The Progressive Movement (Key Concepts)

1. The Progressive Movement(Key Concepts) • First major phase of “liberalism” in the 20th C • Grassroots and government reformers attempted to address abuses and deficiencies in American life at the local, state, and federal levels • Important reforms were enacted by Congress to correct abuses in business, the economy, and the environment • Women and African-Americans organized to improve their conditions and status, but they continued to experience hard times

2. Five 20C Reform Periods(An Historical Perspective) • The Progressive Era (1900-1920)— Roosevelt, Taft, and Wilson • The New Deal (1933-1945)—Franklin D. Roosevelt • The Fair Deal (1945-1953)—Harry S. Truman • The New Frontier (1961-63)—John F. Kennedy • The Great Society (1963-69)—Lyndon B. Johnson • Barack Obama (?)

3. “Liberalism”(The Positive View) • It is the true expression of American democracy—as established by Jefferson, Jackson, and later 20C presidents (the continuation of human “progress,” thus the name) • It represents an alliance between the public and government to guard against and correct abuses of capital. A balancing of public interests and corporate interests.

4. “Liberalism”Goals • To alleviate immediate short-term economic, political and social problems • To bring about significant fundamental changes within existing economic, political, and social relationships and institutions • ECONOMIC: Control corporate behavior; check abuses practiced by large corporations • POLITICAL: Extend or protect political rights of previously disenfranchised groups; make public officials more accountable; attack corruption and abuse of power of public officials • SOCIAL: Protect and promote the human and social rights of deprived groups in society

5. The “Progressives” • Reformers • A variety of groups, individuals and movements • Mostly middle class • Most leaders were “professionals” • Some in government (some not) • Some combined Protestant religion with humanitarian work (the “Social Gospel Movement”)

6. Ideas of The “Progressives” • Rejected laissez-faire AND radicalism • Had a systematic and pragmatic approach to solving societal problems • Viewed government as a positive force for change (to combat monopolies and corruption) • Government could neutralize special interests • To instill order and stability to American institutions and social life

7. Bradwell v. Illinois 1 8 7 3 Admitted women to the Illinois bar.

8. Minor v. Happersett 1 8 7 5 The Supreme Court ruled that states had the authority to deny women the right to vote. The Nineteenth Amendment (1920) made denial of the vote on the basis of gender unconstitutional.

9. How the Other Half Lives (1890) • One of the earliest examples of muckraking • Photos of urban poverty evoked an emotional response from the public Jacob Riis

10. Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt(1901-1908) • Leader of Progressivism at the turn of the 20th century • Supported regulation of big business, conservation of resources and a “square deal” for ordinary people • Greatly expanded the role and authority of the presidency in national government Teddy Roosevelt (Republican and Progressive)

11. Square Deal (1904) • Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt

12. The Octopus (1901) • Frank Norris’s novel • Exposed corrupt politicians conspiring with the powerful Southern Pacific Railroad to exploit California workers Frank Norris

13. Newlands Reclamation Act (1902) • Effort to extend federal assistance to farmers and ranchers who worked the arid lands of the West • Sponsored by Rep. Francis G. Newlands (Nevada)

14. Newlands Reclamation Act (1902) • Self-perpetuating funding system established • The federal government would plan, construct and manage irrigation projects for the purpose of reclaiming marginal lands • Money for projects generated by the sale of public land • On-going expenses of project supported by fees paid by farmers and ranchers for use of water

15. Northern Securities Co. v. U.S. 1 9 0 2 • President Theodore Roosevelt ordered the Justice Department to bring suit against this railroad monopoly • The Supreme Court dissolved the company • It was ruled in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act • Case earned Roosevelt the title of “trust-buster” Theodore Roosevelt; “trust-buster”

16. (Mann-)Elkins Act (1903) • Strengthened the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887 • Required railroad companies to charge only the published rate • Made illegal secret rebates • Actually favored by the railroad companies because it minimized the effects of a rate war between railroad companies that was driving down profits

17. The Shame of the Cities (1904) • Lincoln Steffens • Managing editor of McClure’s magazine • Exposed corruption in government, business and labor • Articles appeared in book form Lincoln Steffens

18. History of Standard Oil (1904) • Ida Tarbell targeted the company’s abuses • As a result, Standard Oil was successfully prosecuted in 1911 Ida Tarbell

19. Lochner v. New York 1 9 0 5 • Invalidated New York state regulations limiting night work hours in bakeries • The court contended that the law was a violation of the work contract between employer and employee (“Liberty of contract”)

20. Niagara Movement/NAACP (1905) • Impatient response to Booker T. Washington’s accommodation of white prejudice • More militant African-Americans met in Niagara Falls • Called for equal opportunity, equal justice and an end to segregation • Led to the founding of the NAACP W.E.B. DuBois

21. Hepburn Act (1906) • Put teeth in regulatory power of the Interstate Commerce Commission by increasing members from five to seven • Allowed it to determine reasonable railroad rates upon the complaint of a shipper • Gave commission power to inspect railroad companies’ records and outlaw free passes, which were often used to influence politicians • Forbade railroads to haul commodities they had produced themselves

22. The Jungle (1906) • Novel depicting the filth in Chicago’s slaughterhouses • Publication helped President Roosevelt pressure Congress to enact meat inspection and pure food and drug legislation Socialist journalist Upton Sinclair

23. Pure Food and Drug Act (1906) • Lobbyists representing medicine makers and well-funded “beef trust” opposed the bill • Some Southerner senators opposed as unconstitutional

24. Pure Food and Drug Act (1906) • Created Food and Drug Administration, which was entrusted with the responsibility of testing all foods and drugs for human consumption • Required prescriptions from licensed physicians before a patient could purchase certain drugs • Required label warnings on habit-forming drugs

