1890/95-1920 1900-1917. A middle-class movement-mostly urban, white, native-born and white-collar professionals Some upper class-business leaders.

Progressive Era1890/95-1920

1900-1917

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

The Presidents Theodore Roosevelt-1901-1909 William Howard Taft-1909-1913 Woodrow Wilson-1913-1921