The Origins of the Progressive Movement

1. The Origins of the Progressive Movement APUSH Spring 2012

2. Origins of the Progressive Movement 1893-1897 Depression • Motivated a national self-examination • 20% unemployment rate • Coxey’s Army • 1,394 labor strikes (1894) • Growing unrest, suffering, dissatisfaction among working class made many fear for democracy. • Backlash against big business.

3. Origins of the Progressive Movement Growing concerns about the future of Democracy • Political influence of big business • Excessive partisanship • Impact on entrepreneurship • Dangers of an unrestricted business sector

4. Origins of the Progressive Movement Growing demands for govt to address: • Poor public facilities & services • Gridlock created by political machines • Widespread corruption • Privileges for the elite *Many reform mvts begin at the grassroots level (municipal/local)

5. Origins of the Progressive Movement Common demands of political reformers • More services • More efficiency • More accountability • More transparency • More expertise • Less partisanship • Less patronage

6. Origins of the Progressive Movement • Proliferation of national magazines & investigative journalists (Muckrakers) • Consumer awareness & demands for quality • Growing demand for social justice • 1/3 of Americans in poverty • 1.5 million children working • Social Darwinist thought prevelent

7. Obstacles to Progressive Change Challenge the dogma that • Growing gap between rich & poor was natural selection (Social Darwinism). • Progressives wanted to reexamine the belief that granting special privileges to business by the govt was good for the country, but help for the working man was un-American. • How can there be growing wealth AND growing poverty?

8. Foundation of Progressive Change Henry George • Justice & harmony can be achieved w/o revolution or abandoning capitalism. • Author of Progress & Poverty • Remove privileges – esp. those created/protected by the govt. • Activism for poor was Christian

9. Foundation of Progressive Change Henry George & Religion • Many working-class Protestant men drifted away from religion • Many Americans shocked by labor violence, charged that churches had lost workers’ allegiance – failed to understand their needs • To help prevent a descent into revolution, the church would have to step up.

10. Foundation of Progressive Change Josiah Strong • Church to take up burdens of less privileged to avoid revolution. • Our Country, Its Possible Future and its Present Crisis • Called for a Christian commitment to reform.

11. Foundation of Progressive Change Social Gospel • Social Justice = Christian • Humanity of Christ – esp. for the poor • Individual salvation required the creation of a Christian society • Churches began to spearhead charities & missions in slums

12. Foundation of Progressive Change Settlement Houses: • Generally secular, staffed by religious folks • Hull House (1888) in Chicago – Jane Addams • Goals of Settlement Houses: • Improve living conditions • Neighborhood relations • Teach English • Cultural events/arts • Child care • Early education

13. Foundation of Progressive Change • Experience with the poor led activists to demand greater change. • The Social Gospel will influence influential leaders. (T. Roosevelt, Bryan, Wilson) *The Social Gospel made the Progressive Movement a moral movement.

14. Foundation of Progressive Change Changes in Academic Thought • New alliance between socially minded clergy & reform-minded academics = committed to progress. • Move from competition > to cooperation. • Growing number of college courses focusing on progressive ideas & principles. • In time, grads begin to go into government.

15. Foundation of Progressive Change Roles for Progressive Professors • Advisors/counsel to govt • Helped to write progressive laws • Served on new regulatory commissions • Led regulatory agencies • Govt officials (Wilson) • Influenced by Europe *Progressives will put considerable faith in experts.

16. Post Civil-War Politics Common Themes • Sectionalism • Religion • Race & Ethnicity • Social/Economic Self-Interest *Not the issue oriented politics of a new tomorrow for everyone.

17. The Influence of European Progressivism Progressive ideas imported from Europe: • Govt seen as an instrument of constructive change • Public ownership of utilities • Settlement House • Public housing • 8-hour work day • Unemployment insurance • Old-age pensions

18. Political Challenges to Progressivism • Nation wide, business & commercial interest largely controlled politics. • Sectional prejudices were an enormous barrier to a multi-sectional party of reform.

19. Post Civil War Monetary Policy • $450 million in Greenbacks still in circulation. (Fiat money is not based on gold) • Creditors - redemption in gold Why? Deflation, high interest rates, keep value high • Debtors – keep fiat money Why? Inflation, easier credit *System will protect the interests of the wealthy. This will force many to become more radical.

20. Gold vs. Silver Supporters of Gold: • Holders of debt • Elite, established wealth • Restrict the amount of money in circulation to keep value high Supporters of Silver: • Those in debt • Working class, poor • Those favoring inflation like farmers • Increases the supply of money decreasing the value

21. Farmers Organize Farmer’s Concerns • Perpetually declining farm incomes • Government connection to big business • Erosion of their self-sufficiency & independence (Many dependent on RRs)

22. Farmers Organize

23. Farmers Organize • Claimed to represent the Founding Fathers’ vision for democracy. • Farm mechanization + millions of new acres = soaring production & declining prices • Loss of coveted independence, growing tenancy, migration to cities

24. Farmers Organize • Farmers believed that history was a struggle between power and liberty Power – oppression, dependence Liberty – social advance, equality *More than anything, farmers wanted economic justice.

25. Farmers Organize Farmer’s Complaints • Growing animosity toward the middle-men who profited w/o labor. • RR rates that were increasingly monopolistic • Land speculation • The lack of credit

26. Farmers Organize The Grange • Organization that encouraged farmers to band together for economic & political well being. • Granger Laws were passed to regulate rates for grain elevators and railroad rates. • Munn v. Illinois declared that business interests (private property) used for public good could be regulated by government and the laws governing their rates were constitutional as well.

27. Farmers Organize Early efforts at organizing National Farmers Alliances(1877-1892) • Economic self-help • Creation of cooperatives • Education campaign about the economic “realities” in the US • Political organization

28. Farmers Organize Populist Party Platform (1892) • Greater democracy in the form of • Secret ballot • Initiative • Reform • Direct election of senators • Partial redistribution of wealth • Graduated income tax • Govt ownership of RRs, telegraph, and telephone • Establishment of Postal Savings Banks responsible to the Federal Govt

29. An Economic Paradigm Shift

30. The Fall of Populism • Massive gold strikes in the 1890s increases the supply of money. • Southern Populists were split over race. • Economic recovery in the late 1890s. • Failure to form a lasting alliance with labor. • The established parties absorbed various planks from the Populist platform. • Nationalism surrounding the Spanish-American War.

31. Republican Reformers Mugwumps • Reform minded Republicans • Concerned about growing corruption in politics • Champions of civil-service reform *Pendelton Civil Service Act • Focusing on reform, many became Progressives. • Some supported Cleveland because of Blaine’s tainted record

32. The Influence of the Muckrakers • Wealth Against Commonwealthby Henry Demarest Lloyd was a critical examination of corporate giants who were responsible to no one and were able to corrupt/control govts. • How the Other Half Lives by Jacob Riis, which exposed the deplorable living conditions in urban slums. • The Shame of the Cities by Lincoln Steffens targeted municipal corruption. • History of Standard Oil by Ida Tarbell provided a detailed and damaging assessment of Standard Oil’s rise to power. • The Jungle by Upton Sinclair exposed the filthy, unhealthy conditions in Chicago’s meat packing industry.

33. Demand for Greater Democracy Government Reform • Direct Primary • Initiative (Initiate Legislation) • Referendum (popular vote on legislation) • Recall (remove elected officials) • Direct election of Senators *Most governmental reforms occur at the local & state level.

34. Progressives & Efficiency