Essential Question: Essential Question: How did progressives bring reform to local, state, and national governments? How did progressives bring reform.

Essential QuestionEssential Question:: How did progressives bring How did progressives bring

reform to local, state, and reform to local, state, and national governments? national governments?

Political Political Progressivism in Progressivism in the Cities & Statesthe Cities & States

Progressive Reform in the Progressive Reform in the CitiesCities Political progressivism began in cities Political progressivism began in cities

in response to corrupt political in response to corrupt political machines & deteriorating urban machines & deteriorating urban conditions conditions

““Good government” reformers Good government” reformers created the National Municipal created the National Municipal League in 1894 to find ways to make League in 1894 to find ways to make city governments city governments lessless political & political & lessless partisanpartisan

Most cities formed committees to focus on

improving quality of life

Many mid-sized or small cities hired a non-partisan city

manager to oversee the city bureaucracy

Many cities used “gas & water

socialism” to control public utility costs

Galveston, Texas was the 1st city to use a city commission rather than a mayor & city council

These urban reforms were less democratic but much more efficient & less corrupt

Progressive Reform in the Progressive Reform in the StatesStates

Progressive reformers impacted state Progressive reformers impacted state governments too:governments too: A New York corruption scandal linked A New York corruption scandal linked

politicians & utility suppliers leading the politicians & utility suppliers leading the first state utilities regulatory boardfirst state utilities regulatory board

Most states created regulatory Most states created regulatory commissions to oversee state spending commissions to oversee state spending & initiate investigations& initiate investigations

Progressive Reform in the Progressive Reform in the StatesStates

Progressives helped make state Progressives helped make state governments more democratic:governments more democratic: Western states were the 1Western states were the 1stst to allow to allow

public public initiativesinitiatives, , referendumsreferendums, , && recallsrecalls Passage of the 17Passage of the 17thth amendment in 1912 amendment in 1912

allowed for the direct election of allowed for the direct election of SenatorsSenators

By 1916, most states had By 1916, most states had direct direct primariesprimaries to allow voters to choose to allow voters to choose candidates, not partiescandidates, not parties

Allowed citizens to create laws by petitioning to have an issue placed on a state ballot & allowing voters (not politicians) to decide

Allowed voters to directly remove an elected official by popular vote

Allowed citizens to vote on an issue (such as tax increases) suggested by the state legislature

Action in the StatesAction in the States

The most significant state reform was The most significant state reform was governor Robert La Follette’s governor Robert La Follette’s “Wisconsin Idea”:“Wisconsin Idea”: Used academic “experts” from the Used academic “experts” from the

University of Wisconsin to help research & University of Wisconsin to help research & write state billswrite state bills

Wisconsin was the 1Wisconsin was the 1stst state to use direct state to use direct primary & income tax, create industrial primary & income tax, create industrial commissions, set utility prices, & regulate commissions, set utility prices, & regulate RRsRRs

TR called Wisconsin the “Laboratory of Democracy”

California, Missouri, Iowa, & Texas copied La Follette’s plan

Essential QuestionEssential Question::To what degree were To what degree were Teddy Roosevelt, Teddy Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, William Howard Taft, & Woodrow Wilson & Woodrow Wilson different in their different in their approaches to approaches to national progressive national progressive reform? reform?

National National ProgressivismProgressivism: : Roosevelt, Taft, Roosevelt, Taft,

WilsonWilson

Who was Teddy Roosevelt? Who was Teddy Roosevelt?

The Republican RooseveltThe Republican Roosevelt TheThe McKinleyMcKinley assassinationassassination (1901) (1901)

made Teddy Roosevelt president:made Teddy Roosevelt president: TR was an activist president who TR was an activist president who

knewknew how to guide public opinionhow to guide public opinion Unlike most Gilded Age Republicans, Unlike most Gilded Age Republicans,

Roosevelt refused to ignore social Roosevelt refused to ignore social inequalities inequalities

He believed gov’t agencies should be He believed gov’t agencies should be run by expertsrun by experts

TR thought of presidency as a bully pulpit to advocate his agendaThe president is “a steward of the

people bound actively & affirmatively to do all he can for the people”Elihu Root to Sec of State

(district attorney of NYC)

W.H. Taft to Sec of War (governor of Philippines)

Gifford Pinchot as chief

conservationist

The Anthracite Coal Strike, 1902The Anthracite Coal Strike, 1902

In 1902, the United In 1902, the United Mine Workers went Mine Workers went on strike to demand on strike to demand higher pay & an higher pay & an eight-hour work dayeight-hour work day The anthracite The anthracite

coal coal strikestrike

lasted lasted 11 months & 11 months & threatened the threatened the nation nation as winter as winter approached approached

Teddy Roosevelt’s “Square Teddy Roosevelt’s “Square Deal”Deal” In an unprecedented In an unprecedented

move for a Gilded move for a Gilded Age president, TR did Age president, TR did not immediately side not immediately side with the ownerswith the owners TR forced both TR forced both

sides to arbitrate sides to arbitrate & & threatened threatened gov’t seizure of gov’t seizure of the coal the coal minemine

