The Progressive Movement What is Progressivism A response

The Progressive Movement What is Progressivism? A response to the social problems brought out by industrialization and urbanization The goal is simply to “make things better” “Moving forward” is a common attitude by most Progressives Standard: US 16 - Citing textual evidence as appropriate, explain the significant roles played by muckrakers and progressive idealists, including Robert La Follette, Theodore Roosevelt, Ida Tarbell, Lincoln Steffens, and Upton Sinclair.

Create a Foldable about the Progressive Era in America Directions- Create a Flipbook Categories 1. What is Progressivism? Who were the Key People or Groups? Be specific. What did individuals do to “make the country better”? 2. How did Progressivism change: a. Politics? b. Business? c. Society? d. The Environment? them 3. What did the 3 Progressive Presidents do to make Progressive? Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and Woodrow Wilson 4. What is the Legacy of Progressivism?

Laissez-faire; no gov’t regulation of business or society.

Ida Tarbell —criticized unfair business practices like trusts. Wrote “History of Standard Oil”

Exposed corruption in urban politics.

Photographer, exposed poverty in NYC immigrant neighborhoods.

Child labor

Exposed unsanitary conditions in meat-packing industry

Government Commission Plan--new style of efficient city gov’t. Modern cities need experts, not politicians. City depts. should be run by professionals and led by a city manager.

Wisconsin becomes the Laboratory of Democracy under Governor Robert La Follette Felt party bosses and political machines had too much influence. a. b. Direct primaries—party members vote for their party’s candidates Initiative, Referendum, and Recall 1. Initiative: citizens introduce legislation for vote 2. Referendum: citizens vote on legislation 3. Recall: special election to remove an official

citizens now vote for their Senators rather than state legislators appointing them. Removed influence of political machines and big business.

Leaders: Elizabeth Cady Stanton Lucretia Mott Susan B. Anthony Julia Ward Howe Alice Paul Carrie Chapman Catt Tactics: marches, speeches, picketing, hunger strikes

New laws passed that set minimum ages and maximum hours Children’s Bureau (Taft) investigated child labor abuses Compulsory education laws required children to go to school

Called for new safety regulations and workers compensation Set zoning laws and building codes Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire in NYC 1911— 150 women died trapped in building

Temperance= moderation or elimination of alcohol Alcohol led to poverty and abuse Progressives wanted to remove the temptation.

Sherman Anti-Trust Act —to break up large companies to restore competition Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) regulated big business Federal Trade Commission (FTC) —a watchdog agency to monitor business to ensure fair trade practices Clayton Anti-Trust Act —gave unions the right to exist

Allowed the government to direct and guide the economy by controlling the amount of money in circulation and setting interest rates.

Some Progressives believed the gov’t should own and operate major industry for the benefit of all Americans Eugene Debs ran for Pres in 1912 as the American Socialist Party candidate. Received almost 1 million votes!

1906—in response to The Jungle, Congress passes: Meat Inspection Act and Pure Food and Drug Act

Managing our natural resources Newlands Reclamation Act 1902 – large scale irrigation and development Western US Gov’t regulation of timber, mining, and water resources Established National Parks and wildlife preserves.

Theodore Roosevelt Promised a “Square Deal” Known as the “Trustbuster” Believed in “Gentlemen’s Agreements” His Legacy: Stronger executive branch, the modern Presidency

Taft’s Progressive Reforms more of a trust-buster than TR Established the Children’s Bureau—to fight child labor Mann-Elkins Act— strengthened ICC Conservation—Bureau of Mines, more nat’l forests

HOW DID TAFT DIFFER FROM T. R. ? TR—charismatic, well-liked, loved the spotlight, big ideas. Taft—legalistic, less ambitious, less popular

Underwood Tariff— cut tariffs in half 16 th Amendment Federal Reserve Federal Trade Commission Adamson Act– 8 -hr workday Clayton Antitrust Act – recognized unions

Democrats: Woodrow Wilson Republicans: William Taft Progressives: Theodore Roosevelt

Legacy of Progressivism What did it do? Increased the gov’t’s intervention in economic and social issues (also the public’s expectation of that intervention) What did it not do? Did not address racial discrimination. African-Americans began that fight themselves. Formed NAACP. (Met in Niagara Falls)