the progressive era

when

1890s - 1920s

what

• era of intense social + political reform

goals of the progressives

• expose corruption in govt.

• protect rights + freedoms of the middle + lower class

• improve workers rights

• solve issues caused by overcrowded cities

immigrants introductory stats

• 20M from europe 1870-1920

• many Mexicans + Japanese moved West

• 1/7 of US population foreign born

• all moved for perceived political freedom + prosperity

immigrant experience

• inequalities of Gilded Age continued for immigrants

• faced long working hours, low pay + harsh conditions

• nativism movement ensured native born americans got better treatment

• Chinese Exclusion Act 1883

• Triangle Shirtwaist Fire

• Sterilisation Laws

chinese exclusion act 1883

• prohibited immigration of chinese labourers

• prevented chinese immigrants from becoming citizens

triangle shirtwaist fire

• 1911

• fire broke out in Triangle Shirtwaist Factory NYC

• mainly employed jewish + italian immigrants

• killed 147

sterilisation laws

• prevented > 60 000 men + women form having children

• on basis they would be genetically inferior

african americans

• racial discrim + segregation still widely accepted until 50s

• intimidation in south prevented them from voting

• believed inferior due to social darwinism

• faced lynching threats

• black codes + jim crow laws

black codes + jim crow laws

• passed following civil war 1861 - 65

• prevalent in the south

• aimed to control labour + behaviour and maintain white supremacy in the south

• enforced segregation

• introduced literacy + property qualifications to vote

women

• gained some rights

  • by 1900 every state had passed legislation allowing women right to own property, control earnings, have custody of their children

• significant increase of women in workforce

• BUT 60% of women in wf worked as domestic servants

urban workers pre reform

• 1.7M/20M were child workers

• no form of compensation if injured until 1910

• estimated 35 000 killed per year between 1880 and 1900

• no pension plans/social security until GD

• up to 60 hour work weeks

the jungle

• book

• upton sinclair

• 1904

• told story of unsanitary conditions in meat packing factories in Chicago

• rat faeces and rats themselves would get into machines and end up in food

teddy roosevelt

• dynamic leader

• envisioned himself as a mediator between workers and business owners

• confronted economic problems + pushed for more federal intervention in economy

• 26th president 1901- 09

• disliked by many other republicans due to his interventionist policies

the square deal

• domestic program with 3 goals

  • control of corporations

  • consumer protection

  • conservation

• aimed at helping middle class citizens

economy pre-new deal

• laissez faire capitalism enabled large corporations to monopolise market

• nicknamed “Robber Barrons” by journalist Matthew Josephson

• J.D Rockefeller’s Standard Oil Company controlled 85% of all oil production

• J.P Morgan’s Northern Securities railroad company controlled 1/6th of railroads

control of corporations

• created Department of Commerce and Labour 1903 to investigate trusts

• used Sherman Anti-Trust Act of 1890

• dismantled large trusts such as Northern Securities in 1904

• nicknamed “trustbuster”

• used his own moral judgement to decide “good trusts” from the “bad trusts” - “we draw the line against misconduct, not against wealth”

  • allowed US Steel Corporation (JPM) to continue running

• shortened wealth disparity + allowed for more small businesses

consumer protection

• Pure Food and Drug Act 1906

  • all food items + ingredients to be correctly labelled

• Meat Inspection Act 1906

  • all meat produce to be manufactured + prepared in sanitary conditions

• came after reports of unsanitary conditions from The Jungle

conservation

• created national parks

• Yosemite National Park in 1903

• 230M acres set aside for public enjoyment

william taft

• 27th president

• 1909 - 1913

• selected by Roosevelt as his predecessor

• continued roosevelt’s trust-busting legacy, initiated 80 anti-trust suits

• ratified 16th amendment 1913 - imposed federal income tax on nation

• thought roosevelt overused presidential authority and respected right of congress to oppose his ideas

1912 election

• taft selected as republican candidate for election

• roosevelt left republicans to form new party "‘The Progressives/Bull Moose Party” after TR’s aggressive approach to parliament

• roosevelt unsatisfied with taft’s carrying out of his policies

• split republican vote led to Wilson easily taking out win with 435 electoral votes

woodrow wilson

• 28th president

• 1913-21

• progressive democrat

• worked closely with congress, first president to have phone link with HoR

• adamson act 1916

• 19th Amendment 1920

• volstead act

adamson act

• 1916

• introduced 8 hour work days for all railroad workers

19th amendment

• 1920

• barred states from using gender as qualification to vote

volstead act

• 1920

• under 20th amendment

• prohibited alcohol production

• believed would stop DV