Progressive Era 1890 1920 Define Progressivism Reform movement

Progressive Era 1890 -1920

Define Progressivism

• Reform movement in the United States aimed at improving the quality of life in the general areas of social wellbeing, moral character, economic prosperity, and political stability

• Many Progressives believed that political action and reform were required for progress in society.

What were the common goals of the various Progressive Era organizations?

• In general, Progressive organizations believed that it was the government’s job to: – Be more accountable to its citizens – Curb the power and influence of wealthy interests – Expand its powers to be more active in improving the lives of its citizens – Become more efficient and less corrupt so that they can competently handle the issues of the country

What were some of the early inspirations for attempting change in society?

Early Inspirations for Change • 1879 “Progress and Poverty”, Henry George –An effort to explain why a nation so civilized could be in such economic woes – why was there such a difference between the very rich and the very poor?

Early Inspirations for Change • 1888 “Looking Backward”, Edward Bellamy –A man falls asleep in 1887 and wakes up in the year 2000 to a utopian US society…how did it get that way, and can we get there?

Early Inspirations for Change • The Muckrakers – journalists whose key role was to uncover the wrongdoings in politics and business, and to alert the public of such deeds – Upton Sinclair “The Jungle” – the meatpacking industry in the US – Ida Tarbell “The History of the Standard Oil Company” – business abuses of Rockefeller and the Standard Oil trust

Some Early Reform Organizations • The Labor Movement – Unions continuing to fight for the rights of workers, through strikes, collective bargaining, etc. • Socialists – political movement that emphasized government control of property and income – distribute wealth more evenly, streamline individual rights for the greater good, etc.

Examples of Reform Victories during the Progressive Era

Progressives were not a single unified movement. Their efforts fell into four general categories: Social Reform Moral Economic Reform Political Reform

Social Reforms

Issue #1 • Foods – Diseased animals slaughtered – Unsanitary work conditions – Unsanitary food handling – Old, rancid meats sold and Grade A – Impure ingredients added to the meats

Meat Inspection Act of 1906 All animals were required to pass an inspection by the U. S. Food and Drug Administration prior to slaughter All carcasses were subject to a postmortem inspection Cleanliness standards were established for slaughterhouses and processing plants.

Issue #2 Unethical medical practices, mis-labled products, and unscientific remedies for illnesses

Patent Medicines • Medicines at the turn of the century did not require a prescription. • Making exaggerated claims, they were used for a variety of ailments. • Many contained dangerous ingredients.

. . . More Exaggerated Claims! Note ↑

Cocaine was a common ingredient – even for children's medicines

Until 1903, a typical serving contained around 60 mg of cocaine “You'll be surprised how quickly it will ease the tired brain”

Morphine

Notice it's from the makers of Bayer Aspirin. . .

Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 Creation of the Food and Drug Administration, which was entrusted with the responsibility of testing all foods and drugs destined for human consumption The requirement for prescriptions from licensed physicians before a patient could purchase certain drugs The requirement of label warnings on habit-forming drugs.

Issue #3 Urban sprawl and industrialization. A fear that the growing cities would destroy the natural beauty of the country, and that industrialization would drain the country’s natural resources.

Newlands Reclamation Act Encouraged conservation by allowing the building of dams and irrigations systems using money from the sale of public lands.

Antiquities Act Allows President to designate National Monuments Protect and Preserve Wildlife Areas

Issue #4 – Increasing number of children working in factories (at progressively younger ages), as well as increased hours and hazardous job duties. Excessive hours by female employees. Wage losses due to on-the-job injuries.

Labor Reform –Minimum work age w/o parents consent is set at 16 –Limited hours of work for children – 10 hour work-day for women –Compulsory education from ages 5 -15 kept kids in school

• Workingmen's Compensation Act. The effort to extend financial assistance to injured workers was a prime concern of many progressives. • Adamson Act. This measure established the eight-hour day and overtime pay guidelines for railway workers.

• Department of Labor – Cabinet created to promote welfare of working people.

Issue #5 –The poor unable to meet minimal standards of healthcare, childcare, and other basic necessities.

Settlement Houses • Hull House, founded by Jane Addams and Ellen Gates Starr in 1889, provided nurseries, adult education classes, and recreational opportunities for children and adults. There were 100 settlement houses in 1900, 200 in 1905, and 400 in 1910.

The Question of Women’s Rights? • 19 th Amendment – granted women full suffrage

Political Reform

Political Reform The Pendleton Act allowed: • A Civil Service Commission would be formed to administer tests to qualified applicants for government jobs. • Competitive exams would be used to hire some government workers.

Political Reform • Referendum. Some states and localities require that certain types of measures (bond measures and some types of taxes) be submitted to the electorate to vote on its passage. School Referendum

Political Reform • Initiative: Interested parties prepare an initiative (proposed law) and collect the necessary signatures. If they are successful, the issue is placed on a ballot. If approved by the voters, the measure becomes law. Iraq Initiative

Political Reform • The recall is a direct democratic procedure that provides for removal of elected officials before their terms expire. California Recall

• 17 th Amendment – Direct Election of US Senators – Rather than each State Senate electing two of it’s own members for representation in the Federal Senate, State Senators would be elected directly by the voting public

Progressive Political Reforms

Economic Reform

Economic Reform • Sherman Anti-Trust Act – outlawed monopolies, trusts, and unfair business practices.

Economic Reform • 16 th Amendment - National Income Tax

Moral Reform

The Woman’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU), founded in 1874, had long campaigned against alcohol. In 1895 the Anti-Saloon League of America joined the crusade. Alcohol was seen as the cause of many of societies ills, including domestic abuse, social apathy, health issues, work-related injuries, etc.

Moral Reform • 18 th Amendment – Prohibition – prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transport of alcoholic beverages (repealed in 1933 by the 21 st Amendment)

• Progressives also emerged in campaigns to combat prostitution and to censor films.

Moral Reform • 1922 MPAA organization to protect the youth from the absurdities of film, and in 1968, it was announced the birth of the new voluntary film rating system of the motion picture industry

• • Current Rating System: G - General Audience. No sex, nudity, bad language or drug use. This film should be suitable for all audiences. PG - Parental Guidance Suggested. May contain some material not suitable for young children. Could include brief nudity. PG-13 - Parents Strongly Cautioned. May not be appropriate for children under 13. May contain bad language, brief nudity, sexual overtones, and drug usage. R - Restricted, under 17 not admitted without parent or adult guardian. Film will definitely contain adult material. Will probably contain bad language, violence, sex, drug usage, or have an adult theme. NC-17 - No one 17 and under will be admitted. Adult film with explicit sex scenes, sexually-oriented language, or excessive violence.

• Margaret Sanger educated urban poor about the benefits of family planning through birth control. She founded the organization that became Planned Parenthood