The Progressive Era Solving the problems of a changing and growing nation through education and reform.

The Progressive EraThe Progressive EraSolving the problems of a Solving the problems of a

changing and growing nation changing and growing nation through education and reformthrough education and reform

The changes of the late 19The changes of the late 19thth and early 20 and early 20thth century brought challenges to the nationcentury brought challenges to the nation

INDUSTRIALISM

IMMIGRATION

URBANIZATION

INTRODUCTINTRODUCTIONION

Mark Twain coined the term “The Gilded Mark Twain coined the term “The Gilded Age” to refer to this time period. It was Age” to refer to this time period. It was not a Golden Age of progress, but more a not a Golden Age of progress, but more a time of corruption and greed lying beneath time of corruption and greed lying beneath a golden surface.a golden surface.The Populist Movement of the mid-1800s The Populist Movement of the mid-1800s attempted to organize the common man, attempted to organize the common man, but failed to create lasting change.but failed to create lasting change.

The Progressive Movement of the early The Progressive Movement of the early 1900s shared the same goal as the 1900s shared the same goal as the Populist MovementPopulist Movement----reform American reform American institutions while preserving the ideals of institutions while preserving the ideals of the pastthe past

PROGRESSIVE PROGRESSIVE ISSUESISSUESA. Eliminate corruption in the political A. Eliminate corruption in the political systemsystem----restore restore confidence in our confidence in our governmentgovernmentB. Improve working conditions in the B. Improve working conditions in the economic systemeconomic system---- reform conduct reform conduct in our businessesin our businessesC. Create greater equality in the social C. Create greater equality in the social systemsystem----relieve relieve people of injusticespeople of injustices

PROGRESSIVE PROGRESSIVE INSPIRATIONINSPIRATIONA. The PeopleA. The People

1. The urban middle class (doctors, 1. The urban middle class (doctors, engineers, engineers, teachers, social workers, teachers, social workers, etc.) led the efforts etc.) led the efforts at changeat change

2. Women, many of whom had just 2. Women, many of whom had just finished college, finished college, used their new used their new knowledge for reformknowledge for reform3. Religious leaders called for people 3. Religious leaders called for people to extend their to extend their love for God to their love for God to their fellow man - Social Gospelfellow man - Social Gospel

B. The PressB. The Press

1. Magazines published stories 1. Magazines published stories exploring corruption exploring corruption and social and social problemsproblems

2. Muckrakers - journalists who 2. Muckrakers - journalists who exposed the worst exposed the worst elements of elements of society society

3. Novelists who explored the darker 3. Novelists who explored the darker side of the new side of the new industrial society’s industrial society’s effects on people’s behavior effects on people’s behavior and and valuesvalues

ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF PROGRESSIVISMPROGRESSIVISMA. Economic ReformsA. Economic Reforms

1. Child labor laws set a minimum age 1. Child labor laws set a minimum age for employment for employment and prohibited and prohibited children from working in children from working in dangerous dangerous occupations occupations (e.g. 8-10 hour days, (e.g. 8-10 hour days, literacy requirements)literacy requirements)2. Women labor laws set minimum 2. Women labor laws set minimum wage and maximum wage and maximum hours for women hours for women workers workers (states set original (states set original limits, limits, federal minimum wage in 1938)federal minimum wage in 1938)

3. Consumer protection laws assured 3. Consumer protection laws assured honest transactions honest transactions and safe food and safe food (the Pure Food and Drug Act (the Pure Food and Drug Act required required labeling on food products)labeling on food products)4. State regulation of intrastate 4. State regulation of intrastate railroads and public railroads and public utilities improved utilities improved service and reduced ratesservice and reduced rates

5. Fair tax laws, by taxing incomes, 5. Fair tax laws, by taxing incomes, relieved the burden relieved the burden on owners of real on owners of real estate estate (the 16(the 16thth amendment amendment authorized a national income tax)authorized a national income tax)

6. Factory inspection laws improved 6. Factory inspection laws improved sanitation, lighting, sanitation, lighting, and safetyand safety

