The Progressives: The Progressives: Busybodies or Do-Gooders?Busybodies or Do-Gooders?

New Industrialism: A Precursor to New Industrialism: A Precursor to the Progressivesthe Progressives

• Fueled by more availability of resources Fueled by more availability of resources like gas, iron and coal.like gas, iron and coal.

• Developments in the steel industry Developments in the steel industry (Bessemer process: iron(Bessemer process: ironsteel)steel)

• New inventions…like what?New inventions…like what?• Growth of the railroadsGrowth of the railroads

• Helped industriesHelped industries• Cities grewCities grew

Recap: Effects of the Recap: Effects of the Industrial RevolutionIndustrial Revolution

• Cities grewCities grew• OvercrowdingOvercrowding• DiseaseDisease• Fire and crimeFire and crime

• Working conditions in industry were harshWorking conditions in industry were harsh• Workers were prevented from organizingWorkers were prevented from organizing• Government broke up strikesGovernment broke up strikes

• Immigrants struggled in a new cultureImmigrants struggled in a new culture• Some helped by the political machinesSome helped by the political machines

Who Responds? The ProgressivesWho Responds? The Progressives

• from about 1890 to 1920from about 1890 to 1920• First national reform movementFirst national reform movement• Industrialization, Urbanization and Industrialization, Urbanization and

Immigration had great social cost on USImmigration had great social cost on US• Progressive Movement started in cities Progressive Movement started in cities

where industrial problems were most where industrial problems were most evidentevident

• Progressives appealed to middle class. Progressives appealed to middle class. Wanted to use their expertise and Wanted to use their expertise and professionalism to help solve the problems professionalism to help solve the problems of the era.of the era.

• They wanted to use government as an They wanted to use government as an instrument of change. Wanted to fully instrument of change. Wanted to fully realize the potential of democracy. realize the potential of democracy.

• Basically, the goal of the Progressives was Basically, the goal of the Progressives was to achieve a good society. to achieve a good society.

Assumptions of the Assumptions of the Progressive Movement Progressive Movement

1. Against any kind of monopoly.1. Against any kind of monopoly.

2. Individuals are part of a web.2. Individuals are part of a web.

3. Knowledge and rational thought should 3. Knowledge and rational thought should be guiding principles.be guiding principles.

4. Work with the governments at all levels.4. Work with the governments at all levels.

Reform was wide reaching in scope and at local, Reform was wide reaching in scope and at local, state and national levels:state and national levels:

Examples of Progressive laws Examples of Progressive laws

at the national level:at the national level:• 16th Amendment – Income Tax16th Amendment – Income Tax• 17th Amendment – Direct election of Senators17th Amendment – Direct election of Senators• 18th Amendment - Prohibition18th Amendment - Prohibition• 19th Amendment- Women get the vote19th Amendment- Women get the vote

What do you think?What do you think?

Were the Progressives busybodies or do-Were the Progressives busybodies or do-gooders?gooders?

Take a moment to formulate your thoughts, Take a moment to formulate your thoughts, and on a piece of paper, compose a short and on a piece of paper, compose a short

paragraph explaining your position.paragraph explaining your position.