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