Chapter 28 Progressivism and the Republican Roosevelt 1901–1912

What were the reform movements like in the early 20th century?

Americnas were convulsed by a reform movement, the likes of which the nation had not seen since the 1840s

Who were the new reformers?

progressives

What evils did progressives fight?

monopoly, corruption, inefficiency, and social injustice

What goal did all the progressive movements share?

Strengthen the State. (expanding and strengthening the power of the federal government to address social and economic issues)

What caused the reform movements by the progressives?

The reform movement had early beginnings—in the Greenback Labor party of the 1870s and the Populists of the 1890s, and in growing public anger as greedy industrialists gathered more power in fewer hands. The old belief in hands-off individualism seemed outdated in the modern machine age. Social and economic problems were now too complex for the intentionally weak government systems created by Jefferson. Progressive thinkers insisted society could no longer afford a complete "let-alone" (laissez-faire) policy. The people, through government, must take control.

What were identified as targets for progressive reform well before 1900?

the trusts, the Standard Oil Comapny, and the new rich

What did Danish immigrant Jacob A. Riis do and what were the effects?

Danish immigrant Jacob A. Riis, a New York Sun reporter, shocked middle-class Americans in 1890 with How the Other Half Lives. His book exposed the dirt, disease, vice, and misery of New York slums. The book greatly influenced Theodore Roosevelt, a future New York City police commissioner.

What were critics of social injustice like?l

They came from varoius backgrounds. Socialists, many influenced by European ideas, gained political traction. Religious leaders preaching the social gospel used Christian teachings to advocate for better housing and living conditions for the urban poor. Economists introduced reform ideas inspired by European policies. Feminists expanded their focus beyond voting rights to include broader social justice issues.

What did Jane Addams and Lillian Wald do?

They wre union pioneers that fought to improve life for families living and working in troubled cities.

Who are the muckrakers?

Around 1902, exposing ocrruption and scandal became an industry for American publishers. Poplar low-cost magazines (like McClure’s, Cosmopolita, Collier’s, and Everybody’s) competed for readers by uncovering sensational stories.Editors funded in-depth investigations and encouraged bold, aggressive writing by their reporters. In 1906, President Roosevelt, annoyed by their relentless focus on wrongdoing, called these writers "muckrakers," comparing them to a character in Pilgrim's Progress who was so busy raking filth that he ignored the heavenly crown above. Despite Roosevelt's criticism, the muckrakers gained huge audiences.(basically reformer-writers)

Who is Lincoln Steffens and what did he do?

He was a NY reporter and muckraker who started a series in McClure’s called “The Shame of the Cities.” He exposed corrupt connections between big business and city governments.

Who was Ida M. Tarbell?

She was a pioneering journalist/muckraker that was part of McClure. She published an expose of the STandard Oil Company (He dad had been ruined by oil.)

What did muckrakers attack?

They exposed poltiical corruption, corporate greed, social issues, and public health risks.

What did the muckrakers revea labout the progressive reform movement?

They complained loudly but stopped short of calling for revolutoin. To fix social wrongs, they relied on publicity and public outrage, not dramatic political change. They wanted to clean capitalism, not overthrow it. They believed that more democracy was the cure for the problems of American democracy.

Why did progressives try to modernize Ameircan institutions?

Despite their differences, progressives shared two main goals: using government to limit the power of big businesses (monopolies) and improving the living and working conditions of ordinary people. Progressives could be found in both political parties (ex: Theodore Roosevelt was a progressive), in all regions of the country, and at every level of government. Rather than being a small, focused movement, progressivism was more of a widespread mindset shared by many Americans who wanted to modernize and improve society.

What were some primary goals of the progressives?

One goal was to return power to the people from the “interests” (ex: big businesses and political bosses). They supported direct primary elections to reduce the influence of party bosses. They favored the initiative so voters could directly propose legislation, bypassing state legislatures that business agents had bought. Additionally, they pushed for the referendum: it puts laws on the ballot for final public approval. The recall would also let voters remove elected officials.

Another was eliminating corruption. To do so, they needed to limit the amount of money candidates could spend on their election and restrict large donations from corporations. The secret Australian ballot was also being introduced more widely in states to counter boss rule.

What led to the Seventeenth Amendment?

Progressives pushed for a constitutional amendment to allow voters to elect senators directly. While the Senate resisted, many states began holding primary elections where voters could express their preferences for senators. Local legislatures, feeling public pressure, started following the people’s choices. These efforts led to the Seventeenth Amendment in 1913, which established the direct election of senators. (however, the expected improvement in teh quality of senators was slow to materialize)

How did progressives in the early 1900s view women’s voting rights?

