The Progressive EraThe Progressive Era1890-19201890-1920

The Origins of ProgressivismThe Origins of Progressivism

Problems with Problems with industrialization industrialization (unemployment, unsafe (unemployment, unsafe working conditions, child working conditions, child labor, political corruption, labor, political corruption, etc.)etc.)

Many argued that Many argued that government had to government had to become more involvedbecome more involved

Reformer individuals Reformer individuals wanted many wanted many social social welfare programswelfare programs

Many reformers (aka Many reformers (aka muckrakers) would muckrakers) would investigate issues of investigate issues of concern and publicize concern and publicize results to put pressure on results to put pressure on legislators at the local, legislators at the local, state, and national levelsstate, and national levels

Four Goals of ProgressivismFour Goals of Progressivism

Protecting Social WelfareProtecting Social Welfare (Social Gospel (Social Gospel Movement and Settlement House Movement)Movement and Settlement House Movement)

Promoting Moral ImprovementPromoting Moral Improvement and Political and Political ReformReform (Prohibition and Voting Reform) (Prohibition and Voting Reform)

Creating Economic ReformCreating Economic Reform (American Socialist (American Socialist Party organized in 1901; anti-big business Party organized in 1901; anti-big business policies)policies)

Fostering EfficiencyFostering Efficiency (in society and in the (in society and in the workplace; led to shorter worker days and better workplace; led to shorter worker days and better management)management)

Local Reform ExamplesLocal Reform Examples

Change corrupt city politics (“Political Change corrupt city politics (“Political Machine” corruption)Machine” corruption)

Natural Disaster ReliefNatural Disaster ReliefReform Mayors encouraged involvement Reform Mayors encouraged involvement

of everyone and enacted many socialist of everyone and enacted many socialist ideasideas

State Reform ExamplesState Reform Examples Regulation (of the RRs, Regulation (of the RRs,

mines, mills, telephone mines, mills, telephone co.s, and other large co.s, and other large businesses)businesses)

Reform Governors Reform Governors (Robert M. La Follette of (Robert M. La Follette of WI)WI)

Attacking Child LaborAttacking Child Labor State Labor Departments State Labor Departments

and Laws (lower hours, and Laws (lower hours, workers’ compensation, workers’ compensation, benefits)benefits)

Reforming ElectionsReforming Elections Initiative (a bill originated Initiative (a bill originated

by the people)by the people) Referendum (a vote on the Referendum (a vote on the

initiative)initiative) Recall (voters can remove Recall (voters can remove

public officials from elected public officials from elected positions through positions through requesting another vote requesting another vote before the end of their before the end of their term)term)

Direct Election of Senators Direct Election of Senators (17(17thth amendment - 1913) amendment - 1913)

National Reforms ExamplesNational Reforms ExamplesUnder the Progressive PresidentsUnder the Progressive Presidents

Theodore Roosevelt – Republican/Progressive Theodore Roosevelt – Republican/Progressive Party (1901-1909)Party (1901-1909)

William Howard Taft – Republican (1909-1913)William Howard Taft – Republican (1909-1913) Woodrow Wilson –Democrat (1913-1921)Woodrow Wilson –Democrat (1913-1921)

Theodore RooseveltTheodore Roosevelt Background & personalityBackground & personality Square DealSquare Deal

Trust bustingTrust busting ArbitrationArbitration RR regulationRR regulation

HealthHealth 1906 Meat Inspection Act1906 Meat Inspection Act 1906 Pure Food and Drug Act1906 Pure Food and Drug Act

EnvironmentEnvironment ConservationConservation John Muir (Preservationist) v. John Muir (Preservationist) v.

Gifford Pinchot (Conservationist)Gifford Pinchot (Conservationist) 1916 National Park Service1916 National Park Service

Civil RightsCivil Rights Not a champion for civil rightsNot a champion for civil rights 1909 NAACP formed1909 NAACP formed

William Howard TaftWilliam Howard Taft

Background & personalityBackground & personality Taft v. Roosevelt in styleTaft v. Roosevelt in style Progressives turn against Progressives turn against

Taft and the Rep. Party Taft and the Rep. Party SplitsSplits

The election of 1912The election of 1912 Wilson’s (D) New FreedomWilson’s (D) New Freedom Taft’s (R) ConservatismTaft’s (R) Conservatism Roosevelt’s ProgressivismRoosevelt’s Progressivism Eugene V. Debs’s Eugene V. Debs’s

SocialismSocialism

Woodrow WilsonWoodrow Wilson Background & personalityBackground & personality Financial ReformFinancial Reform

Clayton Antitrust Act 1914Clayton Antitrust Act 1914 Federal Trade Commission Federal Trade Commission

(FTC)(FTC) Underwood Act 1913 to Lower Underwood Act 1913 to Lower

Tariff’s (cost of foreign goods)Tariff’s (cost of foreign goods) Federal Income TaxFederal Income Tax Federal Reserve SystemFederal Reserve System

Suffrage for Women with the Suffrage for Women with the 1919thth Amendment in 1920 Amendment in 1920

Wilson’s Record on Civil Wilson’s Record on Civil RightsRights

Women in Public LifeWomen in Public Life

Victorian Era ExpectationsVictorian Era Expectations Private v. Public SpherePrivate v. Public Sphere Before 1900’s, women were viewed in society asBefore 1900’s, women were viewed in society as

Weak and fragileWeak and fragile Emotionally and mentally unstableEmotionally and mentally unstable Motherly SaintsMotherly Saints Their place was in the homeTheir place was in the home Sexually PureSexually Pure Incapable of making their own decisionsIncapable of making their own decisions

Women in Public Life Cont.Women in Public Life Cont.

Demands of Women Demands of Women During the Progressive During the Progressive Era…Era… Career ChoicesCareer Choices The Vote (aka suffrage)The Vote (aka suffrage) Equal Pay for equal workEqual Pay for equal work Control of property and Control of property and

incomeincome Equal access to educationEqual access to education An end to domestic An end to domestic

violenceviolence

Limits of ProgressivismLimits of Progressivism

Limited reforms for African American and other Limited reforms for African American and other minority groupsminority groups

Most changes were observed in urban areasMost changes were observed in urban areas WWI and rising international concerns thwarted WWI and rising international concerns thwarted

the continuation of progressive reforms on a the continuation of progressive reforms on a mass national scale.mass national scale.

Many unresolved progressive issues were, Many unresolved progressive issues were, however, addressed after the Great Depression however, addressed after the Great Depression of the 1930’s under FDR’s New Dealof the 1930’s under FDR’s New Deal