The Progressive Era

1. The Progressive Era Goal 7: -Explain the conditions that let to the rise of Progressivism -Analyze how different groups of Americans made economic and political gains in the Progressive Period.

3. Origins of Progressivism • Problems that contributed to the social upheavals of the late 1800s need to be addressed • Journalists expose unsafe working conditions, corruption, and other problems • Intellectuals question the role of large corporations as well as ways to make the government more responsive • Progressive Movement— aimed to return control of the government to the people, restore economic opportunity, and correct the injustices of American life.

4. Goals of the Progressive Movement Although progressives didn’t always agree on problems and solutions, their efforts shared at least one of the following goals: • Protecting social welfare • Promoting moral improvement • Creating economic reform • Fostering efficiency

5. Origins of Progressivism • Grange—regulation of commerce • Populists—Omaha Platform which promoted secret ballot, shorter work day and week, income tax, increase in money supply, immigration control, and direct election of senators • Suffragists—women’s right to vote, Seneca Falls Declaration • Temperance movement—prohibition of alcohol

6. Some Americans began to embrace Socialism (socio-economic system where property and the distribution of wealth are shared by the community) in light of the panic—the Socialist Party formed in 1901 and was led by Eugene Debs. The IWW was a major supporter of the American Socialist Party, but later split when they wanted to be more involved politically—the IWW favored the working man being in charge of gov’t and business Importance of these socialist ideas that emerged is that it brought the problems of the economy and society to the attention of the public and helped win over support for change, just not necessarily the change that socialists were looking for. Henry George—”Progress and Poverty,” single-tax concept Edward Bellamy—”Looking Backward,” tale of ideal socialist society Both George, Bellamy, and Eugene Deb’s radical socialist ideas (although mostly feared) helped spark reform by making the public aware of problems Socialist Ideas Spark Reform

7. Key Figure: Eugene Debs • American Union Leader, founded industrial unions (jailed during the Pullman Coach Strike) • Founded the IWW (Wobblies) • Founded and led the American Socialist Party, ran for President 5 times (once from jail)

8. Protecting Social Welfare • Aimed to soften harsh conditions of industrialization • Social Gospel and Settlement House Movements • Organizations like the YMCA and Salvation Army opened libraries, sponsored classes, built recreational areas, fed the poor and instructed the poor in middle class values • Improvements in working conditions (especially women and children)—Florence Kelley helped inspect factories and get the first laws banning child labor passed

9. Promoting Moral Improvement • Felt morality held the key to improving the lives of the poor • Prohibition was main reform—prohibitionist groups wanted to ban alcohol stating that it undermined American morals and was the cause of all problems • Women’s Christian Temperance Union spearheaded the movement and went beyond prohibition—opened kindergartens for immigrants, visited inmates in prison, and worked for suffrage

10. Creating Economic Reform • Economic Panic of 1893 promoted reform • Aimed to fix the uneven balance among big business, government and the public under the free-market system of capitalism

11. Creating Economic Reform • Big Business often received favorable treatment from the gov’t and politicians and used economic power to limit competition • Journalists called “Muckrakers” began writing about and exposing the corrupt and unfair practices of big business

12. Muckrakers journalists who expose graft, corruption, and other problems in society. • Ida Tarbell—exposed Rockefeller be exposing his cutthroat methods in the History of Standard Oil • Jacob Riis: “How the Other Half Lives” exposes conditions of urban poor • Upton Sinclair: “The Jungle” which exposed the sickening conditions of the meatpacking industry • Lincoln Steffins: worked with Tarbell and other muckrakers by trying to make Americans feel “shamed” and outraged about the corruption in American politics and society

13. Fostering Efficiency • Use of experts and science to make society and the workplace more efficient or well-organized • Used data to support reform efforts • Break down manufacturing tasks into simpler parts • Incorporated scientific management studies to see how quickly tasks can be preformed • Development of the assembly line by Henry Ford

14. Cleaning Up Local Government • Cities faced the most obvious problems • Political Machines had taken over—corruption, bribery, favors, and kickbacks were common in city gov’t • 2 Natural disasters help play a role in instituting change: • Galveston, TX: hurricane and tidal wave almost demolish Galveston, politicians on the city council failed to achieve relief or adequately rebuild • Dayton, OH: flood led to the adoption of council-manager gov’t to deal with the disaster

15. Cleaning Up Local Government • Commission gov’t: experts in charge of different departments, by 1917 500 cities had adopted this style • Council-Manager gov’t: the public elects a city council which is the law and policy making body, an elected mayor will preside over ceremonial duties and act as chairman, the council will also hire a manager who will supervise operations and implement policies. By 1925, managers were running nearly 250 cities.