Progressives supported the idea as they believed women’s votes weould improve politics, while anti-alcohol activists hoped women would support temperance laws.

Who was Robert M. La Follette and what did he do?

He was the progressive governor of Wisconsin. He became the most militant progressive leader. After a fight against the lumber and railroad “interests”, he became governor in 1901. He then took control from corrupt corporations and returned it to the people. HE also developed a system for regulating public utilities.

What was the settlement house movemetn?

The settlement house movement gave women an important way to be active in public life at a time when they couldn't vote or hold political office. Settlement houses showed middle-class women the problems in America's cities - poverty, corruption, and terrible working and living conditions. These experiences gave them skills and confidence to fight these problems.

What issues drew women activists?

They were often drawn to moral and "maternal" issues like keeping children out of factories and sweatshops, etc.

What groups did female actvists work through?

Women's Trade Union League (1903), as well as through two new federal agencies, the Children's Bureau (1912) and the Women's Bureau (1920), both in the Department of Labor. These small positions in the federal government gave female reformers a national platform for research and advocacy.

Who was Florence Kelley and what ddi she do?

Florence Kelley, who had lived at Jane Addams's Hull House, became Illinois's first chief factory inspector and a leading advocate for better factory conditions. In 1899 Kelley took over the new National Consumers League, which organized female consumers to push for laws protecting women and children in workplaces.

What happened in the case of Muller v. Oregon (1908)?

lawyer Louis D. Brandeis convinced the Supreme Court that laws protecting women workers were constitutional by showing evidence of how factory work harmed women's supposedly weaker bodies. Though this argument for special protection for women later seemed discriminatory and kept many "male" jobs closed to women, progressives at the time saw Brandeis's work as a victory over existing legal ideas that gave employers total control over workplaces.

What was the American welfare system that grew from female activism like?

It focused more on protecting women and children than on giving benefits to everyone

What did the Supreme Court do in 1917?

Court upheld a ten-hour law for factory workers.

What happened at the Triangle Shirtwaist Comapny in 1911?

The fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Company in NYC showed that factory laws were useless if they weren’t enforced. Locked doors and other fire code violations turned the factory into a death trap. One hundred forty-six workers, mostly young immigrant women, died by burning or jumping from eighth and ninth-floor windows. Public outrage, including a massive strike by women garment workers, pushed the New York legislature to pass much stronger laws regulating hours and conditions in sweatshops.

Why did saloons become a target for progressivs?

Local saloons became a major target for progressives due to their ties to social problems. Alcohol was linked to prostitution in red-light districts, drunken voters, corrupt city officials influenced by liquor interests, and dishonest political bosses who manipulated elections.

What was the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU)?

It was an organization that fought against alcohol and was led by Frances E. Willard. She turned the WCTU into the largest women’s group globally. They allied with the Anti-Saloon League.

What are “dry” laws?

Laws that were passed by some states that controlled, restricted, or banned alcohol.

Which areas were “wet” and which were “dry”?

While big cities, often home to immigrants who enjoyed wine and beer, remained "wet," nearly half the U.S. population lived in "dry" areas by the start of World War I in 1914. About three-fourths of the country’s land area had outlawed saloons

What were the effects of this anti-alcohol sentiment?

This growing anti-alcohol sentiment eventually led to the nationwide ban on alcohol with the Eighteenth Amendment in 1919, marking the start of Prohibition.

What is Theodore Roosevelt’s Square Deal?

As a progressive, he demanded a "Square Deal" for business, labor, and the public. Broadly speaking, his program included three C's: control of corporations, consumer protection, and conservation of natural resources.

What happenend in Pennsylvania in 1902?

A strike broke out in Pennsylvania’s coal mines. Dirty and often uneducated immigrant workers had long been exploited and suffered many accidents. They demanded a pay raise and a shorter workday - nine hours instead of ten. Unsympathetic mine owners, confident the public would turn against cold miners, refused to negotiate.

What were the effects of the Pennsylvania coal mine strike?

As coal supplies ran out, factories and schools closed, and even hospitals felt winter's cold.

What did Preisdent Roosevelt do to reach a solution to the Pennsylvania coal mine strike?

