The Origins of Progressivism

THE ORIGINS OF PROGRESSIVISM

Chapter 18 Section 1

Progressive Era

Period from about 1890 to 1920

During this time a variety of reforms were enacted at the local, state and federal levels

What were some of the historical roots of the Progressive Era?

Nativism Prohibition Purity crusades Charity reform Social gospel

philosophy Settlement houses

What beliefs did most progressives share?

They wanted to rid the government of corruption and expand its role to regulate economic activity and enhance human welfare

How did Henry George and Edward Bellamy influence the rise of Progressivism?  Henry George Combat poverty by

charging a single tax to landowners based on the value of the land itself

Discouraging speculation

Decreasing poverty

Edward Bellamy Government should take over the largest companies and reorganize them to focus more on human needs than of profits

Muckraker

Journalists that uncovered wrongdoing in politics or business

What key role did the muckrakers play in the Progressive Movement?

They alerted the public to wrongdoing in politics and business

Name 3 muckrakers, the name of their book, and what they were attempting to expose.

Upton Sinclair

Wrote The Jungle Exposed filthy

conditions in America’s meatpacking industry

Lincoln Steffens

Wrote the Shame of the Cities

Exposed political corruption

Ida Tarbell

Wrote The History of the Standard Oil Company

Revealed the abuses committed by the Standard Oil Trust

How did Roosevelt both criticize and praise muckrakers?

While Roosevelt approved of the legitimate exposure of wrongdoing, he condemned those who “earn their livelihood by telling…scandalous falsehoods about honest men…”

Socialism

A political and economic philosophy favoring public (government) control of property and income

Many wanted to end capitalism, distribute wealth more equally, and have government ownership of all industries

How were the Progressives different than the socialists? Unlike socialists and

some more radical reformers, most Progressives did not support huge economic and political changes.

They did not want to lose their high standard of living and personal liberties that democracy and the free market had given them.

Progressives desired to clean up government and business

Injunction

Court orders that prohibit a certain activity

How did injunctions affect the growth of labor unions? Courts often issued

injunctions preventing workers from going on strike

Identify some Progressive Women’s groups and their causes.

International Ladies Garment Workers Union- to organize the garment industry

National Women’s Trade Union League- fought for labor laws

National Consumers’ League fought to outlaw child labor and protect workers