Chapter 6 Notes: 1900-1920 Reform and War

Reform Energies Awaken

The Progressive movement emerged due to concerns over unregulated corporate power, class disparities, and poor factory conditions. Reformers, inspired by the Social Gospel, advocated for social justice and challenged societal norms. Some focused on moral reforms like temperance, while others pushed for labor unions, corporate regulation, and improved working conditions. Key figures like Jane Addams and Herbert Croly called for government intervention to aid the vulnerable.

Mass magazines exposed urban-industrial problems, leading to reforms in worker protection and business regulation at the local and state levels. Examples include factory safety standards, child labor laws, and worker's compensation. Wisconsin, under Robert La Follette, implemented corporate taxes and campaign-spending rules.

Progressivism Goes National

After President McKinley's assassination, Theodore Roosevelt became president and advocated for a strong presidency to protect public interests. Roosevelt intervened in the 1902 coal miner strike, earning a reputation as a "trustbuster." Legislation like the Hepburn Act, Pure Food and Drug Act, and Meat Inspection Act were passed.

Roosevelt championed conservation, protecting public lands and backing the National Reclamation Act. William Howard Taft succeeded Roosevelt but faced challenges from tariff reformers and conservationists. In 1912, Woodrow Wilson won the presidency as the Democratic candidate, with Roosevelt running on a third-party ticket. Wilson supported the Underwood Tariff and the Federal Reserve Act, and created the Federal Trade Commission and Clayton Antitrust Act.

Constitutional amendments, like the Sixteenth (income tax) and Seventeenth (direct election of senators), reflected the reform spirit. The women's movement gained momentum, focusing on voting rights. The NAACP, founded by W. E. B. Du Bois, fought for racial justice.

Progressivism’s Achievements and Blind Spots

Progressive reformers addressed social problems but had prejudices. Some blamed immigrants, and racial discrimination persisted. Despite shortcomings, their efforts paved the way for the New Deal and environmentalism.

Economic Imperialism; War in Europe

American capitalists pursued economic interests abroad, particularly in China, leading to the Open Door policy. The U.S. also asserted its influence in Latin America, with the Roosevelt Corollary and Taft's dollar diplomacy. The U.S. built the Panama Canal, facilitating world trade.

In 1914, World War I began in Europe. The U.S. initially proclaimed neutrality but eventually entered the war in 1917 after German submarine attacks.

The War in Europe

Congress authorized a military draft, and the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) reached France in 1917. The AEF played a key role in halting German advances and participated in major battles. Germany surrendered on November 11, 1918. The war resulted in immense casualties and spurred the influenza epidemic.

The War at Home

The war boosted U.S. farm prices and expanded Washington's economic regulatory role. The War Industries Board oversaw industrial production. African Americans migrated north for jobs, and women entered the workforce. The War Labor Board supported unionization. Prohibition gained ground, and the Eighteenth Amendment was ratified. The Committee on Public Information promoted pro-war sentiment.

The Espionage Act and Sedition Amendment restricted freedom of speech. Eugene V. Debs was imprisoned for opposing the war. Republicans gained control of Congress in 1918.

Bitter Aftermath

After the armistice, the U.S. joined an international force in Russia. Wilson attended the Versailles peace conference but was disappointed by the vindictive terms imposed on Germany. The Senate rejected the Treaty of Versailles, and the U.S. did not join the League of Nations.

Domestically, racial tensions and anti-radical hysteria increased. The Justice Department conducted "Red Raids." The war ended in a climate of reaction and isolationism, undermining the Progressive movement.