The Progressive Era 1900 1917 Chapter 9 Progressivism

The Progressive Era (1900 – 1917) Chapter 9

Progressivism: An Introduction H A reform movement in response to: i. The depression of the 1890 s and its social unrest. i. And an attempt to soften the harsh impact of industrialization, urbanization, and immigration. H Progressivism varied. i. The progressive movement represented the common spirit of an age rather than a single organized group or party.

Progressivism H What reformers shared was a common assumption that the complex social ills and tensions generated by the urbanindustrial revolution required expanding the scope of local, state, and federal government authority as to elevate the public interest over private greed. H Such initiatives represented the first tentative steps toward what would become known during the 1930 s and after as the welfare state.

General Goals H Greater Democracy i. Direct primaries i. The initiative, referendum, and recall i. Popular election of senators H Efficiency—called for experts t o replace bureaucrats i. Commission system i. City managers i. Championed by Robert La. Follette and the “Wisconsin Idea”

General Goals, cont. H Corporate regulation i. Laissez-faire vs. regulation i. Perhaps most controversial H Social Justice i. Child labor i. Working conditions i 10 -hr workday i. Prohibition

Roosevelt’s Progressivism H Most activist president since Lincoln i. Most presidents believed that the Constitution set specific limits on their power. Roosevelt thought that the president could do anything not expressly forbidden in the document i. Recognized the Executive Mansion as the White House i. Recognized the value of publicity 0 Created the press room in White House. 0 First president to ride in an automobile, fly in an airplane, and dive in a submarine—and everyone knew it.

Roosevelt’s Plan H Committed to an expanding government. H Growth was natural but government needed to mediate. i. Big labor would counterbalance big capital. i. Big farm organizations would offset big food processors, and so on. i. What he called in his reelection campaign the “Square Deal. ”—half loaf vs. whole loaf. H Anthracite (hard) Coal Strike of 1902 i. Workers struck for more pay and fewer hours. i. Mine owners closed mines. i. TR threatened to take over the mines, forcing owners to submit to arbitration panel.

Roosevelt’s Plan H Trusts i. TR used his executive powers to enforce the Sherman Anti-Trust Act (1890) i. Conduct, not size was important—“good” and “bad” trusts H Hepburn Act of 1906 i. Gave the Interstate Commerce Commission power to set maximum rates (Railroad regulation) H Movement to regulate food processors and makers of drugs and patent medicines i. The Meat Inspection Act (1906) i. The Pure Food and Drug Act (1906) H Conservation through planned management i. Enlarged the national park system

William Howard Taft H Election of 1908 i. TR handpicked Secretary of War Taft i. He defeats William Jennings Bryan (Dem) H Taft had great administrative skill and personal charm. But he disliked the political maneuvering of Washington and preferred conciliation to confrontation H Taft managed to alienate both conservatives and progressives i. Even TR had doubts – On inauguration day he told a reporter “He’s all right, but he’s weak. ”

Taft H Despite his failures, Taft did progressive program enact a i. Regulated safety standards for mines and railroads. i. Created a federal children’s bureau. i. Set an 8 -hr workday for federal employees. i. Supported a graduated income tax 0 Became the 16 th Amend, in early 1913. 0 Considered one of the most important reforms of the century. i. Supported the 17 th Amend. (1913) which provided for the popular election of senators. i. Set aside more public lands for conservation than TR. i. Impressive “progressive” record despite charges from TR and others.

Election of 1912 H TR and Taft split H TR i. New Nationalism 0 Recognized the value on consolidation in the economy—whether big business or big labor—but insisted on protecting the interests of individuals through big government. 0 Advocated more daring reforms than he had as president. Ex. “equal suffrage” (blacks and women) i. TR lost Rep. Nomination despite winning most of the primaries to Taft-- presidential patronage i. TR formed Progressive Party 0 I’m feeling like a bull moose!

Election of 1912 H Woodrow Wilson (Dem) i. Progressive governor of New Jersey i. New Freedom 0 Rejected the economic consolidation that Roosevelt embraced. 0 Wanted to strictly limit the size of businesses to preserve the free market. 0 Wanted to keep government small to preserve individual freedom H Taft and TR split the Rep. vote and Wilson won. H Wilson in White House and Democrats controlled Congress.

The Election of 1912

Woodrow Wilson and the Politics of Morality H First southern president since Andrew Johnson. H Very self-righteous –“God ordained that I should be the next president of the United States. ” H Felt that a modern president should act as a “prime minister, ” directing and uniting his party, molding legislation and public opinion, exerting continuous leadership.

Progressive Legislation H The Underwood-Simmons Tariff (1913) (lowered tariff) i. In conjunction with 16 th Amendment, this began a momentous shift in government revenue: 019 th-century base—public lands, alcohol taxes, and customs duties. 020 th century base: personal and corporate incomes. H Federal Reserve Act of 1913 i. Federal Reserve System of 12 regional banks controlled by a central Federal Reserve Board in Washington.

Progressive Legislation H Federal Trade Commission Act of 1914 i. An executive commission to regulate commerce and enforce orderly competition. H Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914 i. Barred some of the worst corporate practices: price discrimination, holding companies, and interlocking directorates.

Woman Suffrage: Nineteenth Amendment

Conclusion to Progressivism H For all its claims of sweeping change, progressivism left the system of market capitalism in tact. i Neither the New Nationalism of TR, with its emphasis on planning and regulation, nor Woodrow Wilson’s New Freedom, which promoted competition through limits on corporate size, aimed to do more than improve the system. H But the Gilded Age philosophy of laissez faire—of giving private enterprise a free hand—had clearly been rejected. i. Both state and federal governments established their right to regulate the actions of private corporations for the public good. Under progressive leadership, the modern state—active and interventionist—was born.

Significant Events 1890 General Federation of Women’s Clubs organized 1899 National Consumers League founded 1900 Robert La Follette elected governor of Wisconsin 1901 Theodore Roosevelt elected president 1903 Department of Labor and Commerce created 1906 Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle published 1910 Mann Act passed 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist fire 1914 Clayton Antitrust Act passed 1919 Nineteenth Amendment grants women suffrage Chapter 22