7. Protections given to the labor unions7. Protections given to the labor unionsa. a. Closed shopClosed shop: workplace where : workplace where

all workers must all workers must belong to the belong to the unionunion

b. b. Open shopOpen shop: nonunion workplace; : nonunion workplace; membership membership

optionaloptionalc. c. SocialismSocialism: system under which : system under which

the government the government or worker or worker cooperatives own the factories, cooperatives own the factories,

utilities, and transportation and utilities, and transportation and communications systemscommunications systems

d. d. Arbitration:Arbitration: process by which two process by which two opposing parties opposing parties allow a third party to allow a third party to settle the disputesettle the disputee. Examples of labor unions: e. Examples of labor unions:

American Federation of Labor American Federation of Labor (skilled workers)(skilled workers)

International Ladies Garment International Ladies Garment Workers Union Workers Union (unskilled (unskilled workers)workers)

Industrial Workers of the World Industrial Workers of the World (William Haywood (William Haywood –– vowed to vowed to overthrow capitalism and lead the overthrow capitalism and lead the workers to take control of industry)workers to take control of industry)

8. Federal loans to farmers8. Federal loans to farmers

B. Social ReformsB. Social Reforms1. Welfare benefits were enacted 1. Welfare benefits were enacted

for dependent for dependent children, children, widows, and the agedwidows, and the aged

2. Conservation laws preserved 2. Conservation laws preserved America’s natural America’s natural resourcesresources

a. a. conservationconservation: the need to : the need to preserve the preserve the country’s country’s natural environmentnatural environment

b. b. reclamationreclamation: the process of : the process of making making damaged land damaged land productive againproductive again

3. Campaigns to make the cities more 3. Campaigns to make the cities more healthful and healthful and livablelivable

a. New building codes to allow for a. New building codes to allow for light and air light and air circulationcirculation

b. Medical associations advocated b. Medical associations advocated for education for education and special and special hospitalshospitals

c. Playgrounds and recreational c. Playgrounds and recreational facilitiesfacilities

4. City-planning commissions became a 4. City-planning commissions became a function of function of municipal governments municipal governments (developing parks, building (developing parks, building codes, codes, sanitation standards, and zoning)sanitation standards, and zoning)

5. Temperance movement 5. Temperance movement –– anti-alcohol anti-alcohola. groups (Anti-Saloon League and a. groups (Anti-Saloon League and

Woman’s Woman’s Christian Christian Temperance Union) offered Temperance Union) offered

education programs in schools, education programs in schools, worked to worked to close saloons, and close saloons, and preached against the preached against the problems problems of alcohol useof alcohol use

b. The 18b. The 18thth Amendment banned the Amendment banned the manufacture, manufacture, sale and sale and transportation of alcoholic transportation of alcoholic beverages (Prohibition)beverages (Prohibition)

c. The 21c. The 21stst Amendment repealed Amendment repealed the 18the 18thth

6. States established censorship boards 6. States established censorship boards to ban movies to ban movies they considered they considered immoralimmoral

7. The Progressive Movement ignored 7. The Progressive Movement ignored the plight of the plight of African-AmericansAfrican-Americans

a. Some believed they should work a. Some believed they should work in harmony with in harmony with the establishment the establishment to end discrimination: to end discrimination: Booker T. Washington, Booker T. Washington, Up From SlaveryUp From Slavery

b. Some believed they should fight b. Some believed they should fight against against discrimination: discrimination: W.E.B.Dubois and the National W.E.B.Dubois and the National Association for the Advancement of Association for the Advancement of Colored Colored Persons (NAACP)Persons (NAACP)

c. Some thought they should solve their c. Some thought they should solve their own problems: own problems: The National Urban The National Urban League worked to improve job League worked to improve job opportunities and housing for blacksopportunities and housing for blacks8. Society of American Indians provided 8. Society of American Indians provided

a forum for a forum for American Indians and laid American Indians and laid groundwork for future groundwork for future attempts to attempts to improve their condition; they were improve their condition; they were challenged by different attitudes of what challenged by different attitudes of what should should be donebe done

9. Progressives worked to assist 9. Progressives worked to assist immigrants, but also immigrants, but also encouraged their encouraged their “Americanization”“Americanization”

