From Roosevelt to Wilson in the Age of Progressivism

1. 23 From Roosevelt to Wilson in the Age of Progressivism

2. The Spirit of Progressivism • Progressive movement • Shared values – want reforms • Concern about effects of industrialization and urbanization • Optimistic about human nature and potential for progress – man can solve all problems • Willing to intervene in people’s lives – believed it was within their rights - element of coercion

3. The Spirit of Progressivism • Turned more and more to the authority of the state and government at all levels to achieve reform • Sense of evangelical Protestantism and duty to purge the world of sin – view environment as key to reform – change the environment and you change the individual (criminals are made, not born) • Progressivism got support from across the nation giving it a national reach and mass base

4. The Rise of the Professions • Professions part of Progressivism: • Law • Medicine • Business • Education • Social work • Progressives set educational requirements for each profession and become part of middle class to promote change

5. The Social-Justice Movement • Progressive professionals joined in movement to get better housing for poor, child labor laws and better working conditions • Applied scientific methods to social reform • More interested in social cures than individual charity • Social work became a profession

6. The Purity Crusade • Crusade against vice part of social justice • Alcoholism effected families negatively • 1911: Membership in Women’s Christian Temperance Union hit 250,000 • 1916: 19 states prohibit alcohol • 1920: Eighteenth Amendment prohibits alcohol

7. Woman Suffrage, Woman’s Rights • Women filled Progressive ranks • 1890: National American Woman Suffrage Association forms • Resistance from men, those who connected woman’s suffrage with prohibition • 1920: Nineteenth Amendment passed • Suffrage seen as empowering women to benefit the disadvantaged

8. New Ideas:Challenging the Status Quo • Pragmatism new idea by William James – is an idea good? Does it work • Most influential educator applying pragmatism to education – John Dewey • Socialism – Eugene Debs • Promise of progressive reform and not overthrow of capitalism • 1911 – 32 cities have Socialist mayors

9. Reform in the Cities and States • Progressives want governments to follow the public will • Government by experts is solution • Reform government • Reorganize for efficiency, effectiveness • New agencies address particular social ills • Government staff with experts • End corrupt alliance between business and politics

10. Interest Groups and the Decline of Popular Politics • Place government in hands of experts and out of hands of political parties and bosses • Decline in voter participation • 77% from 1876–1900 • 65% from 1900–1916 • 52% in the 1920s • Instead of voting, people looked to interest groups to get favorable legislation – depend on lobbying

11. Reform in the Cities • Appointed commissioners replace elected officials in many cities • City manager idea spread • Operate like business with efficiency and results • Reform mayors • “Golden Rule” Jones of Toledo

12. Action in the States:Reform Governors • Robert La Follette of Wisconsin • “Wisconsin Idea” tapped experts in higher education for help in sweeping reforms • “People will always do the right thing if properly informed and inspired” • “Democracy is based on knowledge” • Many states copied La Follette’s changes

13. The Republican Roosevelt • Roosevelt became President at 42 when Mckinley was assassinated • He was aggressive and high spirited and brought an exuberance to the presidency • Saw presidency as the “bully pulpit” – a forum for ideas and leadership • Progressive but not always popular with Republican party

14. Busting the Trusts • Roosevelt said – good trusts and bad trusts (bad trusts hurts general welfare of people) • 1904: Northern Securities (railroads) dissolved • Roosevelt known as a “trust-buster” • Busting of Northern Securities paved way for other antitrust actions • Comparatively fewer antitrust cases under Roosevelt; Taft did almost twice as many in half the time but not given credit

15. “Square Deal” in the Coalfields • 1902: United Mine Workers strike in Pennsylvania threatens U.S. economy • Anthracite Coal Strike • Roosevelt intervenes in strike and brought labor and management to White House • Roosevelt won concessions for labor by threatening military seizure of mines • Roosevelt acted as broker and called it a “square deal”

16. Regulating the Railroads • 1903 - Elkins Act prohibited railroad rebates, strengthened Interstate Commerce Commission • 1906 – Hepburn Act further strengthened Interstate Commerce Commission • Widespread popular demand for further railroad regulation under Roosevelt • Roosevelt compromise with congress to get Hepburn Act passed

17. Cleaning Up Food and Drugs • Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle (1906)prompted federal investigation of meatpacking industry • 1906: Meat Inspection Act • 1906: Pure Food and Drug Act

18. Conserving the Land • First comprehensive national conservation policy • Policy defined “conservation” as wise use of natural resources • Created 150 million acres in new forest preserves • Contradiction: He hunted big game animals that were endangered

19. The Ordeal of William Howard Taft • Roosevelt hand-picked Taft because he said he wouldn’t run for President again • Taft: Able administrator (Governor in Philippines) – difficult presidency • Taft could not please Conservatives nor Progressives of his Republican party • Compared to Roosevelt, Taft was more conservative and for corporations

20. Party Insurgency • Republicans divided over tariff • Progressives: want lower tariff • Conservatives: want higher tariff to protect business • 1909 Payne-Aldrich Act (higher tariff) provoked Progressives to break with Taft • No one was happy with Taft – couldn’t work with Congress as Roosevelt had

21. The Ballinger-Pinchot Affair • Gifford Pinchot, leading conservationist, Roosevelt appointee • Pinchot accused Interior Secretary of selling public lands to friends • Taft fired Pinchot • Progressives antagonized

22. Taft Alienates the Progressives • 1910: Taft successfully pushed Mann-Elkins Act (railroads) to strengthen ICC • Act is a compromise – no one likes it and they blame Taft • Overall, Taft alienated progressives because he wavered on reforms and backed more conservative policies

23. Taft Alienates the Progressives • Taft alienated Progressives but he did pass legislation to protect workers and regulate safety • Sixteenth Amendment created income tax • Taft a greater trustbuster than Roosevelt • Taft conserved more land than Roosevelt • 1912: Taft nominated again by Republicans, little chance for victory

24. Differing Philosophiesin the Election of 1912 • Roosevelt: Progressive (“Bull Moose”) • “New Nationalism” • Federal regulation of economy • Strong role for executive office • Wasteful competition replaced by efficiency • Woodrow Wilson: Democrat • “New Freedom” for individual • Business competition and small government • Republican party split - Democrats win

25. Woodrow Wilson’s “New Freedom” • Woodrow Wilson: Former president of Princeton, governor of New Jersey • Progressive, intellectual, inspiring orator but self-righteous and turned disagreements into arguments

26. The New Freedom in Action • 1913: Underwood Tariff cut duties • 1913: Most important domestic law - Federal Reserve Act established banking system to provide a sound, flexible currency • 1914: Clayton Antitrust Act outlawed unfair trade practices, protected unions

27. Wilson Moves Towardthe New Nationalism • Wilson renewed reform in reelection bid • Intervened in strikes on behalf of workers • Attempted to ban child labor • Increased income taxes on the rich • Supported women’s suffrage • Federal farm Loan Act • Program won Wilson a close election

28. The Fruits of Progressivism • Reform of government at all levels • Intelligent planning of reform • World War I ends Progressive optimism