I. The Roots of Progressivism A.Introduction 1. Progressivism:
a political movement that crossed party lines. Progressives
believed that rapid industrialization and urbanization had created
many social problems and that govt should take a more active role
in dealing with these problems Intro to Progressivism
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2. Sources of Progressive Reform a. Industrialization, with all
its increase in productivity & the # of consumer goods created:
- unemployment and labor unrest, poor working conditions - wasteful
use of natural resources - abuses of corporate power b. Growing
cities magnified problems of poverty, disease, squalid living
conditions, crime & corruption c. Influx of immigrants &
rise of new managerial/middle class upset traditional class
alignments d. Economic Depression (1893-1897) convinced many that =
opportunity was out of reach for many Americans
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Tenement Slum Living
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Poor working conditions, child labor
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3. Roots of Progressivism Who is pushing for reform? a. Liberal
Republicans of 1870s, Mugwumps of 1880s, Populists in late 1800s 4.
Diffs btwn Populism & Progressivism a. Populism grew in rural
areas Progressivism grew in cities b. Populists = poor &
uneducated Progressives = middle class, well- educated, both
political parties c. Populists = more radical/socialist
Progressives = moderate/compromised d. Populism = failed
Progressivism = success!
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5. The solution? Solve social problems through active govt
leadership! T. Roosevelt W. Wilson W. H. Taft The Progressive
Era
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B. The Rise of Progressivism 1. Who were the Progressives? a.
New middle class composed of young professionals - journalists,
social workers, educators, politicians, clergy mainly urban b.
Muckrakers - journalists who attacked corruption and scandal &
investigated social conditions - published articles in popular
magazines - led to public debate over social/economic problems
& put pressure on politicians to introduce reforms
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Lincoln Steffens Exposed city political machines in The Shame
of the Cities Exposing Corruption in Govt
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David Graham Phillips Criticized how $ influenced the Senate in
Treason of the Senate
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Ida Tarbell Exposed corruption in Big Biz in The History of
Standard Oil Exposing Corruption in Big Biz
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Jacob Riis Exposed poverty, crime, disease in immigrant
neighborhoods in How the Other Half Lives Exposing Social Welfare
problems
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John Spargo Criticized child labor in The Bitter Cry of the
Children View of the Ewen Breaker of the Pa. Coal Co. The dust was
so dense at times as to obscure the view. This dust penetrated the
utmost recesses of the boys' lungs. A kind of slave-driver
sometimes stands over the boys, prodding or kicking them into
obedience. S. Pittston, Pa.
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Upton Sinclair Exposed health and safety problems in the
meat-packing industry in The Jungle
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c. Political Cartoonists
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d. Political Reformers those opposed to traditional party
politics e. Socialists - frustrated workers who promised to destroy
capitalism. Led by Eugene Debs (who polled 900,000 votes for
President in 1912). - rejected by most Progressives as too extreme
in their goals and methods - Progressives (& most Americans)
believed in the superiority of the US system of free enterprise
Socialism
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The Socialist Ticket 1912
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C. 4 Groups of Progressives 1. Efficiency Progressives goal to
make govt more efficient a. Scientific management applied to govt -
run govt more like a biz b. City govt required EXPERTS, not
POLITICIANS (to head essential city services) - change system to
prevent boss or machine rule - support commission plan or council
/mgr plan (pg 421) - specialists should run city depts - prompted
by Galveston, TX hurricane of 1900
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Replacing the City Machines
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2. Democracy Progressives - goal to make US more democratic
make elected officials more responsive to voters a. State level
reform efforts championed by Robert La Follette of Wisconsin (Lab.
Of Democracy) 1) Problem: party bosses indirectly controlled which
candidates were chosen to run for office Solution: Direct Primary
voters given control over candidates (voters decide who becomes the
candidate in presidential election)
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2) Problem: state legislatures unresponsive to voters Solution:
Election reforms to bring direct democracy to voters Initiative
allowed voters to initiate laws in state leg. Referendum in some
states, let voters accept or reject measures proposed by state leg.