C. Political ReformsC. Political Reforms1. 1. Direct primariesDirect primaries enabled voters enabled voters

rather than party rather than party bosses to nominate bosses to nominate candidatescandidates

2. Corrupt practices laws regulated 2. Corrupt practices laws regulated political political contributions and contributions and campaign spendingcampaign spending

3. The 3. The Australian ballotAustralian ballot allowed allowed citizens to vote in citizens to vote in secrecysecrecy

4. 4. InitiativeInitiative: citizens could propose : citizens could propose laws by laws by obtaining a certain obtaining a certain percentage of voter percentage of voter signatures signatures on a petitionon a petition

5. 5. ReferendumReferendum: citizens could demand a : citizens could demand a law passed by law passed by the legislature be the legislature be “referred” to voters for their “referred” to voters for their approval or approval or rejectionrejection

6. 6. RecallRecall: gave voters the ability to : gave voters the ability to remove public remove public officials from officeofficials from office

7. Commission and city manager reforms 7. Commission and city manager reforms of municipal of municipal government reduced the government reduced the power of political machinespower of political machines

8. Civil service exams reduced the 8. Civil service exams reduced the number of positions number of positions available to political available to political machines for patronagemachines for patronage

9. Direct election of senators achieved by 9. Direct election of senators achieved by the 17the 17thth Amendment (1913)Amendment (1913)

10. The woman’s suffrage movement10. The woman’s suffrage movementa. Strategy: press for a a. Strategy: press for a

constitutional amendment, constitutional amendment, get get individual states to allow women to voteindividual states to allow women to vote

b. Leaders: Susan B. Anthony, b. Leaders: Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lace Stanton, Lace Stone, National American Women Stone, National American Women Suffrage Association, Congressional Union Suffrage Association, Congressional Union

c. Result: 19c. Result: 19thth Amendment (1920) Amendment (1920)

11. Home rule laws allowed cities to 11. Home rule laws allowed cities to exercise self-rule exercise self-rule without influence from without influence from state governmentsstate governments

THE PROGRESSIVE THE PROGRESSIVE PRESIDENTSPRESIDENTSA. Theodore “Teddy” RooseveltA. Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt

1. Roosevelt succeeded President 1. Roosevelt succeeded President McKinley after he McKinley after he was was assassinatedassassinated

2. He provided strong presidential 2. He provided strong presidential leadership: leadership: former military former military officer, outdoorsman, governorofficer, outdoorsman, governor

3. The “Square Deal” offered all 3. The “Square Deal” offered all Americans a Americans a chance to succeedchance to succeed

a. Assure honesty and fairness in a. Assure honesty and fairness in both both government and government and businessbusiness

b. Give greater opportunity to b. Give greater opportunity to the individualthe individual

c. Encourage gradual, moderate c. Encourage gradual, moderate reformreform

4. His accomplishments4. His accomplishmentsa. Limiting “bad” trusts earning the a. Limiting “bad” trusts earning the

nickname of nickname of “trust-buster”“trust-buster”b. Settling the Anthracite Coal Strike b. Settling the Anthracite Coal Strike

(1902) (1902) forcing arbitration forcing arbitration between workers and between workers and ownersowners

c. Conserving natural resourcesc. Conserving natural resources1) increased the national 1) increased the national

reserves of forests, reserves of forests, coal lands, coal lands, and water power sitesand water power sites

2) secured passage of irrigation 2) secured passage of irrigation projectsprojects

3) encouraged the conservation 3) encouraged the conservation efforts of the efforts of the Forest Service Forest Service (Gifford Pinchot)(Gifford Pinchot)

d. Protecting the consumer through d. Protecting the consumer through legislationlegislation

B. William Howard TaftB. William Howard Taft1. A lifetime of experience in 1. A lifetime of experience in

government, but in government, but in appointed appointed positions, not elected ones.positions, not elected ones.

