The Progressive Era

1. The Progressive Era MC Reform

2. Context: Post 1900 • Abundance – being able to participate in consumerism – having access to material good and a higher standard of living • The living wage – About $600/year • Fordism • Assembly line/mass production • $5 & $6 dollar days workers – why • Democratization of the automobile • Workers as consumers

3. Women’s Rights • Economics – working outside the home increased • Gilman – Women and economics • Unions – WTUL/ILGWU– Schneidermann and Triangle ShirtWaist Fire • Child labor – march & Lawrence Strike • New Feminism • Leisure time • Sexual Emancipation – reproductive rights (birth control)– Sanger & sexual expression • Suffrage • NAWSA • Alice Paul – ERA • 19th Amendment

4. Woman’s Rights • Women Progressives - the New Woman Addams & Kelley – Hull House – political reforms & activism for women’s issues – abuse, divorce, child labor • Public health issues – Brandeis Brief – Muller v Oregon • Temperance

5. Minorities • Native American Progressivism • Montezuma – full citizenship, end wardship and the BIA • African American Progressivism • DuBois – Niagra Movement --- NAACP Impact of WWI – the “race issue” The meaning of freedom and citizenship Access to opportunity

6. The Progressive Movement • Characteristics: • Optimistic – believe can create change and improve society • Righteous – prefer voluntary action – but have a willingness to intervene to do what’s best for society • Tool/method = government (state and federal) – the instrument to create effective change to “humanize” the system and “ameliorate” the worst excesses caused by industrialization and urbanization • Pervasive and diverse – many different focuses • Sought social control and systematizing – government as referee or as broker among interests – MC Protestantism/MC values • MC, educated, many women – Mowry “benevolent guardians”

7. Goals • End the abuse of power - seek to stabilize or balance the political and economic system • Address/correct the problems created by industrialization and urbanization – soften – no challenge to capitalism – just the unregulated excesses - social justice • Empower the people – at least the “right” ones • Seek efficiency, expertise – systematizing – Lafollette Wisconsin Idea

8. “Roots” • Intellectual challenges to Social Darwinism (Ely, Veblen, George, Darrow, Etc) role of environment – pragmatism • Social gospel • Muckrakers • Status Anxiety = MC fears • Populism • The labor movement • Reaction to the boss system and desire for reform • Women’s rights movement • Professionalism

9. State And City Reforms • Reform & Innovation in local government and state government • Wisconsin Idea – LaFollette – utilities, labor laws, political changes – use of expertise • Government structure – city managers, city commissions • Education - kindergartens & night school • Public works But appearances of democracy not always democratic changes - ………

10. Political Changes • Initiative, referendum and recall • Direct primary • Australian ballot • Voter registration • 17 Am • 19 Am (ERA –Paul) • Limited campaign contributions

11. Efficiency & Organization • City manager; city commissioner • Wisconsin Plan – LaFollette • businesses licenses • 16 Am • Federal Reserve System • Bureau of Corporations • RFD • “systematizing” of government institutions and services – makes it predictable and controllable • Gas & power socialism

12. Social Justice • Brandeis Brief – Muller v Oregon • 18Am & 19 AM • Child labor laws • Workman’s compensation • Increase $ for education • Bureau of labor • Public Health Service – Sheppard-Towner • Mann Act • Juvenile courts • Divorce laws • Death penalty reform

13. Government Regulation • Public utilities commission • Gas & power socialism • Conservation laws • Minimum wages & maximum hours (fed) • Consumer protection laws – Pure Food & Drug, Meat Inspection Act • Increase regulatory agencies (FDA, FTC) • RR regulation –Hepburn, Mann-Elkins • Tariff decrease • Anti trust enforcement (Northern Securities, Taft, Clayton) “trust-busting” • Safety codes

14. Areas of limited concern • Race - segregation increased After 1900 movement North (more post WWI) – decreasing opportunities, & race relations in S, boll weevil epidemic, more opportunities in N – still segregated cities • Labor – what to help but not crazy about union movement - concerns for political radicalism – Ludlow Massacre • Immigration – sought to “Americanize” • appearances of democracy not always democratic changes – literacy tests, registration – impact on the poor

