The Origins of Progressivism

Chapter 17 Section 1

I Four Goals of Progressivism• Questioning of the role of big co. & political

reformers formed the progressive movement– Progressive Movement= aimed to return control

of gov’t to the ppl, restore econ. Opp., & correct injustices caused by industrialization

A. Protecting Social Welfare• Young Men’s Christian

Association (YMCA) opened lib, had classes, built pools

• Salvation Army fed the poor, opened nurseries– “slum brigades” tried toconvert

poor immigrants to middle class vaues of hard work and temperance

• Passage of Illinois Factory Reform Act= banned child labor & limited women’s working hrs.

B. Promoting Moral Reform• Some believe morality would

help improve lives of the poor• Prohibition= the banning of

alcoholic beverages• Women’s Christian Temperance

Union (WCTU) campaigned to end selling of alcohol– This expanded women’s public

roles• Sometimes led to tensions w/

im. Groups who's culture & traditions often included consumption of alcohol

C. Creating Economic Reform• Economic panic led to questioning

of capitalism system– Writer Edward Bellamy criticized

lassaiz-faire theory by claiming “brutal cowardly slaughter of the unarmed and overmatched by bullies in armor”

• Some embraced socialism– Even those who were not socialist

heard some truth in their message• Muckrakers= journalists who wrote

about the corrupt side of business in mass circ. mags

D. Fostering Efficiency• scientific management= the effort

to improve efficiency in work place by applying scientific principles to make tasks simpler & easier– Workers become more productive

• Ford enhances efficiency w/ assembly line

• Increase workload & pace leads to injuries & exhaustion– Lowered work day 7 paid higher

wages to keep workers happy• Applying efficiency also applied to

gov’t

II Cleaning of Government

• The corruption of city politics & the distrust of immigrants lead to reform efforts

A. Reforming Local Government• Galveston Texas eplaces city council with

commission • Council-managemer government= ppl elected

city council to make laws who then appoint a manager to run city’s departments

B. Reform Mayors• Pingree instituted fairer tax

structure, lowered public trans. Fare, & built schools

• Johnson (socialist) believed ppl should play active role– Held meetings in large circus tents

and invited citizens to question politicians

III Reform at the State Level• Gov. La Follette was progressive republican

who eventually becamse senator– Inteded to drive big business out of politics

• RR was his main target• Taxed RR property same as other business

prop, regulated rates, forbade free RR passes to state officials

B. Protecting Workers• Omost important efforts of reform

movement=ending child labor– Hired children because business could pay them

lower than adults• Children developed medical issues due to

dangerous working conditions• Keatin-owen Act prohibited trans. Of goods

produced with child labor across state lines– Sup. Ct. declared unconstitutional because it

interfered with interstate commerce

C. Reforming Elections• Began to use the Secret ballot

AKA Australian Ballot• Initiative & referendums give

citizens ability to make law• Initiative= a bill originated by

the ppl rather than lawmakers– Ppl petition for an initiative to be

put on ballot• Referendum= a vote on the

initiative– The ppl vote to accept or reject

the initiative

• Recall allows voters to remove public official before the end of their term– Force another election if enough voters ask for it

• Direct primary means voters, not political machines, would chose candidates for public office through pop. election

D. Direct Election of Senators• Before 1913 state legislatures chose senators– Power in hands of party bosses and wealthy co.

• Progressives push for pop election of senators– Try to force them to be responsive to public

• 17th amendment makes the direct election of senators the law of the land

• Progressive era drew a large amount of women into public life & new attention to issue of women suffrage