25. Meat Inspection Act (1906) • Companion measure to the Pure Food and Drug Act • Brought reforms to processing of cattle, sheep, horses, swine and goats destined for human consumption

26. Meat Inspection Act (1906) • All animals required to pass an inspection by the U.S. Drug Administration prior to slaughter • All carcasses subject to post-mortem inspection • Cleanliness standards established for slaughterhouses and processing plants

27. Muller v. Oregon 1 9 0 8 • Oregon law set maximum of 10 hours a day for women laundry workers • Louis Brandeis, lawyer for the National Consumers’ League, argued that long working hours were dangerous to the health of women and society • Came with economic and sociological evidence • Upheld by the Supreme Court • Ruling encouraged states to pass legislation to protect women and children in the workplace Louis Brandeis

28. William Howard Taft(1909-1912) • 27th President • Served as first governor-general of the Philippines • And Secretary of State under Roosevelt • Chosen by TR as candidate to succeed him • Defeated William Jennings Bryan in 1908 • Actually dismantled twice as many trusts as Roosevelt William Howard Taft (Republican)

29. Payne-Aldrich Tariff (1909) • Taft had pledged to lower tariffs • Rep. Sereno E. Payne (NY) introduce bill to lower tariffs • Sen. Nelson W. Aldrich (RI) (and other protectionists) added amendments • As passed it was a high protective tariff (up to 40 percent on imports) • Supported by conservatives, but opposed by progressives • Taft supported the conservative wing on the issue and refused to veto the bill

30. Ballinger/Pinchot Affair (1909) • Gifford Pinchot, chief of the Interior Department’s Division of Forestry and avid conservationist (and a friend of TR) became involved in a dispute with President Taft’s Secretary of the Interior, Richard Ballinger Gifford Pincho (the “father” of conservation)

31. Ballinger/Pinchot Affair (1909) • Pinchot accused Ballinger of abandoning Roosevelt’s conservation policies by plundering and selling public lands • Controversy centered on disposition of public lands in Alaska Secretary of the Interior, Richard Ballinger

32. Ballinger/Pinchot Affair (1909) • President Taft backed his Secretary and removed Pinchot • Theodore Roosevelt (and other progressives in Congress) supported Pinchot • Although Ballinger later resigned, he and Taft were criticized for putting the interests of private industry over the good of the nation Teddy Roosevelt (left) with good friend, Gifford Pinchot

33. Ballinger/Pinchot Affair (1909)

34. Mann-Elkins Act (1910) • Strengthened the Interstate Commerce Commission by giving it power to regulate the new communications industry • Also given more authority to regulate railroad companies’ short- and long-haul rates

35. Triangle Shirtwaist Fire (1911) • Tragic death of 150 women employees (mostly immigrants) at New York’s Triangle Shirtwaist Company • Caused by the absence of fire escapes

36. Triangle Shirtwaist Fire (1911) • Led to passage of stricter building codes and factory-inspection laws

37. Standard Oil Co. v. U.S. 1 9 1 1 • Limited Sherman Anti-Trust Act • Law reached only to unreasonable “restraints of trade”

38. New Freedom (1912) • Woodrow Wilson’s political and economic reform program proposed during the election of 1912 • Goal: To reduce corporate power and return the government to the people Woodrow Wilson

39. New Freedom (1912) • Wilson proposed to lower tariffs • Revise the monetary system • Break up monopolies • Reinvigorate the free enterprise system Woodrow Wilson

40. New Nationalism (1912) • Progressive political platform of Theodore Roosevelt during the election of 1912 • Emphasized political, social and economic reform to be coordinated by the federal government

41. New Nationalism (1912) • Program stressed increase in safety and welfare laws and taxation of businesses • Roosevelt argued that monopolies and big business should not be destroyed (as Wilson proposed), but controlled by regulatory commissions

42. Underwood Tariff Act (1913) • First bill since the Civil War to lower tariff rates • Lowered tariffs on hundreds of items that could be produced more cheaply in the United States than abroad • Reduced rates of the Payne-Aldrich Tariff (1909) by about 10% • Included income tax to make up for the loss of revenues • Rep. Oscar W. Underwood (AL)

43. 16th Amendment (1913) • Created federal income tax • The Supreme Court had ruled in Pollock v. Farmers Loan and Trust Company (1895) that the Income Tax Act of 1893 was unconstitutional

44. Seventeenth Amendment 1 9 1 3 The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote. The electors in each State shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State legislatures… Woodrow Wilson

45. 17th Amendment (1913) • Provided for direct election of U.S. Senators by popular vote • Replaced method prescribed in the U.S. Constitution: selection by state legislatures James Madison, turning over in his grave

46. Federal Reserve Actaka Glass-Owen bill (1913) • Created banking system of the United States • Most important job of the “Fed” is to manage the country’s supply of money • Seven-member Federal Reserve Board appointed by the president for 14-year (staggered) terms • Nation divided into 12 Federal Reserve Bank districts

47. Federal Trade Commission Act (1914) • Established government agency to prevent unfair business practices and maintain competitive economy • FTC controls radio (now also TV) advertising • Regulates labeling and packaging • Five commissioners, appointed by the president, serve seven-year terms

48. Clayton Anti-Trust Act (1914) • Intended to plug loopholes in the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890 • Prohibited price discrimination and interlocking directorates for the purpose of eliminating competition • Recognized legality of boycotts and strikes and stated that unions were not monopolies under antitrust laws

49. Guinn v. U.S. 1 9 1 5 • Invalidated grandfather clause

50. 18th Amendment (1919) • Some reformers blamed alcohol for many of society’s problems • Prohibited the “manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors” within the United States • Repealed in 1933 by the 21st Amendment