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Progressivism. Causes: Social and political problems of industrialization, including the depression of the 1890s; government corruptions; monopolies; and poor working and living conditions of immigrants. What Is Progressivism?.
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Progressivism • Causes: Social and political problems of industrialization, including the depression of the 1890s; government corruptions; monopolies; and poor working and living conditions of immigrants
What Is Progressivism? • It meant different things to different people but with several common beliefs • Shared in the possibility of progress through reform within the existing system • Believed in a greater role of government to regulate big business
Who Were the Progressives? • Muckrakers: Exposed the corporate and government corruptions • Social Settlement advocates: Jane Addams and others, mostly young women, established settlement houses to help immigrants • Advocates of Efficiency: Experts as a solution to political corruption • Conservationists • Prohibitionists • Women’s suffrage advocates • Political reformers
Progressive Political Reforms • The cure for democracy is more democracy: popular voting for senators; direct primaries; recalls and initiatives • Municipal reforms: city managers and experts to replace the machine • Regulation of railroads and other big business • Regulation of working conditions
Theodore Roosevelt • TR: Progressive presidency: regulation of business, FDA, conservation • TR: Strong and popular personality; presidency as center of national political life • Square deal: government as broker of American society
Woodrow Wilson • Wilson’s background as an educator • Won 1912 Election because TR and Taft split Republican votes: WW 42%; TR 27%; Taft 23%; Debs 6%. (435/531 e. votes) • New Freedom vs. New Nationalism: WW for destruction of trust vs. TR’s regulation • WW: Adopted TR regulation in practice