act gave ICC pwr to set RR rates, inspect books

C. Social Welfare Action 1. Issues? a. Patent Medicine Biz - variety of potions passed off as cure- alls etc. - many = just household mixtures. others = dangerous compounds b. Food/Meat - Upton Sinclairs The Jungle exposed appalling conditions in meatpacking industry The Jungle

Magic Potions!

2. Solutions? a. Pure Food & Drug Act (1906) prohibited manuf./sale/ship. Of impure or falsely labeled food, drugs, liquors, medicines required contents on labels b. Meat Inspection Act (1906) gave govt pwr to inspect meat packing plants: checked meat & set standards for cleanliness etc. Meat Reform

D. Conservation (TRs most enduring legacy) 1. Issues? a. US resources being used up at alarming rate - lumber co.s cutting, not replanting - oil co. let oil/nat. gas gush out unused b. Mismanagement of resources - ranchers overgrazing - mining co.s gouging huge holes in earth

2. TR supports conservation a. Land development in West - Newlands Reclamations Act: sale of western lands used for irrigation projects build dams b. Gifford Pinchot 1) US Forest Service (Pinchot in charge) 2) believed trained experts in forestry & resource mgmt should apply scientific mgmt to conserve forests 3) rejected laissez-faire philosophy of leaving preservation up to lumber cos. (lumber cos would conserve to ensure future profits)

E. TRs Legacy 1. Americans look to the fed. Govt to solve nations economic & social problems 2. Executive Branch grew in power - ICC sets rates - Ag Dept inspects food - Bureau of Corps monitors biz - antitrust suits etc

III. William Howard Taft (R) (1909-1913) #27 A.Introduction 1. picked by TR as his successor (was TRs Sec. of War) defeats William Jennings Bryan (D) in 1908 election (WJB lost for 3 rd time ) 2. Taft hated politics wanted law career a. Very diff from TR: agreed to become Pres b/c his wife and TR wanted him to. b. Had many progressive ideas, but conflict w/ progressives over his personality & approach to politics

B. Taft lost credibility w/ progressives over 3 issues: 1. Tariffs a. Taft believed tariffs should be reduced as US biz no longer needed special protection; believed lower tariffs would bring lower prices to consumers; drop in revenue from tariffs could be made up w/ taxes b. Bill to lower introduced but in Senate, head of Senate committee, supporter of high tariffs, rewrote it (The Payne-Aldrich Tariff) - didnt reduce tariffs much & raised tariffs on some goods!

1) Taft trapped! If he vetoed it, he would upset conservative Republicans, if he signed it, he would anger progressives 2) Signed it & said it was the best tariff bill ever! 2. The House Revolt a. Joseph Cannon was Speaker of the House - anti-progressive - controlled committee assignments, order of biz, etc

b. Progressives in Congress decided he must be removed, from rules committee at least - Progs asked for Tafts support in this issue he refused 3. Conservation a. Taft gets caught up in spat btwn Sec of Interior Richard Ballinger & Chief Forester Pinchot over leasing public land in Alaska to pvt developers b. Taft supports Ballinger. Pinchot goes to Europe to tell TR that his buddy was selling progressivism down the river

C. Tafts Progressive Reforms Taft WAS a Progressive!! 1. Childrens Bureau investigated/publicized child labor problems 2. Mann-Elkins Act (1910) gave ICC power over telegraph, telephone, (wireless) 3. Conservation a. Bureau of Mines oversees mining activity b. Forest Reserve Act expanded Natl Forests c. Protected waterpower sites from pvt development

4. 90 Anti-trust suits (2x as many as TR) a. TR critical: said breaking up trusts was destroying his system of cooperation & regulation btwn govt/biz b. TR advocated allowing trusts to exist, while increasing govts ability to regulate them c. TR breaks w/ Taft decides to reenter politics, run for Pres in 1912 election

IV. Woodrow Wilson (D) (1913-1921) #28 A.Election of 1912 1. Taft/TR competing for Repub candicacy a. Conservatives = Taft b. Progressive = TR 2. Taft has more support (TR scares them when he declares fed govt to be steward over publics welfare) 3. TR leave Rep Party forms Progressive Party aka The Bull Moose Party - New Nationalism more powerful natl govt & strong exec branch to regulate biz/trusts

4. Woodrow Wilson = Democrat, New Freedom a. Progressive Dem from NJ 1) revamped election laws 2) utility regulation 3) cities changed to commissioner form in NJ b. Monopolies should be destroyed, not regulated - freedom more important than efficiency

5. Woodrow Wilson elected - TR & Taft split Republican Vote, so Democrat wins easily!

B. Wilson on the Economy 1. Tariffs a. Wilson personally appeared before Congress to address need to reduce tariffs b. Believed pressure of foreign competition would lead US manufacturers to improve their products & lower prices - 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 income tax direct tax on earnings of individuals & groups 2. Banking Reform a. To restore public confidence in banking system

b. Federal Reserve System/Act (1913) 1) 12 Regional bankers banks - bankers kept portion of their deposits in these to cushion against unanticipated losses 2) Board of Govs appointed by Pres. - had pwr to raise/lower interest rates thus had abililty to fight inflation by raising interest rates & stimulate economy during recession by lowering interest rates

3. Anti-trust Action a. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) - investigates unfair biz practices (that hurt competition), cease & desist orders b. Clayton Anti-Trust Act - banned tying agreements, price discrimination, volume discounts - exempted labor from anti-trust laws

C. Federal Aid & Social Welfare 1. Child Labor - Keating-Owen Act: prohibited employment of children under 14 in factories producing goods for interstate commerce (court ruled against this) 2. Adamson Act - 8 hr workday for RR workers 3. Federal Farm Loan Act - 12 member banks provide farmers w/ long-term, low-interest loans

D. Legacy of Progressives 1. more efficient city govt 2. more democratic state govt 3. increased biz regulation 4. improved working conditions 5. new amendments to constitution 6. role of govt to fix social & economic problems increased

E. Limits to Progressivism: US still very racist 1. Niagara Mvmt (1905) 2. NAACP (1910) 3. WEB DuBois vote essential to bring about an end to racial discrimination

Unit 4: Imperialism and Progressivism. Chapter 13 The Progressive Movement 1890-1919.

Documents

Transcript of Unit 4: Imperialism and Progressivism. Chapter 13 The Progressive Movement 1890-1919.