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Progressive Era Overview

Progressive Era Overview. What is the Progressive Era?. 1890s -1920s (or so ) Major question of the Era: What are the responsibilities of government to society? Time when Forces for Change > Forces for Status Quo

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Progressive Era Overview

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  1. Progressive Era Overview

  2. What is the Progressive Era? • 1890s-1920s (or so ) • Major question of the Era: What are the responsibilities of government to society? • Time when Forces for Change > Forces for Status Quo • Turning point: increased involvement of government in citizens’ daily lives

  3. CHQ’s • How did Progressivism try to deal with the changes brought about by industrialization? (social, economic, political) • Did the Progressives succeed or fail?

  4. Approach to Change • cooperation among social classes • “Social Gospel” – applied Christian teachings to social and economic problems • Opposed “Social Darwinism” • government intervention when necessary • maintaining most of existing economic and political systems: tweaks, not radical change

  5. Social Reforms • Improving Cities: fought poverty, poor housing, filth, poor sanitation • Regulation of Business: to help workers and consumers • Fought Child Labor – as succeeded, more children went to school • Improved Working Conditions: • Failed to limit working hours overall: Lochnerv. New York case said the right to buy and sell labor is protected by the Constitution • Got shorter hours for women only – allowed by Muller v. Oregon because “healthy mothers” are important! • Pushed for state workers’ compensation laws

  6. Political Reforms • Good Government: Making it more democratic. • Honest local (city) government: electing progressive mayors, appointing city commissions instead of mayors • Reformed state government: secret ballot, direct primary, recall, direct initiatiev, referendum, progressive Governors who would limit power of railroads • Social Justice: discrimination – women, blacks

  7. Who were “Progressives”? • Reformers and activists who looked for ways to solve the problems of society – i.e. “progress” • Optimists: thought problems could be solved • Usually Northern, urban, middle-class, Protestant, often led by women, e.g.:

  8. Dorothea Dix (the mentally ill) • Ida B. Wells-Barnett (AfricanAmerican and women’s rights, anti-lynching) • Jane Addams • (Hull House: settlementhouse) • Margaret Sanger (birth control)

  9. Methods They Used • Voluntary associations • NAACP, National Woman’s Suffrage Association, settlement houses • Muckraking • Lincoln Steffens (urban government), Upton Sinclair (meatpacking), Ida Tarbell (oil industry), Jacob Riis (urban poverty) • Public campaigns • Suffrage, government regulation, education, temperance (no alcohol) • Anti-discrimination (NAACP, W.E. DuBois)

  10. National Stage • CHQ: How well did Roosevelt, Taft, and Wilson promote progressive goals in national policies? • 1901-1921 • Increased role of government in solving problems and promoting democracy

  11. National Stage • Addressing industrialism: • Busting Trusts • Protecting Consumers and Workers • Reforming National Government: • Banking system, taxes, election of Senators • Prohibition • Women’s Suffrage

  12. National Stage: Teddy Roosevelt (1901-09) • “Square Deal” – regulating business and protecting workers and consumers • used Sherman Anti-Trust Act against monopolies • Pure Food and Drug Act • Conservation, parks • Improved working conditions for coal miners

  13. National Stage: William Taft (1909-13) • National Income Tax (16th amendment) • Direct Election of Senators (17th amendment) • Aggressive Trustbuster • But raised tariffs • Roosevelt ran against him in 1912 on the Bull Moose Party platform • Also: once got stuck in a bathtub

  14. Where Taft Got Stuck

  15. National Stage: Woodrow Wilson (1913-21) • “New Freedom”: • Federal government needed to control business to ensure freedom of individuals • Clayton Anti-Trust Act – extended Sherman • First anti-child labor laws • Prohibition (18th am) • Women’s Right to Vote (19th am)

  16. Central Historical Questions How did Progressivism try to deal with the changes brought about by industrialization? Did the Progressives Succeed or Fail? • We will look specifically at these issues & reforms: • Urban poverty • Working Conditions • Consumer protection / Muckrakers • Political Corruption – urban & Federal levels • Monopoly & Inequality • Prohibition of alcohol • Women’s suffrage • Racial discrimination

  17. Homework • Create key event timeline from chapter notes and today’s lecture. Leave room to add more events later.

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