The result was a The result was a “square deal” “square deal” for both sidesfor both sides

TR’s “Square Deal” is the inspiration for future presidents: FDR’s New Deal,

Wilson’s New Freedom & Truman’s Fair Deal

TR the Trustbuster?TR the Trustbuster? TR saw the benefit of TR saw the benefit of goodgood trusts, but trusts, but

wanted to control wanted to control badbad trusts: trusts: He pushed for the He pushed for the Dept of Commerce & Dept of Commerce &

LaborLabor to investigate business to investigate business misconductmisconduct

In 1902, TR ordered the Justice Dept to In 1902, TR ordered the Justice Dept to charge the charge the Northern Securities CoNorthern Securities Co in in violation of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act; violation of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act; For the 1For the 1stst time, the Supreme Court time, the Supreme Court ordered a monopoly broken upordered a monopoly broken upNorthern Securities Company was giant RR holding company controlled, in part,

by JP Morgan, Rockefeller, JJ Hill

TR accepted monopolies as a fact of life for 20th century business but viewed

regulation as the best way to tame trusts who use corrupt business practices

TR the Trustbuster?TR the Trustbuster? TR was not always consistent:TR was not always consistent:

Initiated suits against beef trust, Initiated suits against beef trust, American Tobacco, DuPont, Standard Oil, American Tobacco, DuPont, Standard Oil, & New Haven RR& New Haven RR

But he relied on business to gain re-But he relied on business to gain re-election in 1904; sought the advice of JP election in 1904; sought the advice of JP Morgan; allowed some monopolistic Morgan; allowed some monopolistic mergers mergers

The Roosevelt administration only The Roosevelt administration only “busted” 25 trusts in 7 years“busted” 25 trusts in 7 years

Taft busted 43 monopolies in 4 years

TR was a popular president & won a TR was a popular president & won a landslide victory in 1904landslide victory in 1904

“Under no circumstances will I be a candidate for or accept

another nomination”

Regulating the RailroadsRegulating the Railroads TR’s re-election agenda focused on TR’s re-election agenda focused on

business regulation:business regulation: Hepburn ActHepburn Act (1906) increased the ICC’s (1906) increased the ICC’s

power to set maximum RR rates & power to set maximum RR rates & investigate RR company financial investigate RR company financial recordsrecords

The The Food & Drug ActFood & Drug Act (1906) & (1906) & Meat Inspection ActMeat Inspection Act (1906) protected (1906) protected consumersconsumers

Conserving the LandConserving the Land TR created the 1TR created the 1stst comprehensive comprehensive

national conservation policy:national conservation policy: TR defined “conservation” as wise TR defined “conservation” as wise useuse of of

natural resourcesnatural resources CreatedCreated thethe ReclamationReclamation ServiceService to place to place

natural resources (oil, trees,natural resources (oil, trees, coal)coal) underunder

federalfederal domaindomain From 1901 to 1908, U.S. gov’t preserves From 1901 to 1908, U.S. gov’t preserves

grew from 45 million acres to 195 million grew from 45 million acres to 195 million acresacres

National Parks and ForestsNational Parks and Forests

The Presidency The Presidency of William of William

Howard Taft Howard Taft

The Taft PresidencyThe Taft Presidency TR remained true to his promise not TR remained true to his promise not

to run for a 3to run for a 3rdrd term & helped pick term & helped pick William Howard Taft as the William Howard Taft as the Republican nominee for president Republican nominee for president

Taft seemed ready to carry out TR’s Taft seemed ready to carry out TR’s political agendapolitical agenda

“I feel a bit like a fish out of water…I hate the limelight.”

The Taft PresidencyThe Taft Presidency But, Taft was poorly equipped to But, Taft was poorly equipped to

continue Roosevelt’s agenda:continue Roosevelt’s agenda: Taft did not trust the gov’t to regulate Taft did not trust the gov’t to regulate

business behavior business behavior He didn’t have the flair of TR; Taft was He didn’t have the flair of TR; Taft was

“too honest & sincere”“too honest & sincere” Taft tended to side with conservative Taft tended to side with conservative

Republicans rather than progressive Republicans rather than progressive Republicans Republicans

Taft backed the Payne-Aldrich Tariff (1909) which angered progressive Republicans who

wanted more foreign completion to force monopolies to reduce their prices

Taft fired Pinchot, TR’s chief conservationist after the Ballinger-Pinchot Affair

These issued divided the Republican Party into progressive & “Old Guard” factions opening the door for a Democrat in the

1912 presidential election

The Taft PresidencyThe Taft Presidency

Despite these set backs, Taft helped Despite these set backs, Taft helped push through significant progressive push through significant progressive legislation:legislation: 1616thth Amendment Amendment was was writtenwritten; created a ; created a

national income taxnational income tax 1717thth Amendment Amendment was was writtenwritten; direct ; direct

election of U.S. Senatorselection of U.S. Senators Safety codes for miners & RRsSafety codes for miners & RRs Created the Children’s Bureau Created the Children’s Bureau

Vindication for the Populists!!

