PROGRESSIVE ERA AMERICA REFORMS 1890 1920 DRIVE FOR

PROGRESSIVE ERA AMERICA REFORMS 1890 -1920

DRIVE FOR REFORM Industrialization, urbanization, immigration brought benefits, social problems Progressive movement emerged 1890’s believed honest, efficient government could bring social change § Included all political parties, social classes, religions, ethnic groups Similar to Populism § wanted government reform § make government more responsive to people’s needs Differed from Populism § mostly middle class § Mostly urban § some motivated by religious beliefs, § use modern ideas and scientific methods to make society better

PROGRESSIVES TARGET VARIETY OF PROBLEMS Women- right to vote Government Reform – get rid of political machines and corrupt city officials Urban Areas- adequate services and better living conditions Big Business- break up trusts and create more economic opportunities Reduce gap between rich and poor

MUCKRAKERS, JOURNALISTS AND NOVELISTS Muckrakers- Socially conscious writers dramatized need for reform, uncovered wide range of problems § writers that uncovered corrupt business and political practices § Articles appeared in new magazines and newspapers Journalists exposed corrupt city government, ruthless business practices, shocked people and led to reforms (Lincoln Steffens) Novelists developed new genre- naturalismportrayed misery of common people, struggles of workers (Upton Sinclair- The Jungle)

MUCKRAKERS, JOURNALISTS AND NOVELISTS Photographers portrayed the slums and dark side of urban life (Jacob Riis) Muckrakers activities increased popular support for Progressive reform

SOCIAL GOSPEL AND THE SETTLEMENT HOUSE MOVEMENT Social Gospel Christianity should be basis for social reform Charity, justice could make society better Goals- end of child labor, shorter work week, limits on big business Settlement Houses Community centers provided social services to the urban poor Provided classes in child care, kindergarten, nursery schools, English classes for immigrants Jane Adams established Hull House (1889) in Chicago Inspired other middle class, college educated women to become social workers

PROTECTING CHILDREN/ IMPROVING EDUCATION 1902 National Child Labor Committee formed 1916 Keating- Owens Act banned child labor Overturned by Supreme Court 1918 Improving education by compulsory attendance- take them out of factories John Dewey leader in education reform

INDUSTRIAL WORKERS 1900 U. S. highest rate of industrial accidents Laws passed to limit workday to 10 hours 1905 Supreme Court ruled laws were unconstitutional (Lochner v New York) 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire brought attention on need to protect workers Laws passed make work place safer, worker’s compensation laws, limits on hours in a workday

GOVERNMENT REFORM Political process needed to change to reform society Free government from control of political bosses and business interests Galveston Hurricane 1900 helped bring change To rebuild city replaced mayor with commission called Galveston Plan Professionals were hired to run the day to day operations of the city, took elected officials out of the equation Reduced power of political machines Dayton, Ohio added city manager to idea Many cities purchased utility companies to keep rates at a fair level No longer controlled by private businesses

PROGRESSIVE GOVERNORS AND POLITICIANS REFORM ELECTION RULES Other reforms were passed to give political power to more people Established direct primary for selecting nominees Initiative- power to put proposed law on ballot Referendum- allowed citizens to approve or reject laws Recall- vote to remove public servants from office Direct election of senators (17 th Amendment to constitution) Other political reforms Fair tax system Environmental regulation

WOMEN MAKE PROGRESS By early 1900’s women wanted to expand their role in society Most women had little education, made low wages All women were denied a voice in politics Education helped some women achieve goals Educated middle class began to tackle problems in society

WOMEN WORK FOR REFORMS Fought and succeeded in better working conditions for women Leaders of Temperance movement (18 th Amendment) Family planning- smaller families would improve life and health Women needed right to vote to promote and protect interests Carrie Chapman Catt president of National American Women’s Suffrage Association Lobbied Congress to pass suffrage laws, used referendum to pass state suffrage laws, called on influential women to promote suffrage Ida Wells established National Association for Colored Women, help black women become more successful and improve education

WOMEN FIGHT FOR THE RIGHT TO VOTE Some activists pursued radical actionmarches, hunger strikes, civil disobedience All actions led to passage of 19 th Amendment in 1919 that gave women the right to vote

STRUGGLE AGAINST DISCRIMINATION Prejudice against immigrants was one of the forces behind Temperance movement ü Attitude was to make immigrants more Americanized (language, culture) ü Social theories – dark skinned people less intelligent than lighter skinned people ü Used to justify segregation and segregation laws ü

AFRICAN AMERICANS DEMAND REFORM Booker T Washington wanted slow progress and eventual acceptance by whites W. E. B. Du Bois demanded equal rights immediately for African Americans 1905 African American leaders met at Niagara Falls to demand immediate change Niagara Movement denounced ideas of gradual progress Movement remained small

AFRICAN AMERICANS DEMAND REFORM 1908 - race riots in Illinois brought attention to change 1909 - National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) formed to help African Americans gain civil rights Included white and black leaders Wanted equal access to housing and jobs Many African Americans were migrating from rural to urban areas Churches and black clubs helped people get settled and find work 1911 many of these groups formed Urban League Focused on poor urban families, helped them with jobs education

REDUCING PREJUDICE AND PROTECTING RIGHTS Jews formed Anti- Defamation League to protect themselves from prejudice Mexicans organized mutalistas to provide loans, insurance and legal assistance Native Americans formed groups to protest Indian Policy, preserve their culture, keep their lands