2. He lacked the personal magnetism 2. He lacked the personal magnetism of Roosevelt of Roosevelt and reduced the power and reduced the power of the presidentof the president

3. He expanded some progressivism 3. He expanded some progressivism reforms, but reforms, but limited otherslimited others

a. Mann-Elkins Act extended the a. Mann-Elkins Act extended the regulatory regulatory powers of the powers of the Interstate Commerce Interstate Commerce Commission to telephone and telegraph Commission to telephone and telegraph

industryindustry

b. Created the Department of b. Created the Department of Labor to Labor to enforce labor lawsenforce labor laws

c. Payne-Aldrich Bill raised c. Payne-Aldrich Bill raised tariffs, making tariffs, making consumer consumer goods more expensivegoods more expensive

d. Ballinger-Pinchot Affair-d. Ballinger-Pinchot Affair-disagreed with disagreed with Pinchot’s Pinchot’s handling of the Forest Service; handling of the Forest Service; fired himfired him

4. During the mid-term election of 4. During the mid-term election of 1910, Roosevelt 1910, Roosevelt favored a New favored a New Nationalism-a series of tough Nationalism-a series of tough laws laws to protect workers, ensure public health, to protect workers, ensure public health,

and regulate businessand regulate business

Divisions in the Republican PartyDivisions in the Republican PartyMembers differed over Taft’s performance;

some saw him as eroding Roosevelt’s accomplishments

Split in the Republican PartySplit in the Republican PartyMembers upset with Taft’s nomination left the

convention to start a new party: The Progressive Party (Bull Moose Party), with

Roosevelt as their candidate

Effect on the ElectionEffect on the ElectionSplit votes of the Republican Part allowing the

Democrat (Wilson) to win the election

Presidential Election of 1912Presidential Election of 1912

CandidateCandidate

(Party)(Party)Popular VotePopular Vote PercentPercent Electoral Electoral

VoteVote

Woodrow Woodrow WilsonWilson

(Democrat)(Democrat)

6,296,5476,296,547 41.841.8 435435

Theodore Theodore RooseveltRoosevelt

(Progressive)(Progressive)

4,118,5714,118,571 27.427.4 8888

William H. TaftWilliam H. Taft

(Republican)(Republican)3,486,7203,486,720 23.223.2 88

Eugene V. Eugene V. Debs Debs

SocialistSocialist

900,672900,672 66 ----

Eugene ChafinEugene Chafin

(Prohibition)(Prohibition)206,275206,275 1.41.4 ----

Arthur E. Arthur E. ReimerReimer

(Socialist (Socialist Labor)Labor)

28,75028,750 .8.8 ----

C. Woodrow WilsonC. Woodrow Wilson

1. Wilson’s background was in 1. Wilson’s background was in education (college education (college professor) professor) and government (governor of New and government (governor of New Jersey)Jersey)

2. He believed the president should 2. He believed the president should show strong show strong leadership, pressuring leadership, pressuring Congress and appealing Congress and appealing directly to directly to the peoplethe people

3. His “New Freedom” policies 3. His “New Freedom” policies followed a followed a Progressive Progressive ProgramProgram

a. Preserve and strengthen a. Preserve and strengthen democratic democratic capitalismcapitalism

b. Lower tariffsb. Lower tariffs

c. Improve the banking system c. Improve the banking system (Federal (Federal Reserve Act 1913)Reserve Act 1913)

d. Regulate business (Clayton d. Regulate business (Clayton Anti-trust Act Anti-trust Act 1914)1914)

e. Protect unions and workerse. Protect unions and workers

THE ENDTHE END

Bibliography

Boyer, Paul and Sterling Stuckey. The American Nation: Civil War to the Present. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 2001.

Clayton, Andrew, et al. America: Pathways to the Present. Needham, MA: Prentice Hall, 2002.

Davidson, James West and Michael B Stoff. The American Nation. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1995.

Davidson, James West, Predro Castillo, and Michael B. Stoff. The American Nation. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2000.

Gordon, Irving. Review Text in American History. New York: Amsco School Publications, Inc., 1983.

http://www.fws.gov/midwest/marktwain/

Picture Credits

Hine, Lewis. Child labor in America, 1908-1912. http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/childlabor/

The Jungle. http://libwww.syr.edu/digital/exhibits/g/GrapesOfWrath/igimage/TheJungle.jpg

The Octopus. http://www.mindbird.com/4e0966ac0.jpg

Mark Twain. http://www.fws.gov/midwest/marktwain/