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Progressive Reform
1901-1918
Why Progressivism?19th Century Problems
Disparity of Wealth
Social Upheaval
Increasing division among social groups
Nativism and Racism
Growing demand for social reform
Failure of Government Institutions
Unable to bring reform
Serious corruption
Why Progressivism?Progressivism has mass appeal
Unlike Populism
Focus on emotional issues (child labor, etc.)
Reforms target urban issues
Social Gospel/Settlement House Movements
Primarily lead by urban middle class
Extremely affluent population (wealthier than 90% of the world)
Educated
Available leisure time
Women play a prominent role
Motivated
Influenced by popular literature/journalism “muckrakers”
State/Local reformUrban political machines were targets of reform
Corruption led to tremendous government waste
Attempt to apply scientific management to gov.
State/local gov. carefully monitored spending
More money now available for social programs
Direct democracy put more power in the hands of voters
Initiative/Referendum
Recall
Progressive governors brought major change at state level
Bob LaFollette (Wisc)
Model for national reform
Hiram Johnson (CA)
Four Goals of Progressivism
1. Protect Social Welfare
2. Promote Moral Improvement
3. Create Economic Reform
4. End Government Waste/Corruption
The Progressive EraRepresented a dramatic shift in government
People began to look to gov. to solve their problems
Rejection of unrestrained capitalism
Progressives did not intend to destroy system only to increase government intervention
Begins largely on local/state level
Lead primarily by activist Presidents at national level
Starting with T. Roosevelt in 1901
Brings the presidency into the modern era
President more powerful than Congress
T. Roosevelt (1901-1909)Pragmatic leader
Roosevelt’s strength: his ability to control public opinion
“Bully pulpit”
Favored increasing regulation of business
Portrayed himself as a “trustbuster”
Immediately attacks RR trust (Northern Securities)
Revival of antitrust laws
1902 Coal Miner’s Strike
Worked as a mediator to bring strike to an end
Added enforcement powers
Hepburn Act
Roosevelt believe in the Square Deal: Business and labor should be treated fairly by federal gov.
T. Roosevelt (1901-1909)Favored increasing consumer protections
Meat Inspection Act
Prompted by Sinclair’s The Jungle
Pure Food and Drug Act
Advocate of conservationist policies
Public land for national parks/reserves
Newlands Act
Created National Forest Service
Lead by Gifford Pinchot (multiuse approach)
Deeply personal issue
Steps down in 1908 as hugely popular President
W. Taft (1909-1913)Taft was Roosevelt’s appointed successor
Taft was never as effective as TR
Lacked TR’s charisma and forceful personality
More prolific trust buster than TR but received little credit
Taft was closely tied to the “old guard” of the Rep. party
Passed Payne Aldrich Tariff helping business
Angered Progressive factions of his party
Had a falling out with TR
Ballinger Pinchot controversy
Lead to TR’s decision to challenge Taft in 1912
Election of 1912Major split occurs in Republican Party
“Old Guard” Republicans able to nominate Taft
TR runs as a Progressive (“Bull Moose” Party)
Republican majority split by third party
Democrat, Wilson easily wins election
Progressive candidates receive majority of the vote
Voters clearly favored further reform
Wilson’s New Freedom defeats TR’s New Nationalism
More strict treatment of trusts/business with Wilson
Socialist Debs receives 900k votes
Socialism continues to hold a fairly large amount of support (particularly in the West)
W. Wilson (1913-1921)Skillful politician and uncompromising idealist as President
Tariff Reform
Underwood Simmons tariff lowered rates
Banking Reform
Modernizes the banking and currency system
Federal Reserve Act
Corporate regulation
Establishes Federal Trade Commission
Clayton Antitrust Act
Worker protection laws
Keating Owen Act (struck down by Supreme Court)
Workmen’s Compensation Act
Progressive AmendmentsFour Progressive Amendments added to the Constitution
16th Amendment (1913)
Allows federal income tax
17th Amendment (1913)
Direct election of Senators
18th Amendment (1918)
Prohibition
19th Amendment (1920)
Women’s Suffrage*