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Progressivism(1890-1920). Topic for Today: Who were the Progressives? How and why did the Progressive Movement seek to change America at the turn of the century? How did America respond to the cries of the progressives? . Progressivism (1890-1920). Progress:
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Progressivism(1890-1920) Topic for Today: • Who were the Progressives? • How and why did the Progressive Movement seek to change America at the turn of the century? • How did America respond to the cries of the progressives?
Progressivism (1890-1920) • Progress: • Advance to a better state: an improvement • Progressive Era: • Period after Gilded Age in which people tried to correct the problems of society
Leaders of the Era Rich Social Darwinism Monopolies Politics & Philosophy Middle Class Business & Industry Unions Political Machines Poor
Muckrakers • Investigative reporters who exposed the problems of American society • They did not offer solutions
Exposing the problems of Standard Oil McClures Magazine Ida Tarbell McClures Book: “The Shame of the Cities” Lincoln Steffens Exposed wrongs of Political Machines Jacob Riis Poor city life for immigrants Book: “How the other half lives” Upton Sinclair Exposed the Meat Packing Industry Book: “The Jungle”
Homework • Imagine you are a muckraking journalist TODAY. A magazine publisher has asked you to submit a list of story ideas for upcoming issues. What wrongdoings would you like to probe?
Politicians take action once problems exposed • 1st major politician to push for change: • Robert LaFollette • Governor of Wisconsin • Goal: Make changes at state level, then spread throughout the country
LaFollette Changes Party Bosses picked candidates Voters pick candidates for office Increased Democracy Direct Primary Increased Democracy Voters had no say in law-making People can propose laws to assemblies Initiative Politicians could ignore voters Voters must approve major bills Increased Democracy Referendum Politicians could ignore voters Remove rep from office Increased Democracy Recall
Goal of Political Reform • Improve democracy by creating MORE democracy • Government officials must care about what the people want
Progressive Presidents (1901-1920) • Teddy Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, Woodrow Wilson
Teddy Roosevelt (T.R.): (1901-1908) • Hero of the Spanish-American war: “Rough Riders” • President after the assassination of McKinley • “Noblesse Oblige”: The rich & capable have a duty to help society and the less fortunate.
TR • “We must treat each man on his worth and merits as a man. We must see that each is given a square deal, because he is entitled to no more and should receive no less. The welfare of each of us is dependent fundamentally upon the welfare of all of us.”
Square Deal:T.R.’s plan to make a better society The Three C’s Fair treatment for ALL people Conservation Corporations Consumer Protection
Corporations: TR wanted to show the people that government not Big Business ran the country • Elkins Act (1903): • Hepburn Act: (1906)
Consumer Protection: Goal: Protect consumers from big business and protect big business from itself Pure Food and Drug Act - prohibition on misleading labeling Meat Inspection Act (1906):
Conservation John Muir
Election of 1912 • William Howard Taft: Republican • T.R.: Bull Moose Party • Political Party created by T.R. • Woodrow Wilson: Democrat Wilson WINS: only 41% of vote
Woodrow Wilson • Winner of the 1912 presidential election. • “New Freedom”: Plan to continue progressive reforms • Attacks the “triple wall of privilege”
Triple Wall of Privilege • Tariffs • Underwood Tariff: • First lowering of tariffs since the Civil War
Trusts: • Clayton Anti-Trust Act • Declared monopolies illegal • Unions, Strikes, boycotts, picketing all legal
Banks • Federal Reserve • More $ available for the people if needed • Stable banks
PROGRESSIVISM CHANGES • HOW DID THE PROGRESSIVES ENSURE THEIR CHANGES WOULD LAST? By Changing the Constitution
16th Amendment • Created national income tax • Tax on land and tariffs reduced
17th Amendment • Direct Election of Senators • Expanded Democracy
18th Amendment • Prohibition: Bans the production & sale of Alcohol • Success of the Temperance Movement
19th Amendment • Woman’s Suffrage: The right to vote for women