PROGRESSIVE ERA POLITICS Roosevelt, Taft, Wilson 1900 -1914

ROOSEVELT’S SQUARE DEAL Late 1800’s most presidents weak and ineffective Roosevelt became president 1901 after assassination of William Mc. Kinley Roosevelt’s progressive reforms, foreign policy expanded power of presidency Changed the way Americans viewed the presidency

TRUST-BUSTING AND REGULATING INDUSTRY Program for change called “Square Deal” Goals to keep wealth and large business from taking advantage of poor and small business § began to break up powerful trusts and regulate industry § used power and authority of federal government to regulate industry 1902 - Coal Strike ü Miners wanted raise in pay, shorter hours ü Needed steady supply of coal for factories and homes ü Roosevelt wanted to end strike quickly, threatened to send in federal troops ü Workers received pay raise, shorter work days ü First example of government helping workers in labor dispute

TRUST-BUSTING AND REGULATING INDUSTRY 1903 Department of Commerce and Labor founded Monitored business and labor engaged in interstate commerce Railroads Cost of shipping freight an issue since 1870’s By 1900 most power of ICC was stripped away by Supreme Court 1903 Elkins Act- imposed fines on railroads for giving special rates to certain companies 1906 Hepburn Act- Strengthened ICC, gave government right to set fees for shipping

TRUST-BUSTING AND REGULATING INDUSTRY Roosevelt saw differences between good and bad trusts Bad trust bullied smaller companies In 1905 Supreme Court began to declare many trusts illegal (beef, sugar, fertilizers, etc. ) Purpose was more symbolic than real; wanted to prove government not big business ruled country Wanted to regulate not fragment industry, threat of legal action would keep them inline

TRUST-BUSTING AND REGULATING INDUSTRY Regulating Food and Drug Industries o 1906 The Jungle published caused public demand for reform of meat packing industry o Meat Inspection Act (1906) federal government inspect meat sold across state lines, inspect meat packing, processing plants o Pure Food and Drug Act (1906) o Controls on other foods and medicines, banned shipment of impure food and drugs

GOVERNMENT MANAGES ENVIRONMENT Roosevelt had a love of nature and lived out west before he was president First president to have interest in environment Late 1800’s people concerned with unregulated exploitation of natural resources 1872 Yellowstone Natl. Park, 1890 Yosemite Natl. Park 1891 Congress established National Forest Service, set aside land as federal forest

GOVERNMENT MANAGES ENVIRONMENT Roosevelt and Gifford Pinchot closed off 100 m acres of forest Advocated “rational use” of lands advocated multiple use of national forests and environment (timber, recreation, watershed protection, livestock grazing ) Forests should be protected, mature into a useable resource Dominant view of American policies toward natural resources Water Policy Ø Controversial natural resource in American west was water Ø Over centuries many methods used to irrigate lands Ø American miners, farmers, ranchers, settlers needed water

GOVERNMENT MANAGES THE ENVIRONMENT 1902 Congress passes National Reclamation Act Gave government power to decide how water distributed Built dams, created reservoirs (generate power, reserve water for agriculture) Large farmers and ranchers took advantage of new agencies and figured out how to work system, took small rancher and logger out of the picture

ROOSEVELT AND TAFT DIFFER Roosevelt decides not to run in 1908, uses power over party to have William Howard Taft nominated and wins election Taft not as strong of a personality as Roosevelt and he allows Congress to push him around; Taft seemed wedded to the status quo not major change William Howard Taft elected president 1908 Own agenda, different than Roosevelt Did not lower tariffs Mann- Elkins Act (1910) government control over telephone, telegraph rates Proposed income tax

ROOSEVELT AND TAFT DIFFER Trusts Ø More of a “trustbuster” than Roosevelt Ø 1911 broke up Standard Oil Ø Allowed some monopolies as long as they did not squeeze out small companies Environment Ø Fired Gifford Pinchot for criticizing sale of federal lands, angered Roosevelt

ROOSEVELT AND THE PROGRESSIVE PARTY § 1911 Progressive Republicans that did not agree with Taft split off from main party and form the National Republican Progressive League § By 1912 Roosevelt had seized Progressive banner and became a third party presidential candidate (known as the Bull Moose Party) Roosevelt traveled across country promoted New Nationalism Promote government regulation of business Social Justice Child labor laws Minimum wage

ROOSEVELT AND THE PROGRESSIVE PARTY Election 1912 Split Republican Party Progressive Party formed- Roosevelt ran for president Woodrow Wilson. Democrat wins election

WILSON’S NEW FREEDOM Wilson former college professor, reform governor of New Jersey Plan called New Freedom Government regulation of economy Underwood Tariff Act (1913) cut tariffs , created graduated income tax 16 TH Amendment gave Congress power to tax Americans

WILSON’S NEW FREEDOM Federal Reserve Act (1913)- placed banks under the control of federal government Federal Reserve Board set up banks to reserve money from commercial banks § Keeps one bank, person, region from having too much money § Sets interest rates, regulates bank practices 1914 - Federal Trade Commission Monitor business practices § Look out for dishonest advertising, labeling on products Clayton Antitrust Act- spelled out specific activities that business could not do

WORKERS RIGHTS PROTECTED Labor unions protected by government, could organize more freely Workingman’s Compensation Act, Adamson Act (1916) provided compensation to injured workers, limits on workday

PROGRESSIVISM'S LEGACY I. Idea that government could take action and change lives II. Voter influence expanded Ø Initiative, referendum, direct election of senators, recall, 19 th Amendment III. Federal government took on a greater role in business regulation and people’s lives IV. Government began to manage nations natural resources