President Roosevelt summoned both the striking miners and the mine owners to the White House. To break the deadlock, Roosevelt threatened to take over the mines with federal troops—a first-time warning to use the military against business, not workers. The owners, under pressure, agreed to arbitration. The resulting compromise gave miners a pay raise and a nine-hour workday, but their union was not officially recognized.

Why was the Department of Commerce and Labor created?

Aware of growing tensions between business and labor, Roosevelt urged Congress to create the new Department of Commerce and Labor, achieved in 1903 (split into two departments ten years later). An important part of the new cabinet department was the Bureau of Corporations, authorized to investigate businesses engaged in interstate commerce. The bureau helped break monopolies and cleared the way for "trust-busting."

Was the INterstate Commerce Commision (1887) effecitve to controlling the railroad industry?

No—railroad owners could simply appeal the commission's decisions on rates to federal courts.

What did Roosevelt push Congress to do in regards to the railroad industry?

Congress passed laws to regulate railroads and stop unfair practices. The Elkins Act of 1903 focused on ending rebates—secret discounts for certain shippers—by fining both railroads and shippers who used them. The Hepburn Act of 1906 went further, limiting free train passes (which were often used as bribes) and giving more power to the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC). The ICC could now regulate not just railroads but also express companies, sleeping-car companies, and pipelines. For the first time, the ICC could set maximum rates and cancel unfair rates if shippers complained, giving the government stronger control over railroad practices.

How did Roosevlet use his antitrust power on teh railroads?

Railroads gave Roosevelt a chance to flex his antitrust power. During the progressive era, trusts—large industrial monopolies—were a hot topic. Roosevelt believed trusts were here to stay and that some were "good" (operating responsibly) while others were "bad" (driven by greed). He aimed to address public anger toward trusts without destroying all big businesses, which he saw as essential for efficiency and progress. His goal was to regulate and reform, not dismantle, the system.

What did Roosevelt do to the Northern SEcurities CompanY?

In 1902, he targeted the Northern Securities Company, a railroad holding company created by financial giants J.P. Morgan and James J. Hill. The company aimed to monopolize railroads in the Northwest. Roosevelt’s bold move challenged the most powerful figures in the industrial world. The case went to the Supreme Court, which in 1904 ruled in Roosevelt’s favor, ordering the company to be dissolved. This decision stunned Wall Street, angered big business, and cemented Roosevelt’s reputation as a fearless trustbuster.

What did the Supreme Corut do in 1905?

in 1905, the Supreme Court ruled against the beef trust, declaring it an illegal monopoly. This decision was part of a broader effort to break up monopolies that controlled essential industries like sugar, fertilizer, and harvesters (farm equipment). These monopolies were seen as harmful because they stifled competition, raised prices, and exploited consumers. The Court’s actions were part of the progressive push to regulate big business and ensure fair competition in the economy.

What was Roosevelt’s real purpose in attacking industry gians?

It was to prove that the govenrmetn, not private business, ruled the country. He believed in regulating, not breaking up, big business combines. The threat of dissolution, he felt, might make business leaders more willing to accept federal regulation - as it did.

What happened in the case of1907?

Roosevelt personally approved J.P. Morgan's plan for U.S. Steel to absorb the Tennessee Coal and Iron Company without fear of antitrust lawsuits. When Taft (Roosevelt’s successor) later sued U.S. Steel in 1911, Roosevelt was furious. This clash highlighted Roosevelt’s belief in regulating, not breaking up, large corporations and marked a turning point in their political relationship.

What two laws did Roosevelt support in 1906 that benefited both corporatiosn and consuemrs?

The first was the Meat Inspection Act, prompted by public outrage over unsanitary conditions in meatpacking plants, exposed by Upton Sinclair’s novel The Jungle. Roosevelt, disgusted by the findings of his investigative commission, pushed Congress to pass the act, which mandated federal inspection of meat from slaughter to packaging. While large meatpackers resisted some aspects, they ultimately accepted it as it helped them eliminate smaller competitors and regain access to European markets.

The second law was the Pure Food and Drug Act, also passed in 1906. It aimed to stop the adulteration (adding harmful substances) and mislabeling of foods and medicines, protecting consumers from unsafe products. Together, these laws marked a significant step in government regulation to ensure public health and safety.

What was the book The Jungle by Upton Sinclair about?

Sinclair aimed to highlight workers’ struggles but instead horrified readers with graphic descriptions of filthy, disease-ridden slaughterhouses.

How did Americans pollute the land?