16. Reform Mayors • Some mayors instituted reform without changing gov’t structure • Fairer Taxes • Lower fares for public transportation • Relief for unemployed • Dismissing corrupt officials and greedy owners of utilities • Converted utilities to being publicly owned • Encouraged citizens to be more active in gov’t

17. Reform Governors • Passed laws to regulate railroads, mines, mills, telephone companies, and other large businesses • Robert LaFollette “Fighting Bob”: (Wisconsin) led the way—he helped institute railroad reform, regulated tax rates, he also pushed for various voting reforms

18. Voting Reforms • Direct Primaries: allow voters to choose people for public office • Initiatives: a bill organized by people rather than lawmakers and put on ballot • Referendums: voters are able to reject or accept an initiative • Recall: allowed voters to remove officials from elected positions by forcing them to face another election • Direct Election of Senators—before the 17th amendment senators were elected by state legislatures, the issue of direct election was pushed by the Populist party, and is eventually adopted due to the success of direct primary, 17th Amendment passes in 1913

19. Child Labor Children are more prone to accidents and fatigue National Child Labor Committee researched and advertised the harsh conditions children faced Successes in nearly every state passing legislation to ban child labor Work Hours and Conditions Set maximum hours Muller v. Oregon upheld a 10 hour workday for women Bunting v. Oregon upheld a 10 hour workday for men Worker’s compensation—benefits to aid families when a worker is hurt or killed on the job Reform in the Workplace

20. Consumer Reforms • Insurance Regulation • Fairer Taxes • Zoning Laws (part of urban planning) • Building Codes = safety • Food and Drug Administration = safety • Income Tax established under 16th amendment • Regulation of trusts and big business • Utilities become publicly owned

21. Women and the Progressive Era • Poorer women had to work: farming to help support family, work in industry and manufacturing, work in offices, stores, and schools, and some with no formal education did domestic jobs (cooks, laundresses, maids, etc.) • Dangerous conditions, low wages, and long hours push women to work for reform • Example: Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire

22. Women Lead Reforms • Women become more educated—applied skills to reforms • Uneducated women also started efforts to reform workplace health and safety • Women couldn’t vote so they strived to improved conditions at work and home— “Social Housekeeping” • Workplace, housing, education, food and drug reforms http://www.teachertube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=6fc001704a4fdb33c3c0

23. Suffrage Issue -one of the Progressive reforms fueled by determined women -increased activism -bold new strategies create enthusiasm -rebirth of national movement under: Carrie Chapman Catt -some women moved to more militant efforts -women’s support in WW I eventually guaranteed success

24. Women’s Rights • National American Women Suffrage Association • Key People: Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, Lucy Stone, Carrie Chapman Catt • Faced constant opposition—liquor industry, textile industries, and many men in general feared their reforms and the changing role of women

25. 1.convince state to give right to vote 2. court cases to test the 14th Amendment 3. national constitutional amendment Modest success, improvements in conditions of workers, safer food and drug products, supported by Roosevelt Efforts and work during Progressive Era, in addition to their service in World War I eventually led to the 19th amendment being passed in 1920—granting women the right to vote! Strategy for Suffrage and the 19th Amendment

27. Essential Questions • What conditions led to progressivism? • How did the political, economic, and social conditions of the Gilded Age lead to the Progressive Era? • What events led to women’s suffrage and the 19th Amendment? • Which groups of Americans made economic and political gains during the Progressive Era? • What tactics were most effective in bringing about the social, economic, and political reforms of the Progressive Era?

28. Review Questions • Which group in society benefited the LEAST from the reforms of the Progressive Era? • Immigrants • African Americans • Women • children

29. 2. How did the muckrakers serve Progressivism? • By informing people about abuses so they could protest • By enacting legislation to prevent political corruption • By cleaning up unhealthy meat processing plants • By filing and prosecuting antitrust laws

30. 3. What was the MAIN reason behind calls for child labor laws? • Poor families needed their children’s wages • Child labor lowered the wages of all workers • Child labor was harmful to children’s welfare • Businesses needed children to perform certain unskilled jobs

31. 4. What was the MAIN goal of the women’s rights movement during the Progressive Era? • Higher education for women • Women suffrage • More jobs in industry • Jobs outside of factories

32. 5. Origins of the Progressive Movement include all of the following EXCEPT • Journalists • The Grange • Suffragists • Political machines

33. 6. Allows voters to remove officials from elected positions by forcing them to face another election • Initiative • Referendum • Direct primary • Recall