Recall enabled voters to remove unsatisfactory elected officials
from office Fighting Bob La Follette Recall in Action: CA 2003
Davis OUT, Arnold IN!
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b. Federal level reform efforts Problem: US Constitution
stipulates that each state leg. elect 2 senators to DC but machines
or trusts influenced election of those Senators repaid their
supporters with fed. contracts & jobs Solution: 17 th Amendment
to the Constitution = direct election of Senators by all state
voters
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c. Womens suffrage Problem: 50% of US population
disenfranchised Solution: 19 th Amendment to the Constitution =
womens suffrage Womens Suffrage
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Seneca Falls Convention (1848) 1 st womens rights convention
Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth Cady Stanton 14 th 15 th Amendments (1868-
1870): expanded calls for womens vote National Womens Suffrage
Assoc (NWSA) pushed for constitutional amendment allowing womens
suffrage Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton ( Susan B
arrested for voting in 1872 presidential election) Susan B.
Anthony
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Opposition to Womens Suffrage Suffragists considered
unfeminine/immoral Some attacked Early movement weakened by focus
on abolitionist mvmt
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Propaganda against womens suffrage
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Womens Suffrage American Woman Suffage Assoc- (AWSA) - gain
womens suffrage by convincing state govts to give womens suffrage
before trying to amend constitution Lucy Stone, Julia Ward Howe By
1900, only WY, ID, UT and CO had granted women full voting rights
National American Woman Suffrage Assoc (1890) a combo of the NWSA
& AWSA little progress initially After 1910 more progress as
middle class women demand voting rights to promote social reforms
& labor class women demand voting rights to ensure passage of
labor laws to protect women
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Womens Suffrage Movement
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Womens Suffrage Washington March - March 3, 1913 (day before W.
Wilsons inauguration) organized by Alice Paul who believed that
protests were necessary to force Pres. Wilson to act on womens
suffrage 1915 Winning Plan organized as the final push to gain
voting rights. NAWSA supports Wilson in 1916, Wilson calls for all
states to give women suffrage 19 th Amendment June 1919 passed by
Senate Aug 1920 - ratified Alice Paul
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The Washington March March 13, 1913
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3. Social Welfare Progressives - goal to address social
problems such as: illiteracy, alcohol abuse, child labor, safety a.
Created charities ex. Jane Addams settlement houses provided
various services to the poor (Hull House) b. Pushed for new laws to
fix social probs 1) Problem: In 1900 ~ 2m kids under 16 worked
outside the home. Solution: National Child Labor Committee - goal
to end child labor - some states establish minimum work age/ max
work hrs - compulsory ed. Laws
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2) Problem: Many adult workers labored in difficult and
dangerous conditions. Solution: creation of health & safety
codes: building codes, workers compensation laws, zoning laws -
made work environment safer for workers zoning laws and building
codes regulate how land and buildings can be used - separate biz
from residential Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire film Labor
conditions
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Triangle Shirtwaist Company
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3) Problem: alcohol responsible for many problems: loss of
productivity in the workplace, spousal & child abuse Solution:
temperance movement - moderation or elimination of alcohol. In 1874
the Womens Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) ; Anti- Saloon League
temperance movement worked to reduce alcohol consumption 1st, but
later pushed for prohibition laws banning the manufacture, sale,
& consumption of alcohol (18 th amendment) Temperance Mvmt
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WCTU
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4. Big Biz Progressives- goal to regulate/reform Big Biz -
Pushed for new laws to regulate biz Problem: wealth in the hands of
too few monopolies/trusts/holding companies too powerful too much
political pwr Solution: a. ICC strengthened b. Consumer laws passed
c. FTC set up to regulate biz d. Sherman Anti-trust Act e. biz
licensing f. regulate public utilities (so they set fair
rates)
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II. Theodore Roosevelt (R) (1901-1908) #26 A.Introduction 1.
