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Progressive Legislation

Progressive Legislation. Chapter 11 Section 2. Setting the Scene. The Triangle Shirtwaist Company fire in 1911 highlighted the plight of workers.

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Progressive Legislation

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  1. Progressive Legislation Chapter 11 Section 2

  2. Setting the Scene • The Triangle Shirtwaist Company fire in 1911 highlighted the plight of workers. • 126 workers die because doors were locked; the fire escape was old, rusted and collapsed; and fire ladders could not reach the 10th floor where the fire was. • Women leapt to their deaths from the 10th floor of the burning building

  3. The 240 employees sewing shirtwaists on the ninth floor had their escape blocked by back-to-back chairs and work baskets in the aisles.  Walking space was so limited that many were forced to climb over the 75-foot long tables to get to the windows, stairs, and elevators that might lead to safety. Photographer unknown. 5780 P box 39 ff15g

  4. Doctors examining each body for signs of life, located survivors among those that piled up on the sidewalk and street.  Officers gathered personal items including money, pay envelopes, papers, and jewelry for safe keeping, and placed numbered tags on victims before taking the dead to the Twenty-sixth Street Pier temporary morgue. Photographer unknown. 5780 P boxx 39 ff15c

  5. “every week I must learn of the untimely death of one of my sister workers….But every time the workers come out in the only way they know to protest against conditions which are unbearable, the strong hand of the law is allowed to press down heavily upon us” - Rose Schneiderman, public address, 1911

  6. Schneiderman • Helped stir powerful public support for reforms • Called on the city to: • Appoint fire inspectors • Make fire drills compulsory • To unlock and fire proof exits • And to require sprinkler systems in buildings more than seven stories tall

  7. An Expanded Role for Government • Most Progressives • opposed government control of businesses, except for companies that supply essential services such as water and electricity • They also wanted Social welfare programs • Ensured a minimum standard of living • Unemployment benefits • Accident and health insurance • Social security for the elderly and disabled • Wanted Experts and Scientist to plan and run things not politicians

  8. Levels of Reform • Federal • State • City (Municipal)

  9. Municipal Reforms • Earliest reforms at the Municipal or city level • Wanted Home rule: a system that gives cities a limited degree of self-rule • Municipal reformers aimed to end government corruption • Blamed immigrants for many of the problems

  10. Attacking the Bosses • Wanted a Civil Service System based on merit instead of favors • For the most part the bosses survived • In some cities the bosses chose to work with reformers • Together they improved city services, established public health programs and work place reforms, and enforced tenement codes.

  11. New Forms of Municipal Government • Governments changes in response to natural disasters • 1900 a powerful hurricane wiped out Galveston killing 6,000 people • The city instituted a commission system to rebuild and it worked so well they kept it as their system of government • 1913 Ohio’s Great Miami River Basin flooded Dayton killing 360 people • The city created a council-manager system of government

  12. Cities take over Utilities • Reformers wanted to provide citizens with more affordable services by transferring control of urban utilities such as water, gas, and electricity to cities • Reformers want to regulate or remove the monopolies that provide city utilities. By 1915 nearly 2 out of 3 cities have some city-owned utilities.

  13. Providing Welfare Services • Detroit- provided public baths, parks, and work relief programs • Toledo- opened playgrounds, free kindergartens, and lodging houses for the homeless • Thought all people would become good citizens if social conditions were good.

  14. State Reforms • reformers hoped to end corruption in government by giving voters more direct say in lawmaking • More power to the Voters • Direct Primary: an election where citizens vote to select candidates for upcoming elections • Initiative: a process where voters can put a proposed new law on the ballot in the next election • Referendum: a process that allows citizens to approve or reject a law passed by the legislature • Recall: a process that allows voters to remove an official from office before the next election

  15. Reforms in the Workplace • Established labor departments to • provide information • dispute-resolution services to employers and employees • Workers insurance and compensation systems • Business Owners fought the regulations • By 1907 2/3rds of the states had abolished child labor • Many states passed minimum wage laws

  16. Wisconsin’s Reform Governor • Robert “Fighting Bob” M. La Follette • Ousted party bosses and instituted direct primaries and civil service reforms • Called on academic experts to help draft reforms • Had the votes read publicly in the districts of legislators who voted against reforms • 1906 he gets elected to the US Senate

  17. Federal Reforms • President Teddy Roosevelt becomes the 1st Reform President • Expanded and vigorously used his Presidential powers domestically just as he had overseas • Created the Modern Presidency where the chief executive is a strong political force

  18. Teddy Roosevelt’s “Square Deal” • 1902 United Mine Workers strike • With winter approaching the mine owners still refused to talk with the union. • Roosevelt forced both sides into Arbitration • A 3rd party decides what the mine owners and union have to agree to • Threatened to use the Army to seize the mines • The Arbitrators decided on a 10% raise and reduced the work day from 10 to 9 hours, but did not recognize the Union

  19. Antitrust Activism • Roosevelt is going to vigorously enforce the Sherman Anti-Trust Act. • Sued the Northern Securities a holding company- a firm that buys up the stocks and bonds of smaller companies creating a monopoly • The court agrees with Roosevelt and breaks up the company • Will file 42 antitrust actions while President • Including: The Beef Trust, Standard Oil, and the American Tobacco Company

  20. Railroad Regulation • Roosevelt won passage of the 1906 Hepburn Act • Gave the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) strong enforcement powers • Authorized the ICC to set and limit railroad rates • The ICC became the 1st true federal regulatory agency

  21. Protecting Public Health • The muckrakers exposés of the food and drug industries convince him to respond • The Pure Food and Drug Act • The Meat Inspection Act • Required accurate labeling of ingredients, strict sanitary conditions, and a rating system for meats

  22. A New Labor Department • 1912 established a Children's Bureau • 1913 Cabinet-level Department of Labor • 1920 Women's Bureau

  23. Protecting the Environment • Established Yellowstone National Park in 1872 • Yosemite National Park in 1890 • Presidents Harrison and Cleveland preserve 35 Million Acres of forest land • Teddy Roosevelt sets aside more than 200 Million Acres for National Parks, Mineral Reserves, and Water Projects • Builds irrigation systems in arid states.

  24. Constitutional Amendments • 16th Amendment (1913): federal income tax • 17th Amendment(1913): Direct Election of Senators • 18th Amendment (1919): banned Alcohol

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