Age of Reform The Progressive Movement and the Populist Party.

Age of ReformAge of Reform

The Progressive Movement The Progressive Movement and the Populist Partyand the Populist Party

Led to a new eraLed to a new era1000’s left farm and 1000’s left farm and small towns to work in small towns to work in manufacturingmanufacturing

Reform-changes made to Reform-changes made to improve somethingimprove something

Industrial Revolution caused Industrial Revolution caused some unique problems that some unique problems that created a need for reformcreated a need for reform

Areas of ReformAreas of Reform:: Labor (Work)Labor (Work) EducationEducation Alcohol AbuseAlcohol Abuse Women’s inability to voteWomen’s inability to vote

Average worker - $225 Average worker - $225 yearlyyearly

12 hours a day12 hours a day 6 days a week6 days a week Lower than U.S. workerLower than U.S. worker Advantage in town-- Advantage in town--

newspapernewspaper

Low Wages and Long HoursLow Wages and Long Hours No Job securityNo Job security ImpersonalImpersonal unsafe work environment…unsafe work environment…

limited compensationlimited compensation

Wages and Working Wages and Working Conditions of U.S. Conditions of U.S.

WorkerWorker

Abuses in labor led to Abuses in labor led to formation of labor formation of labor unionsunions

1870 industry 1870 industry employed twice as employed twice as many children as many children as womenwomen

Railroad AbusesRailroad Abuses Took land given to them by the Took land given to them by the

government and sold it at high government and sold it at high prices to farmersprices to farmers

Charged higher rate for short Charged higher rate for short hauls than for long haulshauls than for long hauls

Allowed political friends to ride Allowed political friends to ride freefree

Gave rebates to preferred Gave rebates to preferred customerscustomers

RR controlled pricesRR controlled prices

James Hogg Fights for ReformJames Hogg Fights for Reform Fought Insurance Companies that Fought Insurance Companies that

weren’t following TX Lawweren’t following TX Law Broke up the Texas Traffic Assn-a Broke up the Texas Traffic Assn-a

Railroad trustRailroad trust Argued that trusts created aArgued that trusts created a monopoly- monopoly-

one company’s complete control one company’s complete control of over a product or service in the of over a product or service in the market market

Passed anti-trust laws making monopolies Passed anti-trust laws making monopolies illegalillegal

Monopoly blamed for creating Monopoly blamed for creating high prices and unstable high prices and unstable economyeconomy

emergence of new rich classemergence of new rich class conspicuous consumptionconspicuous consumption 1% controlled 88% of US wealth1% controlled 88% of US wealth 10 mil lived below the poverty line10 mil lived below the poverty line standard of living was rising, but the gap standard of living was rising, but the gap

was widening between the haves and was widening between the haves and have-notshave-nots

The Problems of The Problems of MonopolyMonopoly

PopulismPopulism FarmersFarmers felt they were being ignored by felt they were being ignored by

government- government- formed the Farmers’ formed the Farmers’ Alliance which spread throughout Alliance which spread throughout the South.the South.

Populism-Populism- was a nationwide movement of was a nationwide movement of rural citizens who had not benefited from the rural citizens who had not benefited from the modern lifestyle made possible from growth in modern lifestyle made possible from growth in

industry- industry- a political movement of the a political movement of the common people that resulted in common people that resulted in the formation of the “People’s the formation of the “People’s Party” (political)Party” (political)

Populist’s ReformsPopulist’s Reforms Govt Regulation of BusinessesGovt Regulation of Businesses Public ownership of RR, telegraph, and Public ownership of RR, telegraph, and

telephone linestelephone lines Elimination of national banking system; Elimination of national banking system;

implementation of greenbacksimplementation of greenbacks Storage of excess crops to cause prices Storage of excess crops to cause prices

to increaseto increase Graduated income tax (16Graduated income tax (16thth

Amendment)Amendment) Direct election of U.S. Senators (17Direct election of U.S. Senators (17thth

Amendment)Amendment)

Temperance Movement Temperance Movement led toled to

Prohibition-18Prohibition-18thth AmendmentAmendment

Temperance-the avoidance of alcoholTemperance-the avoidance of alcohol Citizens began expressing concern over Citizens began expressing concern over

the consumption of alcohol on societythe consumption of alcohol on society This movement was led by women such This movement was led by women such

as WCTU-Women’s Christian Temp Unionas WCTU-Women’s Christian Temp Union Prohibition- A ban of the manufacturing, Prohibition- A ban of the manufacturing,

sale, transport or use of alcoholic sale, transport or use of alcoholic beveragesbeverages

Women’s SuffrageWomen’s Suffrage

Suffrage - the right to voteSuffrage - the right to vote By 1918 women in TX could vote By 1918 women in TX could vote

in primariesin primaries June 1919 - TX legislature ratified June 1919 - TX legislature ratified

the 19the 19thth Amendment to the U.S. Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, allowing women the Constitution, allowing women the right to voteright to vote

Improving EducationImproving Education Constitution of 1876 - funds for Constitution of 1876 - funds for

public lands and poll taxes were public lands and poll taxes were revenues for public schoolsrevenues for public schools

1 Million students in public 1 Million students in public school by 1910school by 1910

Universities, Texas A & M, and Universities, Texas A & M, and UT were established by 1880’sUT were established by 1880’s

Disaster Leads to Disaster Leads to ChangeChange

The City of Galveston The City of Galveston was struck by a was struck by a devastating hurricane in devastating hurricane in 1900.1900.

It was the worst natural It was the worst natural disaster to ever hit the disaster to ever hit the U.S.U.S.

Winds – excess 120 Winds – excess 120 miles per hourmiles per hour

Waves – 20 feet Waves – 20 feet higher than normalhigher than normal

15 foot storm surge 15 foot storm surge washed over citywashed over city

6000 – number of 6000 – number of people who diedpeople who died

Worst natural disaster to Worst natural disaster to hit US ever hit US ever

““Where 20,000 Where 20,000 people lived on the 8people lived on the 8thth (of September), not a (of September), not a house remained on house remained on the 9the 9thth””

17 foot seawall was 17 foot seawall was built to break the built to break the waves during storms.waves during storms.

All weather All weather bridge connects bridge connects island to the island to the mainland today mainland today for evacuation for evacuation purposespurposes

Progressives Push for Progressives Push for Change!Change!

Banned co’s from issuing Banned co’s from issuing “scrips” instead of money for “scrips” instead of money for wageswages

Limited number of hours Limited number of hours employees work in one dayemployees work in one day

Child labor laws- <12 couldn’t Child labor laws- <12 couldn’t work in industrial plants in TXwork in industrial plants in TX

Blacklists were outlawed-used to Blacklists were outlawed-used to alert employers of union activityalert employers of union activity

Farmer Jim as GovernorFarmer Jim as Governor No political experienceNo political experience; self-; self-

educated lawyer and bankereducated lawyer and banker Ignored prohibitionIgnored prohibition; ;

concentrated on poor tenant concentrated on poor tenant farmersfarmers

First governor of TX to be First governor of TX to be impeached-to bring charges of impeached-to bring charges of misconduct to remove a public misconduct to remove a public official from officeofficial from office