Problems of the Late-19Problems of the Late-19thth Century Century

Labor unhappy: Millions express their Labor unhappy: Millions express their dissatisfaction with industrial society through dissatisfaction with industrial society through strikes like the Homestead and Pullmanstrikes like the Homestead and Pullman

Deskilled, loss of power, loss of autonomyDeskilled, loss of power, loss of autonomy Little economic securityLittle economic security Some, like Eugene Debs, becoming radicalizedSome, like Eugene Debs, becoming radicalized

Farmers unhappy: Recall the millions of votes for Farmers unhappy: Recall the millions of votes for the Populist presidential candidate in 1892the Populist presidential candidate in 1892

The dream of the yeoman farmer fading for mostThe dream of the yeoman farmer fading for most Even successful independent farmers feel helpless in the Even successful independent farmers feel helpless in the

face of monopolistic railroads and mysterious grain face of monopolistic railroads and mysterious grain marketsmarkets

Problems of the Late-19Problems of the Late-19thth Century Century

Growth of corporate powerGrowth of corporate power Tremendous engines of wealth and material affluenceTremendous engines of wealth and material affluence Yet are non-democratic and exert increasing control over the lives Yet are non-democratic and exert increasing control over the lives

of many Americansof many Americans Ironically, are creating monopolies to Ironically, are creating monopolies to avoidavoid free market free market

competitioncompetitionAlarming disparities of wealthAlarming disparities of wealth

Seeming creation of a hereditary class of wealthy American noblesSeeming creation of a hereditary class of wealthy American nobles Meanwhile, wages for average American remain stagnant (though Meanwhile, wages for average American remain stagnant (though

some costs of living decline)some costs of living decline)Everyone, including many capitalists, sick of the sharp boom Everyone, including many capitalists, sick of the sharp boom and bust cycles of the industrial free market economyand bust cycles of the industrial free market economy

Severe depressions in mid-1870s and early 1890sSevere depressions in mid-1870s and early 1890s Millions lose their jobs for no fault of their ownMillions lose their jobs for no fault of their own Little or no aid for the unemployedLittle or no aid for the unemployed

The Big Questions:The Big Questions:

Does the American concept of freedom need to change Does the American concept of freedom need to change in response to a changing society?in response to a changing society?Laissez-faire individualism had once been liberating for Laissez-faire individualism had once been liberating for many:many:

End privileges of the noble classesEnd privileges of the noble classes Allow common people to compete in a free market Allow common people to compete in a free market

Now has industrial concentration, monopolies, Now has industrial concentration, monopolies, centralization of wealth, wage labor, etc., made the centralization of wealth, wage labor, etc., made the system unfair to the majority?system unfair to the majority?Should there be an economic democracy equivalent to Should there be an economic democracy equivalent to political democracy?political democracy?Is economic security equally important as economic Is economic security equally important as economic freedom?freedom?

Spurs to ProgressivismSpurs to Progressivism1.1. Political Pressure: Rise of the Political Pressure: Rise of the

Muckraking PressMuckraking Press

2.2. Ideological Pressure: Shift towards Ideological Pressure: Shift towards pragmatismpragmatism

3.3. Economic Pressure: 1893 DepressionEconomic Pressure: 1893 Depression

4.4. Technological Pressure: Mechanical Technological Pressure: Mechanical progressprogress

Ida Tarbell, “muckraker”

John D. Rockefeller, “victimized” by ruthless muckrakers

1) Politics: The Muckrakers

2) Ideology: Pragmatism

John Dewey, one of the founders of Pragmatism

There are no fixed There are no fixed natural laws of human natural laws of human existenceexistence

Therefore, should Therefore, should experiment and do experiment and do whatever works to whatever works to achieve best possible achieve best possible societysociety

Challenges earlier ideas Challenges earlier ideas of Social Darwinismof Social Darwinism

3) Economics: Depression of 1893-97

100s of banks, 100s of banks, railroads, etc. collapserailroads, etc. collapse

Unemployment reaches Unemployment reaches 25% in some cities25% in some cities

20,000 homeless in 20,000 homeless in New York CityNew York City

Old Algeresque idea of Old Algeresque idea of “Luck and Pluck” “Luck and Pluck” underminedundermined

