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The Yen for Reform

The Yen for Reform. From the “Gilded Age” to the “Progressive Era”. Progressive Era – 1896-1920? What is progress?. The Problem(s). How to manage change Immigration Urbanization Industrialization Growth of wealth Corruption Poverty. A Dark Beginning. Populist hopes thwarted in 1896

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The Yen for Reform

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  1. The Yen for Reform

  2. From the “Gilded Age” to the “Progressive Era” • Progressive Era – 1896-1920? • What is progress?

  3. The Problem(s) • How to manage change • Immigration • Urbanization • Industrialization • Growth of wealth • Corruption • Poverty

  4. A Dark Beginning • Populist hopes thwarted in 1896 • Jim Crow grows in South • Failure of biracial coalition • Reversal of Reconstruction

  5. “Redemption” • White elite in South comes to power in 1880s-early 1900s • Cuts budgets, schools, hospitals • Makes unemployment illegal • Rents out convicts as slaves • “One dies, get another”

  6. Everyone Is Equal but Some Are More Equal than Others… • South imposes poll taxes, literacy tests, etc. to vote (1896-1906) • Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

  7. An Era of Accommodation • Booker T. Washington (1856-1915) • Black middle class builds own institutions • Meanwhile, American Federation of Labor replaces Knights of Labor in 1890s

  8. The American Empire • Conquered the West • Now look to Cuba, Philippines, Hawaii • Spanish American War (1898) – the “splendid little war” • “Remember the Maine!”

  9. The Paradox of Progressivism • Middle class and elite movement for reform • Adopts some of Populist ideas • Meant to better the lot of the poor, workers, women

  10. The Paradox of Progressivism • Middle class and elite movement for reform • Adopts some of Populist ideas • Meant to better the lot of the poor, workers, women • A movement without an ideology?

  11. Theories of Progressivism • Status anxiety • Anglo cultural resistance to immigrants, blacks, poor • Modernizing ideal of efficiency, order • Need to tame monopoly

  12. Progressive Women • Settlement Houses • Fight for birth control • Fight for right to vote • “City Beautiful”

  13. The Rise of Socialism • Originally limited to immigrants, ex: Germans • Became significant 3rd party under Eugene Debs of Indiana

  14. The Wobblies • Industrial Workers of the World • Way more militant • “One big union” • Advocated general strike • Fought for free speech

  15. Election of 1912 • Socialist Debs vs. Republican President William H. Taft • Progressive Theodore Roosevelt • and Democrat Woodrow Wilson

  16. What TR Had Been Up To • Took over when McKinley assassinated (1901) • Trust-busting • Conservation • Handed reins to Taft in 1908

  17. The Debate • Roosevelt’s “New Nationalism” • Idea that big business is here to stay • Must be regulated • Heavy taxes on the rich • Early idea of social security/universal healthcare

  18. The Debate • Wilson’s “New Freedom” • Less emphasis on government programs • Tougher anti-trust laws • Right to unionize • Support for small business

  19. Two Versions of Same Idea • In office, Wilson pursued policies similar to Roosevelt and Populists • Banned child labor • New protection for right to unionize and strike • New regulation of business • Federal Reserve (1913)

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