16. Presidential Progressivism 1901-1920 • TR = “Elan Vitale” • Process – must develop an awareness and a “readiness” for the degree of gov’t involvement at the national level – thus greater amount of legislation as society accepted/understood need • Increased power of Executive branch • Increased power of the national government • Developments that strengthen in the 20th century

17. TR 1901-1908 The Bully Pulpit The Square Deal The “trust-buster” --- “good trusts” –”bad trusts” Northern Securities Case – restore S A-T challenges powerful interests– Morgan, Rockefeller, etc. Keeps trusts in “bounds” – restrains Gentleman’s Agreement

18. The Bully Pulpit

22. TR • The Square Deal – Anthracite Coal Strike – the “broker” • UMW v Coal Mine owners • TR – Arbitration – Mitchell =ok – refusal by owners ---TR army • Wage and hours gains --- but no union recognition

23. Other Actions • RR – Elkins and Hepburn Acts – increase power of ICC • Consumer protection: Pure Food and Drug Act; Meat Inspection Act • Sinclair – The Jungle • Wiley – the poison squad • Conservation – forests, parks, irrigation Pinchot • Bureau of Commerce & Labor (corporations)

25. The Republican Party &President William H. Taft

27. Taft’s Accomplishments • Real Trust busting • Conservation – forestry • 16 & 17 amendments • Mann-Elkins Act – rr and communications • Federal gov’t 8 hr day • Children’s Bureau • Safety regulations

28. Taft’s “ordeal” • Alienates progressive wing of the party • Cannonism • Payne-Aldrich Tariff • Ballinger-Pinchot Affair • 1910 Purge

29. TR Returns Osawatomie, KS Big business requires big government.

30. New Nationalism • Increase the power of the presidency & federal government to deal w/ changes • National approach to problem solving • Strong assertive leadership • Government efficiency and expertise

31. New Freedom • Increase competition – decrease monopolies • More limited federal government – states rights • BUT comes to embraces New Nationlism - WHY

32. The Republican Convention • Battle between Old Guard and Progressives

34. Republican Party Platform • Put limitations on female and child labor. • High import tariffs. • Workman’s Compensation Laws. • Against initiative, referendum, and recall. • Against “bad” trusts. • Creation of a Federal Trade Commission. • Stay on the gold standard. • Conservation of natural resources

35. TR and the Progressive Party

36. The Bullmoose Party

37. Progressive Party Platform • Women’s suffrage. • Graduated income tax. • Inheritance tax for the rich. • Lower tariffs. • Limits on campaign spending. • Currency reform. • Minimum wage laws. • Social insurance. • Abolition of child labor. • Workmen’s compensation.

38. The Socialist Party & Eugene V. Debs The issue is Socialism versus Capitalism. I am for Socialism because I am for humanity.

39. “The Working Class Candidates” Eugene V. Debs Emil Seigel for President for Vice-President

40. Growth of the Socialist Vote

41. The Industrial Worker: I. W. W. The first American labor group to open its membership to all wage-earning workers, regardless of skill, nationality, race, sex, or gender.

42. Socialist Party Platform • Government ownership of railroads and utilities. • Guaranteed income tax. • No tariffs. • 8-hour work day. • Better housing. • Government inspection of factories. • Women’s suffrage.

43. The Democratic Party &Governor Woodrow Wilson (NJ) Could he rescue the Democratic Party from “Bryanism”??

44. The ReformGovernorof NJ:It TakesTimeto Removethe Grime

45. Democratic Party Platform • Government control of the monopolies  trusts in general were bad  eliminate them!! -- Competition • States Rights – limited government • Tariff reduction. • One-term President. • Direct election of Senators. • Create a Department of Labor. • Strengthen the Sherman Anti-Trust Act. • Did NOT support women’s suffrage. • Opposed to a central bank. NewFreedom

46. The “Seas” [of Opportunity]Open Up for the Democrats

47. The Results

48. Election Results • By 1912, 100,000 fewer people had voted for Wilson than had voted for Bryan in 1908. • The 1912 election marked the apogee of the Socialist movement in America.

50. On Uncle Sam’s Farm The Democratic party took control of the Senate for the first time in 20 years.