4) Technology: Technological Optimism

Electric light, Electric light, phonographs, movies, phonographs, movies, the Panama Canalthe Panama CanalIf American ingenuity If American ingenuity can do these things can do these things surely the same spirit surely the same spirit can solve social and can solve social and economic problems?economic problems?Demonstrate power of Demonstrate power of organized technocratic organized technocratic effortsefforts

The Missouri in the Panama canal

The Progressive ApproachThe Progressive Approach1.1. Faith in science and technology, society run Faith in science and technology, society run

by experts and professionalsby experts and professionals

2.2. Bigger government to balance power of big Bigger government to balance power of big businessbusiness

3.3. Reform corrupted political process and Reform corrupted political process and make truly democraticmake truly democratic

4.4. Primarily a middle-class, urban, WASP Primarily a middle-class, urban, WASP movement (unlike rural Populists)movement (unlike rural Populists)

5.5. ReformReform capitalism, not overthrow it capitalism, not overthrow it

Important StuffImportant Stuff

Midterm exam is coming up next week, Midterm exam is coming up next week, Thursday the 24Thursday the 24thth

Study guide will be handed out in lecture Study guide will be handed out in lecture on Thursdayon Thursday

Website with bullet points will be up by the Website with bullet points will be up by the weekendweekend

Jane Addams, Jane Addams, pioneering Progressive pioneering Progressive social workerssocial workers

Provide practical Provide practical education and training education and training to the poor as well as to the poor as well as cultural upliftcultural uplift

Founded Hull House in Founded Hull House in Chicago in 1889Chicago in 1889

Roosevelt’s Goals as PresidentRoosevelt’s Goals as President

1.1. Make the office of the President Make the office of the President the leading force in the federal the leading force in the federal governmentgovernment

2.2. Make the federal government Make the federal government the leading force in national the leading force in national affairsaffairs

Federal Meat Inspection Act, 1906Federal Meat Inspection Act, 1906

Extended federal inspection to meat processing Extended federal inspection to meat processing operations, requiring safe and wholesome practicesoperations, requiring safe and wholesome practicesConsiderable corporate support for this act:Considerable corporate support for this act:

Similar to the railroads which saw the ICC as a means of Similar to the railroads which saw the ICC as a means of regulating competitionregulating competition

Some of the bigger meat packing companies welcomed Some of the bigger meat packing companies welcomed reasonable federal regulation:reasonable federal regulation:

Ensure everyone competed on an even playing fieldEnsure everyone competed on an even playing fieldKeep small producers from undermining agreements, and drive Keep small producers from undermining agreements, and drive them out of businessthem out of businessRestore badly weakened public faith in processed meat from Restore badly weakened public faith in processed meat from ChicagoChicago

USDA Stamp of ApprovalUSDA Stamp of Approval Often only sporadic regulatory inspections anywayOften only sporadic regulatory inspections anyway

Pure Food and Drug Act, 1906Pure Food and Drug Act, 1906

Established the Food and Drug Administration to Established the Food and Drug Administration to test and regulate drugstest and regulate drugs

Outlawed dangerous, adulterated, or mislabeled Outlawed dangerous, adulterated, or mislabeled productsproducts

However, did not test drugs for efficacy in the However, did not test drugs for efficacy in the modern sensemodern sense Real scientific testing did not come until the 1930sReal scientific testing did not come until the 1930s Not unlike current state of so-called “herbal” remediesNot unlike current state of so-called “herbal” remedies

Progressive AccomplishmentsProgressive Accomplishments

Social welfare improvements through Hull Social welfare improvements through Hull House, celebration of immigrant cultureHouse, celebration of immigrant culture State regulations limiting child labor, working hours for State regulations limiting child labor, working hours for

womenwomen

Interests of the “little people” increasingly served Interests of the “little people” increasingly served by muckraking journalistsby muckraking journalistsRailroad power limited through regulations of Railroad power limited through regulations of rates by ICCrates by ICCMonopolies limited by federal trustbustingMonopolies limited by federal trustbustingCorporations regulated through FDA, Meat Corporations regulated through FDA, Meat Inspection ActInspection Act