CHAPTER 28 THE PROGRESSIVE ERA

1. CHAPTER 28 THE PROGRESSIVE ERA AMERICA SEEKS REFORMS IN THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY 1890-1920

2. ORIGINS OF PROGRESSIVISM The Progressives had their roots in the Greenback Labor Party of the 1870s and 1880s, the Populist Party of the 1890s and the Social Gospel. Though the Populists failed at supplanting one of the major political parties, their legacy lived on in the growth of the Progressives

3. PURPOSE OF PROGRESSIVISM The strong progressive movement demanded that the powers of government be applied to solving the political, economic and social problems of industrialization.

4. FOUR GOALS OF REFORMERS • 1) Protect Social Welfare • 2) Promote Moral Improvement • 3) Create Economic Reform/Foster Efficiency • 4) Reform Government

5. 1.PROTECT SOCIAL & MORAL WELFARE • Saloons became seen as a vice instead of a social place • Carrie Nation was a leader of the Temperance Movement • Some reformers felt that the answer to societies problems was personal behavior • They proposed such reforms as prohibition • Groups wishing to ban alcohol included the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU)

6. 3. CREATE ECONOMIC REFORMFear of the Power of Monopolies • The Panic of 1893 prompted some Americans to question the capitalist economic system • As a result some workers embraced socialism (Communal ownership of universal goods and services) • Eugene Debs organized the American Socialist Party in 1901 Debs encouraged workers to reject American Capitalism

7. MUCKRAKERS CRITICIZE BIG BUSINESS Though most progressives did not embrace socialism, many writers saw the truth in Debs’ criticism Journalists known as “Muckrakers” exposed corruption in business make society efficient, not reject capitalism Ida Tarbell exposed Standard Oil Company’s cut-throat methods of eliminating competition Ida Tarbell Some view Michael Moore as a modern muckraker

8. FOSTERING EFFICIENCY Many Progressive leaders put their faith in scientific principles to make society better In Industry, Frederick Taylor began using time & motion studies to improve factory efficiency Taylorism became an Industry fad as factories sought to complete each task quickly

9. REGULATING BIG BUSINESS • Under the progressive Republican leadership of Robert La Follette, Wisconsin led the way in regulating big business • Direct Taxes on Corporations • Regulated railroads

10. PROTECTING WORKING CHILDREN • Keating-Owen Act - As the number of child workers rose, reformers worked to end child labor • Children were more prone to accidents caused by fatigue • Nearly every state limited or banned child labor by 1918

11. EFFORTS TO LIMIT HOURS • Progressives succeeded in winning worker’s compensation to aid families of injured workers • The Supreme Court and the states enacted or strengthened laws reducing women’s hours of work

12. 4. CLEANING UP LOCAL GOVERNMENT • Efforts at reforming local government stemmed from the desire to make government more efficient and responsive to citizens • Some believe it also was meant to limit immigrants influence in local governments

13. Progressivism first gained strength at the city and state level • Urban issues become center of reform • City is perceived as a social menace full of disorder • Overcrowded, pollution, illness, poor sanitation • Immigrants settle in core of city while the rich move out to the suburbs

14. Pendleton Civil Service Act An early Progressive action passed in order to take corruption from patronage out of government and promote efficiency

15. Honest Graft and Dishonest Graft: Problems in the City • Cities are not organized well to handle the new issues facing the modern cities • Early solution was the Boss system (Boss Tweed, Plunkett, etc.) that had begun in establishing political machines in response to the earlier influx of immigration of the 1840s • Early public welfare system - If you lose your job and place to live, you go to the Boss for help – in return you vote for whomever the Boss tells you to vote • Widespread fraud and inefficiency • Someone can rise from humble origins to powerful positions, but often through graft and bribery

16. Strengthening the government because they can do it more efficiently • Detroit – Mayor Pingrey changes the way contracts are awarded • Instead of bribe and patronage established a bid system • Puts them in a place where they will be decided for the common good • Takes it out of politics • Ex. Utility rates, studies and discovers Detroit pays more compared to other cities • Bargains with utility companies (monopoly) for lower rates • When they won’t he starts a public utility to fund at lower rates • Ex. Does this with streetcars as well, as advocate for the people of the city, he wants a $.03 cent rate – takes over street cars • Eventually, Street Car companies gave in Appointing of city managers begins or commissioners to run different aspects, takes away power from the concentration in a boss.

17. Tenement Housing Jacob Riis, a photographer Documented life of the lower class in the cities in his book How the Other Half Lives

18. Don’t stop & restrict immigration … • Employers felt little responsibility toward their workers, especially immigrants • As a result Settlement homes, like Jane Addams’ Hull House, and churches served the community • Also the YMCA and Salvation Army took on service roles Instead find a better way to assimilate immigrants into our society.

19. “Fighting” Robert La Follette Election Reform • Citizens fought for, and won, such measures as secret ballots, referendum votes (legislative acts could be approved by people), and the recall (removal of a public official, often deemed corrupt,from office by a vote of the people ) • Citizens could petition and get initiativesonthe ballot • Direct Primary– voters vote directly on candidate for the political party • Makes government power more responsive to the people

20. Accidents Prompt Reform:The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire Prompts NY to pass labor law reforms: safety standards, inspectors