The Progressives 7.4

Goals of the Progressive Movement

• Fix problems caused by industrialization and urban growth

• End corruption in politics

• Regulate big business

• Improve worker and consumer protections

• Expand democracy

• Improve living conditions in cities

Who Were the Progressives?

• Middle-class, educated, urban Americans

• Journalists, teachers, ministers, politicians, social workers

• Mostly white, native-born Protestants

Progressives compared to Populists

Populists:

• Rural farmers

• Poorer, less educated

• Seen as radical

Progressives:

• Urban, middle class

• Educated professionals

• Worked within political system

Concerns of Middle Class

• Political corruption

• Unsafe working conditions

• Child labor

• Poverty in cities

• Slums and disease

• Monopolies controlling economy

• Unsafe food and medicine

Pragmatism (John Dewey)

• Focus on practical solutions

• Society can improve through education and reform

• Learning through experience

Scientific Management (Frederick W. Taylor)

• Use science to make work more efficient

• Increase productivity

• Often ignored worker comfort

Muckrakers

Journalists who exposed corruption and social problems.

Muckrakers Economic Issues

• Monopolies

• Political corruption

• Poor working conditions

Famous Muckrakers

• Lincoln Steffens – city corruption

• Ida Tarbell – Standard Oil monopoly

• Jacob Riis – slums (How the Other Half Lives)

• Upton Sinclair – meatpacking (The Jungle)

Political Reforms

• Secret ballot

• Direct primary elections

• Direct election of senators (17th Amendment)

• Initiative, referendum, recall

Municipal (City) Reforms

Public Utilities:

• Cities regulated water, electricity, transportation

City Government:

• Commission plan

• Manager-council plan (professional city manager)

Wisconsin Idea

• Government works with experts and universities

• Regulation of business

• Public interest over corporate power

Temperance & Prohibition

Carrie Nation & others believed alcohol caused:

• Crime

• Poverty

• Domestic abuse

• Family breakdown

Social Justice Reformers

Jane Addams & Florence Kelley:

• Help immigrants and poor families

• Improve housing

• Protect women and children workers

Child Labor Reforms

• National Child Labor Committee pushed laws

• Laws limited child labor and required schooling

Labor Court Cases

Lochner v. New York:

• Court struck down work-hour limits

Muller v. Oregon:

• Allowed limits on women’s work hours

Workplace Safety

Triangle Shirtwaist Fire (1911):

• Factory fire killed many workers

• Led to safety laws

Theodore Roosevelt — Square Deal

Government acts as referee between labor & business.

Actions:

• Trust-busting

• Mediated coal strike

• Railroad regulation laws

• Food safety laws

• Conservation programs

Sherman Antitrust Act Changes

Roosevelt actively enforced it to break monopolies.

ICC Strengthened

• Hepburn Act increased railroad regulation power.

Impact of The Jungle

Led to:

• Pure Food and Drug Act

• Meat Inspection Act

Conservation

Roosevelt:

• Created national parks and forests

• Managed resources wisely

Naturalists:

• Wanted land completely preserved

Taft vs Roosevelt

Trusts:

• Taft sued more trusts

Railroads:

• Mann-Elkins Act regulation

Income Tax:

• Supported 16th Amendment

Conservation:

• Fired Pinchot, angering progressives

Tariff:

• Supported Payne-Aldrich Tariff (high tariffs)

Eugene V. Debs & Socialists

• Wanted government ownership of industries

• Supported workers’ rights more strongly

Election of 1912 Problem

Republicans split between Taft and Roosevelt → Wilson wins.

Election of 1912 Candidates

Wilson — Democrat (winner)

Roosevelt — Progressive/Bull Moose

Taft — Republican

Debs — Socialist

Wilson’s New Freedom

Focused on breaking monopolies and restoring competition.

Government Funding Changes

Underwood Tariff lowered tariffs.

Income tax replaced lost revenue.

Banking Reform

Federal Reserve Act created central banking system to stabilize economy.

Government & Economy Changes

FTC:

• Regulates unfair business practices

Clayton Antitrust Act:

• Strengthened antitrust laws

• Protected labor unions

Federal Farm Loan Act:

• Loans for farmers

Child Labor Act:

• Restricted child labor

Plessy v. Ferguson Impact

Allowed segregation (“separate but equal”)

Progressive Failure

• Did not effectively address racial discrimination.

Approaches to Racial Discrimination

Booker T. Washington:

• Focus on job training and gradual progress

W.E.B. Du Bois:

• Demand immediate equality and civil rights

NAACP & National Urban League

• Fight discrimination

• Support African American rights and economic opportunities

Women’s Suffrage Leaders

• NAWSA leaders

• Alice Paul

• National Woman’s Party

New Suffrage Advocates

• Used protests and more aggressive tactics.

19th Amendment

• Women gained the right to vote (1920).

Margaret Sanger

• Promoted birth control and women’s reproductive rights.

Progressive Weaknesses

• Reforms scattered

• Business influence remained strong

• World War I interrupted reforms

Progressive Accomplishments

• Consumer protection laws

• Income tax

• Women’s suffrage

• Trust regulation

• Political reforms