Vindication for the Populists!!

All the work to create the 16th & 17th amendments was done under Taft, but

neither was ratified while Taft was president

The Election of 1912The Election of 1912 TR decided to run against Taft for theTR decided to run against Taft for the

RepublicanRepublican nominationnomination inin 1912 but 1912 but conservative Republicans refused to conservative Republicans refused to nominate him over Taftnominate him over Taft

TR was nominated to the new TR was nominated to the new Progressive (Bull Moose) Party Progressive (Bull Moose) Party

Democrats nominated former Democrats nominated former Princeton president & NJ governor Princeton president & NJ governor Woodrow Wilson who ran as a Woodrow Wilson who ran as a progressive reformerprogressive reformer

“I’m feeling like a Bull Moose!”

This further divided the already fragmented Republican Party

The Election of 1912The Election of 1912TR’s New NationalismTR’s New Nationalism

U.S. needs a nat’l U.S. needs a nat’l approach to reform & a approach to reform & a strong presidentstrong president

Social-justice reforms: Social-justice reforms: protection of women, protection of women, children, workers; children, workers; “good” trusts to help “good” trusts to help growthgrowth

11stst to enlist women to enlist women

WW’s New FreedomWW’s New Freedom U.S. needs small U.S. needs small

gov’t, free trade & gov’t, free trade & competitioncompetition

Both plans saw the Both plans saw the economy as the economy as the central issue, but central issue, but Wilson distrusted Wilson distrusted federal power & nat’l federal power & nat’l planningplanning

Democrats not only won the presidency, but also outright control of both House & Senate

The 1912 election was the most significant 3-way election since 1860: Lincoln (Republican),

Stephen Douglas (Northern Democrat), & John Breckenridge (Southern Democrat)

Woodrow Woodrow Wilson’s New Wilson’s New

FreedomFreedom

Woodrow Wilson's New Woodrow Wilson's New FreedomFreedom

Wilson believed in strong, activist Wilson believed in strong, activist leadership & helped push through leadership & helped push through many “New Freedom” ideas:many “New Freedom” ideas: Underwood Tariff Act (1913)Underwood Tariff Act (1913) reduced reduced

tariffs & created the 1tariffs & created the 1stst graduated graduated income taxincome tax

Federal Reserve Act (1913):Federal Reserve Act (1913): the Federal the Federal Reserve regulates the economy by Reserve regulates the economy by adjusting the money supply & interest adjusting the money supply & interest ratesrates

1% tax for all, but 2% for the rich

The 1st efficient national banking system since Jackson destroyed the BUS in 1832

Woodrow Wilson's New Woodrow Wilson's New FreedomFreedom Clayton Anti-Trust Act (1914) Clayton Anti-Trust Act (1914) banned banned

interlocking directorates & held business interlocking directorates & held business officers personally liable for monopolies; officers personally liable for monopolies; helped workers by allowing strikes & helped workers by allowing strikes & banning injunctionsbanning injunctions

As the 1916 elections neared, Wilson As the 1916 elections neared, Wilson pushed for more social reforms…but pushed for more social reforms…but U.S. involvement in WWIU.S. involvement in WWI inin 19171917

distracteddistracted Americans from Americans from progressive reform progressive reform

Federal Farm Loan Act

Endorsed an 8-hour day for all workers

Supported women’s suffrage

Defended unions’ right to collectively bargain

The End of Progressive The End of Progressive ReformReform

When World War I ended in 1919, the When World War I ended in 1919, the last of the progressive reforms were last of the progressive reforms were enacted:enacted: In 1919, the temperance movement In 1919, the temperance movement

gained a victory when the gained a victory when the 1818thth amendmentamendment & & Volstead ActVolstead Act prohibited prohibited alcohol alcohol

In 1920, women were rewarded for their In 1920, women were rewarded for their WW1 contribution with the right to vote WW1 contribution with the right to vote ((1919thth amendment amendment))

ConclusionsConclusions::The Fruits of The Fruits of

ProgressivismProgressivism

The Fruits of ProgressivismThe Fruits of Progressivism Progressive reforms led to:Progressive reforms led to:

Urban & labor improvementsUrban & labor improvements Direct primaries & female votingDirect primaries & female voting More gov’t responsibility for social More gov’t responsibility for social

welfare welfare Regulatory commissionsRegulatory commissions Increased importance of interest Increased importance of interest

groups & public opinion pollsgroups & public opinion polls An “expert” bureaucracy An “expert” bureaucracy A more powerful presidency A more powerful presidency

WWI ended the Progressive EraWWI ended the Progressive Era