(They thought their natural resources would never run out.) Western ranches and timer companies rushed to develop the country, regardless of environmental damage.

What was the first weak step toward conservation?

A first weak step toward conservation was made with the Desert Land Act of 1877, under which the federal government sold dry land cheaply if the buyer watered the soil within three years.

What did the Forest Reserve ACt of 1891 do ?

It allowed the pres. to set aside public forests as national parks and reserves. Under this law acres of trees were saved.

What did the Carey ACt of 1894 do?

It gave federal land to states if it was watered and settled.

What did Roosevelt do in regards to conservatoin?

Roosevelt ushered in a new era of conservation, driven by his love for nature and concern over the rapid destruction of forests and resources.

Who was Glifford Pinchot?

He was head of the Dviison of Foretsry and had made consrevation efforts before Roosevelt.

What was the Newlands ACt of 1902?

Pressured by Congress, they passed this law, which funded irrigation projects in the arid West by using money from public land sales. This led to the construction of dams, including the Roosevelt Dam in Arizona, transforming dry lands into productive farmland.

What were Roosevelt’s efforts at preserving forests like?

Roosevelt set aside 125 million acres of federal forest reserves, nearly triple the amount protected by his predecessors. He also safeguarded millions of acres of coal deposits and water resources for irrigation and power.

What was oen of Roosevelt’s most enduring achievemetns?

conservation, particularly water managemetn.

What was the nations view on Roosevelt’s efforts at conservation?

His efforts were supported by a growing national concern over the disappearance of the frontier, seen as the source of American values like individualism and democracy.

What helped urban Americans embrace nature?

books like Jack London’s Call of the Wild (1903) and organizations like the Boy Scouts of America.

What was the National Audubon Society?

Middle-class women’s clubs found this society to protect wild birds from being turned into hates.

What is the Sierra Club/

The Sierra Club, established in 1892, focused on preserving the wild landscapes of the West.

What setbakc did conservationists face?

conservationists faced a major setback in 1913 when the federal government allowed San Francisco to build a dam in the Hetch Hetchy Valley within Yosemite National Park for its water supply. This sparked a deep divide between preservationists, like John Muir, who saw Hetch Hetchy as a sacred natural temple, and conservationists, like Gifford Pinchot, who believed in using resources wisely.

What’s the difference between preservatonists and conservationists?

While both preservationists and conservationists aim to protect the environment, the key difference lies in their approach: conservationists advocate for the sustainable use of natural resources, while preservationists prioritize protecting nature from all human impact and development.

What did Pinchot and Roosevelt advocate for?

Pinchot and Roosevelt advocated for "multiple-use resource management," balancing recreation, sustainable logging, water protection, and grazing on federal lands. This approach aimed to fight both greedy exploitation and overly sentimental preservation, shaping modern conservation policy.

Who won the election of 1904?

Roosevelt won the 1904 election easily, backed by his immense popularity—symbolized by the cuddly "teddy bear," named after him,

Hwo did conservative Republican leaders view Rooesvelt?

conservative Republican leaders saw him as unpredictable and dangerous, especially as he called for stricter corporate regulation, income taxes, and worker protections during his second term. Roosevelt also weakened his own position by announcing he wouldn’t run for a third term in 1904, a tactical mistake that reduced his influence as people knew his time in office was limited.

What setbakc did Roosevelt face in 1907?

There was a brief but severe financial panic that struck Wall Street. Critics balemd Roosevelt and labeled the crisis the “Roosevelt panic.”

What were the effects of "the Roosevelt panic?

the panic led to important financial reforms. It exposed the need for a more flexible money supply, as banks couldn’t increase circulation during the crisis, and those with reserves were reluctant to lend. In response, Congress passed the Aldrich-Vreeland Act in 1908, allowing national banks to issue emergency currency backed by collateral. (This set the stage for the landmark Federal Reserve Act of 1913, which created a more stable and responsive banking system.)

Why didn’t Roosevelt run for antoher term in 1908?

In 1908, Roosevelt, still highly popular, could have easily won another term but chose to honor his post-1904 promise not to run again.

Who did Roosevelt choose as his successor?

he handpicked his successor, William Howard Taft, his secretary of war and a mild progressive, to continue his policies. Roosevelt used his influence to secure Taft’s nomination.

What was the 1908 campaign like?

Taft (rep.) and William jennigns Bryan (dem.) both claiemd to represent progressive ideals. IN the end Taft won.

Who was the other candidate in teh 1908 campaign?

