1890/95-1920 1900-1917. A middle-class movement-mostly urban, white, native-born and white-collar professionals Some upper class-business leaders.
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Introduction A middle-class movement-mostly urban, white,
native-born and white-collar professionals Some upper class-business leaders who were
committed to social justice Response to challenges of industrialization,
urbanization and immigration
Beliefs/Issues New ideas and honest, efficient govt. can bring
about social justice; get rid of corrupt govt. officials/organizations and make govt. responsive to the people’s needs
Industrialization and urbanization have created troubling problems-wretched living conditions, harsh conditions for laborers
Eliminate the abuses of big business; create opportunities for small businesses
Reduce the gap between rich and poor (enter Socialist party)
Socialism Socialists wanted a complete change of the
system, not merely reform, but, socialism and progressivism did overlap on some issues
Socialist Eugene V. Debs won 400,000 votes in 1904 and nearly a million in 1912 as presidential candidate
U. Sinclair was a Socialist
Muckrakers/Literature Sensational investigative reporters/stories Published in magazines like McClure’s books (1893) S.S. McClure-magazine that exposed Tammany Hall/Boss
Tweed (controlled NYC politics and helped immigrants) (Thomas Nast-”The Vulture”
Jacob Riis, “How the other half lives”-about NYC tenements Lincoln Steffens-”The Shame of the Cities”-1904; exposed
corruption of boss politics Ida Tarbell-”History of the Standard Oil Company”-1904;
ruthless practices of monopoly Upton Sinclair-”The Jungle”-1906-industry conditions in
Chicago’s meatpacking industry Naturalist novels portraying human misery and struggles of
the common people also became popular
Municipal Level Reform Reforms begin in the cities, work to eliminate the
corruption of machine politics In the 1890s, many bosses were replaced with city
managers or other forms of expert govt. Worked to regulate urban utilities; some even
advocated public ownership 1900-a massive hurricane hit Galveston, TX.; left it
in ruins-killed more than 8000; as an emergency measure, Galveston replaced its mayor with a 5-person commission (5 people=legislative body)
Commission form of govt.-proved efficient through rebuilding effort; many adopt it
Electoral Reform Robert M. Lafollette: direct primary-citizens themselves
vote to select nominees for upcoming elections 17th amendment (1913)-direct election of senators Initiative-gave people the power to put a proposed new
law on the ballot; voters could pass laws Referendum-allow citizens to approve or reject laws
passed by a legislature Recall-voters the power to remove public servants from
office before their terms end By and large, these reforms failed to oust party bosses
and special interest who learned to control the new mechanisms
Labor Reform Early 1900s-U.S. had the highest rate of industrial accidents
(long hours, poor ventilation, fumes, unsafe machinery, etc.) Early year some 30,000 workers died on the job; another half a
million were injured Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire (March 1911)-NYC, kills 146,
many young women, little chance of escaping as managers had locked most of the exits; many jump in desparation
Leads to workplace safety laws and workers compensation laws Many attempts to limit workday (to 10 hours), especially with
women Child labor reform-min. age for employment (12-16) and max.
hours (10); Keating-Owens Act-bans child labor, but 2 years later will be ruled unconstituional
Not until 1938 that child labor will be banned for good
Social Reform-Assistance
Social Gospel-follow the Bible’s teachings-about charity and justice, people could make society “the kingdom of God”
Est. of settlement houses-community centers that provided social services to the urban poor (gave working mothers classes in day care, taught English to immigrants, etc.)
Jane Addams-Hull House-in Chicago, grew to 13 buildings and inspired other college-educated, middle-class women to become social workers
Social Reform-Education
A number of states passed laws requiring a child attend school until a certain age
John Dewey-criticized schools for teaching memorization, encouraged creative thought and also wanted schools to teach practical subjects/skills
Social Reform-Morals Several states set up censorship boards to control
movies Prostitution-Red-light districts like New Orleans
“Storyville” were shut down 1910-legislation passed to make it illegal to
transport a woman across state lines for “immoral purposes”
Theda Bara (1885-1955)-the original vamp (sex symbol); sensuality in movies deeply troubled moral reformers
Social Reform-Prohibition
The temperance movement was one of the oldest and strongest reform movements
By 1900, 25% of Americans lived in “dry” counties or states, but, total per capita alcohol consumption was on the rise
Protestant rural native born reformers vs. Catholic urban immigrants
18th amendment (1919)-prohibition-outlawed manufacture, sale and transport of alcoholic beverages
Social Reform-Women Education helped women achieve their goals Worked in prohibition movement Some women worked against sweatshops, fought
for min. wage, 8-hr. workdays and children’s rights Boldest goal=suffrage; wanted to make sure govt.
protected their children, fostered education and supported family life
Suffrage leaders: Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton
19th amendment (1920)-cannot deny right to vote based on gender
Struggle vs. Discrimination
Booker T. vs. W.E.B. DuBois Niagara Movement-group met at Niagara Falls,
expressed DuBois’ ideas, never grew large enough, needed a more powerful voice
NAACP-formed in response to a riot; to protect lives, secure the right to vote and civil rights
Anti-Defamation League-goal to defend Jews and others vs. physical and verbal attacks, vs. false statements, and to secure justice and fair treatment for all
Immigration Issue Some believed only fewer and “better”
immigrants could reduce the social problems of the city
Immigration restriction league-1894-founded to oppose the “new” immigrants
Some restriction already (Chinese Exclusion Act), but much more will follow WWI
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