Reforming America: Progressive Era Highlights

1. 22 The Progressive Era

2. PROGRESSIVISM • Period from 1890s to WW I • CHANGE OR REFORM • Progressivism reflects the worry in Society about the effects of Industrialization and urbanization • National but not a unified group

3. Muckrakers Call for Reform • McClure’s Magazine • “Muckrakers” write to expose corruption at all levels on every subject • Muckrakers are Journalistic voice of Progressive Age – need to reform • Ida Tarbell well-known muckraker • Lincoln Steffens research on corruption in city governments

4. The Innovative Model T • Henry Ford set standards for mass production with his auto industry • Small profit on each unit, gross of huge profit on high volume of sales • 1908: Model T introduced • “Tin Lizzie” was motor car for everyone • 1916: Federal government began highway subsidies

5. The Burgeoning Trusts • Big business resulted in a growing number of trusts • Series of mergers and consolidations in industry • 1% of industry produced half of all manufactured good • Finance men (J.P. Morgan) replace industrial capitalists • Question: What should government do about trusts?

6. Managing the Machines • Mass production changed direction of American industry • Business became large scale and mechanized and managed • Replacement of industrial giants by financial giants • Workplace is boring and dangerous because workers must work fast

7. Better Times on the Farm • 1920 – 1/3 of people still on farms • Tenant farmers remain impoverished • Western farmers benefit from vast irrigation projects

8. “I Hear the Whistle”: Immigrants in the Labor Force • 1901–1920: Fresh influx of Europeans, Mexicans, Asians to labor force • Non-English speakers considered a social problem • 10% of all Mexico’s population come here • Programs to “Americanize” them

9. “I Hear the Whistle”: Immigrants in the Labor Force • Huge numbers of immigrants enter country to join labor force • Birds of passage – temporary migrant • Chinese immigration banned in 1902 • Literacy tests used against other immigrant groups • Many immigrants not welcome

10. Immigration to the United States, 1900–1920 (by Area of Origin)

11. Mexican Immigration to the United States, 1900–1920

12. Conflict in the Workplace • Industrial workers found work repetitive and boring • Safety is big issue especially for woman and children • The Triangle Fire – forced state and national attention • Low wages combined with demands for increased productivity led to increase in labor unrest in early 1900s • Union membership soared

13. Organizing Labor • American Federation of Labor (AFL) led by Samuel Gompers, was the largest union (no unskilled or women) from 250,000 to 1.7 million in 1904 • 1903: Women excluded from A.F.L. form Women’s Trade Union League – few members l • 1905: Industrial Workers of the World purpose to overthrow capitalism – William D. (Big Bill) Haywood • Unions try to negotiate and then use strikes

14. Labor Union Membership, 1897–1920

15. Working with Workers • Some employers use violence to keep workers in line • Some employers improve working conditions to avoid trouble • Henry Ford doubled wages, reduced workday • Amoskeag – textile mill in New Hampshire

16. A New Urban Culture • Growing middle class • Nation of consumers – mass production provided jobs and products that workers could afford (lowered prices) • Life span increased • Cities grew and took on modern look – sky scrapers – department stores, warehouses – wealthy suburbs – zoning, etc.