The socialist Eugene V. Debs.

Where did Roosevelt’s true legacy lie in?

Roosevelt’s true legacy lies in his role as a mediator who began to regulate the excesses of capitalism, ensuring its long-term survival

What were the lasting impacts of Roosevetl’s presidentcy?

Strengthening the Presidency: He expanded the power and prestige of the office, using publicity as a political tool to rally public support.

Shaping Progressivism: His Square Deal reforms laid the groundwork for later liberal movements, including Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal.

Global Awareness: Roosevelt made Americans realize their role as a global power with international responsibilities and ambitions.

What chlalenges did taft face as presidetn?

he struggled to live up to Roosevelt’s progressive legacy.

What critical weaknesses did Taft have?

Unlike Roosevelt, who led with charisma and energy, Taft lacked the skills of a dynamic leader and avoided controversy, often taking a passive approach to Congress. He was a poor judge of public opinion and, despite his honesty, frequently said the wrong thing. While a mild progressive, Taft was more committed to maintaining the status quo than driving change

What foreign policy did Taft promote?

In foreign policy, Taft promoted dollar diplomacy, using American investments to advance U.S. political interests abroad. He encouraged Wall Street bankers to invest in strategic regions, like the Far East and areas near the Panama Canal, to outcompete rivals like Germany. This approach aimed to strengthen U.S. defenses and policies while boosting prosperity at home—and profits for bankers.

What is dollar diplomacy?

a foreign policy strategy where a country, like the United States, uses its economic power, such as loans and investments, to influence other nations, rather than relying on military force

What did Taft try to do in China’s Manchuria?

he attempted to use dollar diplomacy to counter Japanese and Russian control of railroads, aiming to protect the Open Door Policy. However, his Secretary of State, Philander C. Knox, proposed a clumsy plan to buy the railroads and transfer them to China, which Japan and Russia rejected, leaving Taft ridiculed.

How did dollar diplomacy fare in the Caribbean?

In the Caribbean, Taft continued dollar diplomacy, urging U.S. bankers to invest in unstable countries like Honduras and Haiti to prevent foreign intervention. However, frequent revolutions led to repeated U.S. military interventions, including a 13-year occupation of Nicaragua starting in 1912.

What was Taft like domestically/

Taft surprisingly outpaced Roosevelt as a trustbuster, filing 90 antitrust suits compared to Roosevelt’s 44. His most notable achievement came in 1911 when the Supreme Court ordered the breakup of Standard Oil for violating the Sherman Antitrust Act. However, the Court’s "rule of reason"—that only "unreasonable" trade restraints were illegal—weakened antitrust efforts by creating loopholes for big business.

What caused a rift between Taft and Roosevelt?

In 1911, Taft’s decision to file an antitrust suit against U.S. Steel infuriated Roosevelt, who had approved one of the mergers in question.

What did the Payne-Aldrich TAriff of 1909 do?

It raised many tariffs. (this is contrary to what Taft had promised during his campaign)

What conservaiotn efforts did Taft make?

He created the Bureau of Mines, but these were overshadowed by the Ballinger-Pinchot controversy.

What overshadowed Taft’s contributions to conservaoitn?

Taft fired Gifford Pinchot, a Roosevelt ally and conservation leader, for criticizing Secretary of the Interior Richard Ballinger, sparking outrage and widening the gap between Taft and Roosevelt.

What was the Republican party like by 1910?

By 1910, the Republican Party was deeply divided. Roosevelt’s return and his "New Nationalism" speech calling for stronger government intervention in the economy further fueled the split. In the 1910 midterm elections, Republicans suffered heavy losses, with Democrats gaining control of the House and Socialists winning a seat.

What was the National Progressive League?

It formed in 1911 with Senator Robert La Follette of Wisconsin as its leading candidate for the Republican presidential nomination.

What is the Old Guard?

a group of conservative Republicans who dominated the Republican Party during the 1920s, advocating for policies that favored business interests and limited government intervention

Why did Roosevelt choose to run for a third term?

Roosevelt watched Taft align with the conservative Old Guard and abandon progressive policies.

What happened at the Republcian National Convetion in June 1912?

The convention, controlled by Taft’s allies, ruled in favor of Taft, leading Roosevelt’s supporters to beleive it was fraudulent. Refusing to vote, they allowed Taft to win the nomination.

What did Roosevelt do after not becoming the Republican presdential candidate?

Refusing to accept defeat, Roosevelt decided to launch a third-party campaign.