age 42 Youngest US President 2. Social Darwinist = intl affairs;
Progressive in domestic affairs believed govt should balance needs
of competing grps a. Square Deal = promise of fair & equal
treatment for all b. Adopt reforms to maintain an efficient society
that could compete successfully against other nations The Square
Deal Teddy Roosevelt
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B. Roosevelts Reforms 1. Trusts Necessary & Efficient, but
some hurting public interest should be supervised, not destroyed
ex. Northern Securities Case: TR used Sherman Anti-trust Act to
attack a RR monopoly. Supreme Ct orders company dissolved TR earns
reputation as a trustbuster! 2. Establishes Govt as broker btwn
grps in society ex. Coal Strike of 1902 prices climbing, impending
shortage. TR believes this an ex. of pursuit of pvt interest at
expense of nation. Orders arbitration. Owners refuse. TR threatens
to send in army to run mines mine owners accept arbitration
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TR the Trustbuster
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3. Bureau of Corporations new fed. Agency to investigate corps
& publicize results a. goal to keep big biz from abusing pwr
thru knowledge & facts b. TR exercised ability to regulate big
biz w/o sacrificing the efficiency of trusts - B of C investigation
of US Steel: possible anti-trust law suit. USS offered to open acct
books in exchange, govt would allow USS to correct probs privately
w/o going to court 4. Acts of Congress a. Expedition Act anti-trust
suits given precedent in court dockets b. Hepburn Act gave ICC pwr
to set RR rates, inspect books
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C. Social Welfare Action 1. Issues? a. Patent Medicine Biz -
variety of potions passed off as cure- alls etc. - many = just
household mixtures. others = dangerous compounds b. Food/Meat -
Upton Sinclairs The Jungle exposed appalling conditions in
meatpacking industry The Jungle
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Magic Potions!
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2. Solutions? a. Pure Food & Drug Act (1906) prohibited
manuf./sale/ship. Of impure or falsely labeled food, drugs,
liquors, medicines required contents on labels b. Meat Inspection
Act (1906) gave govt pwr to inspect meat packing plants: checked
meat & set standards for cleanliness etc. Meat Reform
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D. Conservation (TRs most enduring legacy) 1. Issues? a. US
resources being used up at alarming rate - lumber co.s cutting, not
replanting - oil co. let oil/nat. gas gush out unused b.
Mismanagement of resources - ranchers overgrazing - mining co.s
gouging huge holes in earth
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2. TR supports conservation a. Land development in West -
Newlands Reclamations Act: sale of western lands used for
irrigation projects build dams b. Gifford Pinchot 1) US Forest
Service (Pinchot in charge) 2) believed trained experts in forestry
& resource mgmt should apply scientific mgmt to conserve
forests 3) rejected laissez-faire philosophy of leaving
preservation up to lumber cos. (lumber cos would conserve to ensure
future profits)
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E. TRs Legacy 1. Americans look to the fed. Govt to solve
nations economic & social problems 2. Executive Branch grew in
power - ICC sets rates - Ag Dept inspects food - Bureau of Corps
monitors biz - antitrust suits etc
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III. William Howard Taft (R) (1909-1913) #27 A.Introduction 1.
picked by TR as his successor (was TRs Sec. of War) defeats William
Jennings Bryan (D) in 1908 election (WJB lost for 3 rd time ) 2.
Taft hated politics wanted law career a. Very diff from TR: agreed
to become Pres b/c his wife and TR wanted him to. b. Had many
progressive ideas, but conflict w/ progressives over his
personality & approach to politics
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B. Taft lost credibility w/ progressives over 3 issues: 1.
Tariffs a. Taft believed tariffs should be reduced as US biz no
longer needed special protection; believed lower tariffs would
bring lower prices to consumers; drop in revenue from tariffs could
be made up w/ taxes b. Bill to lower introduced but in Senate, head
of Senate committee, supporter of high tariffs, rewrote it (The
Payne-Aldrich Tariff) - didnt reduce tariffs much & raised
tariffs on some goods!
