The Origins of Progressivism

1. The Origins of Progressivism Progressive Goals – Limit Big Business – prevent unfair practices and the elimination of competition Improve safety and working conditions for workers Outlaw child labor Establish social justice – programs to help the sick, unemployed, and the elderly Reduce Government corruption Improve democracy – Women’s Suffrage

2. The Origins of Progressivism – 1901-1918 Middle Class Americans, Church leaders, Union leaders, African Americans, Feminists. Presidents Roosevelt, Taft and Wilson; leaders like Bryan & LaFollette Pragmatism– practical approach to morals and ideas ScientificManagement – organize people in the most efficient manner. Muckrakers – reveal information about the problems that exist in society. Henry Lloyd – Atlantic Monthly – Wealth Against Commonwealth. Samuel McClure – McClure’s Magazine Lincoln Steffens – Tweed Days Upton Sinclair – The Jungle Ida Tarbell – The History of the Standard Oil Co. Jacob Riis – How the Other Half Lives.

3. The Jungle “There would be meat stored in great piles in rooms; and the water from leaky roofs would drip over it, and thousands of rats would race about on it. It was too dark in these storage places to see well, but a man could run his hand over these piles of meat and sweep off handfuls of dried dung of rats. These rats were nuisances, and the packers would put poisoned bread out for them; they would die, and then rats, bread, and meat would go into the hoppers together . . . With fresh meat, and sent out to the public’s breakfast.” —Upton Sinclair, The Jungle

18. The Origins of Progressivism – 1901-1918 Political Reforms - Secret Ballot Direct Primaries Direct Election of Senators – 17th Amendment Initiative – Voters compel legislatures to consider a Bill. Referendum – Citizens vote on proposed laws. Recall – Removing corrupt or unsatisfactory politician. Social Welfare – Schools – Kindergarten, Night Schools, Public Playgrounds Juvenile Courts and separate facilities; Parole Liberal Divorce Laws Safety Regulations for tenements & factories

19. The Origins of Progressivism – 1901-1918 Municipal Reforms - Tax Reform Public Ownership of Utilities & Services – water systems, transportation, gas lines, electricity. Commission Plan – elect leaders of various departments. City Manager – direct work of the various departments. State Reforms - Attack Insurance Companies. Regulate Railroads. Tax Reform. Prohibition & Temperance

21. National Reforms – The Progressive President Theodore Roosevelt – “Square Deal” 1901 – 1909 –Republican “Trust Buster” Enforced Sherman Anti-Trust Act. Elkins Act – stop the use of Railroad rebates. Hepburn Act – ICC could fix rates. Pure Food & Drug Act (Sinclair’s Jungle). The Meat Inspection Act (Sinclair’s Jungle). Forest Reserve Act – use this to increase national reserve. Newlands Reclamation Act – 1902; National Conservation Commission.

24. National Reforms – The Progressive President William Howard Taft 1908 – 1912 –Republican. Continued Roosevelt’s “Trust Busting” Agenda. Attacked U.S. Steel. Mann-Elkins Act 1910 – Gave the ICC more power over rates, and communication companies. 16th Amendment Later accused of betraying the Progressive agenda. Payne-Aldrich Tariff Pinchot-Ballinger Controversy House Speaker Joe Cannon Midterm Elections

26. Presidential Election of 1912

27. Presidential Election of 1912

28. Presidential Election of 1912

29. National Reforms – The Progressive President Woodrow Wilson - 1912 – 1921 – Democrat Split in the Republican Party (Bull Moose) - Democrats won easily. “New Freedom” Attacked Tariffs, Banks, and Trusts – wanted Free & Fair Competition. Underwood Tariff – 1913. Federal Reserve Act– 1914. This is where we get our $$. Clayton Anti-Trust Act Federal Trade Commission Federal Farm Loan Act Child Labor Act 17th, 18th, and 19th Amendments

30. Booker T. Washington - Education and economic progress were keys to achieving political and social equality. Learn skills to attain better wages. Head of the Tuskegee Institute. W.E.B. DuBois - Born into slavery. Political and social equality was the key to achieving economic independence. More militant than Washington. Established the Niagara Movement which worked towards achieving equal rights. Later organized the NAACP

31. Civil Rights Movement Urban Migration – National Urban League Poor race relations and farming conditions Job opportunities Women’s Rights Movement NAWSA - Carrie Chapman Catt Alice Paul – National Woman’s Party WWI 19th Amendment

32. Socialism – 3rd Party More radical than the Progressives – public ownership of corporation and government regulation Catered to the working class Eugene V. Debs – unsuccessful candidate in 5 Presidential Elections Some ideas eventually were accepted