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1) Taft trapped! If he vetoed it, he would upset conservative
Republicans, if he signed it, he would anger progressives 2) Signed
it & said it was the best tariff bill ever! 2. The House Revolt
a. Joseph Cannon was Speaker of the House - anti-progressive -
controlled committee assignments, order of biz, etc
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b. Progressives in Congress decided he must be removed, from
rules committee at least - Progs asked for Tafts support in this
issue he refused 3. Conservation a. Taft gets caught up in spat
btwn Sec of Interior Richard Ballinger & Chief Forester Pinchot
over leasing public land in Alaska to pvt developers b. Taft
supports Ballinger. Pinchot goes to Europe to tell TR that his
buddy was selling progressivism down the river
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C. Tafts Progressive Reforms Taft WAS a Progressive!! 1.
Childrens Bureau investigated/publicized child labor problems 2.
Mann-Elkins Act (1910) gave ICC power over telegraph, telephone,
(wireless) 3. Conservation a. Bureau of Mines oversees mining
activity b. Forest Reserve Act expanded Natl Forests c. Protected
waterpower sites from pvt development
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4. 90 Anti-trust suits (2x as many as TR) a. TR critical: said
breaking up trusts was destroying his system of cooperation &
regulation btwn govt/biz b. TR advocated allowing trusts to exist,
while increasing govts ability to regulate them c. TR breaks w/
Taft decides to reenter politics, run for Pres in 1912
election
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IV. Woodrow Wilson (D) (1913-1921) #28 A.Election of 1912 1.
Taft/TR competing for Repub candicacy a. Conservatives = Taft b.
Progressive = TR 2. Taft has more support (TR scares them when he
declares fed govt to be steward over publics welfare) 3. TR leave
Rep Party forms Progressive Party aka The Bull Moose Party - New
Nationalism more powerful natl govt & strong exec branch to
regulate biz/trusts
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4. Woodrow Wilson = Democrat, New Freedom a. Progressive Dem
from NJ 1) revamped election laws 2) utility regulation 3) cities
changed to commissioner form in NJ b. Monopolies should be
destroyed, not regulated - freedom more important than
efficiency
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5. Woodrow Wilson elected - TR & Taft split Republican
Vote, so Democrat wins easily!
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B. Wilson on the Economy 1. Tariffs a. Wilson personally
appeared before Congress to address need to reduce tariffs b.
Believed pressure of foreign competition would lead US
manufacturers to improve their products & lower prices -
constant necessity to be efficient, economic &
enterprising
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c. Underwood Tariff (1913) 1) reduced tariffs to about 30% of
value of goods. 1890 rate 2) provision for income tax direct tax on
earnings of individuals & groups 2. Banking Reform a. To
restore public confidence in banking system
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b. Federal Reserve System/Act (1913) 1) 12 Regional bankers
banks - bankers kept portion of their deposits in these to cushion
against unanticipated losses 2) Board of Govs appointed by Pres. -
had pwr to raise/lower interest rates thus had abililty to fight
inflation by raising interest rates & stimulate economy during
recession by lowering interest rates
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3. Anti-trust Action a. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) -
investigates unfair biz practices (that hurt competition), cease
& desist orders b. Clayton Anti-Trust Act - banned tying
agreements, price discrimination, volume discounts - exempted labor
from anti-trust laws
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C. Federal Aid & Social Welfare 1. Child Labor -
Keating-Owen Act: prohibited employment of children under 14 in
factories producing goods for interstate commerce (court ruled
against this) 2. Adamson Act - 8 hr workday for RR workers 3.
Federal Farm Loan Act - 12 member banks provide farmers w/
long-term, low-interest loans
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D. Legacy of Progressives 1. more efficient city govt 2. more
democratic state govt 3. increased biz regulation 4. improved
working conditions 5. new amendments to constitution 6. role of
govt to fix social & economic problems increased
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E. Limits to Progressivism: US still very racist 1. Niagara
Mvmt (1905) 2. NAACP (1910) 3. WEB DuBois vote essential to bring
about an end to racial discrimination