Untitled Notes

Definition of Progressivism: A reform movement aiming to improve life during the industrial age by making moderate political changes and social improvements through government action.
Made up primarily of middle-class Americans who believed in limiting the power of big business, enhancing democracy, and social justice through government intervention.

The movement began in the early 1890s but gained national momentum around the turn of the century, particularly during Theodore Roosevelt's presidency (1901-1909) and continued under William Howard Taft (1909-1913) and Woodrow Wilson (1913-1917).
U.S. entry into World War I in 1917 shifted focus away from domestic reforms.

Large-scale industrialization: Transition from a rural society to an industrialized, urban society led to increased problems and disparities.
Labor strife: Rising tensions between labor and capital, exemplified by strikes.
Corruption: Political machines and corporate greed prompted calls for reform.

Urban Middle Class: Comprised of professionals (doctors, lawyers, etc.) and white-collar workers who were directly affected by corporate monopolies.
Religious Leaders: Protestant churches advocated for social responsibility and the Social Gospel, which combined religious faith with social reform.

Notable figures included Theodore Roosevelt, Robert La Follette, William Jennings Bryan, and Woodrow Wilson who led reforms against conservatism.

Pragmatism: Introduced by William James and John Dewey, emphasizing that truth should be tested by practical consequences.
Progressives rejected laissez-faire economics as impractical for an industrial society.
Scientific Management: Frederick W. Taylor's studies promoted efficiency in government by applying scientific methods to management.

Investigative journalists who exposed corruption in politics and business. The term "muckraker" originated from President Theodore Roosevelt.
Major Muckrakers include:
- Henry Demarest Lloyd: Critiqued Standard Oil Company.
- Lincoln Steffens: Focused on urban political corruption in "The Shame of the Cities."
- Ida Tarbell: Wrote extensively about Standard Oil’s corrupt practices.
- Jacob Riis: Documented urban poverty in "How the Other Half Lives."
Impact of Muckraking: Increased public awareness and galvanized support for reform.

Australian (Secret) Ballot: Instituted to protect voters from manipulation.
Direct Primaries: Introduced by Robert La Follette to allow voters to directly nominate candidates.
Direct Election of U.S. Senators: Passage of the 17th Amendment in 1913 allowed people to elect senators, reducing corporate influence.
Initiative, Referendum, and Recall: Mechanisms enabling voters to propose legislation, vote on laws, and remove elected officials.

Municipal Reform: Addressed corruption in city government through initiatives like the commission plan and city manager systems.
State Reforms: Reform governors (e.g., Charles Evans Hughes, Hiram Johnson) fought corporate influence and enacted Progressive measures including the “Wisconsin Idea.”

Focused on labor fairness, trust-busting, and consumer protection.
Roosevelt negotiated a resolution to the 1902 Coal Strike, favoring neither side but highlighted the need for a square deal for both workers and owners.
Enforced the Sherman Antitrust Act, challenging the Northern Securities Company and later Standard Oil.

Elkins Act (1903): Empowered the ICC to eliminate rebate discrimination.
Hepburn Act (1906): Expanded the ICC’s power to set railroad rates.
Consumer Protection: Passage of the Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Act after the publication of Upton Sinclair’s "The Jungle."

Roosevelt established protected federal lands and advocated for conservation initiatives through the Forest Reserve Act and Newlands Reclamation Act.

Continued Progressive reforms and actively pursued antitrust litigation
Payne-Aldrich Tariff (1909): Angered many Progressives by raising tariffs.
Split within the Republican party, leading to the formation of the Progressive party.

Founded as the Socialist Party of America in 1901, emphasizing public ownership and labor rights.
Eugene V. Debs was a prominent leader advocating for reforms like compensation and proletarian solidarity.

Featured a split Republican party, leading to a contest among Taft, Roosevelt (Progressive), and Wilson (Democratic).
Wilson won with a New Freedom platform opposing big business.

Enacted significant reforms such as:
- Underwood Tariff (1913): Lowered tariff rates and introduced income tax.
- Federal Reserve Act (1914): Established a national banking system to stabilize the economy.
- Clayton Antitrust Act (1914): Strengthened labor rights and prohibited anti-union actions.

African American issues were largely sidelined by Progressive leaders; segregation and lynching remained rampant.
Key Figures:
- Booker T. Washington: Advocated for economic advancement before civil rights.
- W. E. B. Du Bois: Demanded immediate equal rights and co-founded the NAACP to fight against discrimination.

Women activists pushed for suffrage and other reforms. Key leaders included:
- Carrie Chapman Catt: Advocated for state-level victories before a national amendment.
- Alice Paul: Adopted more militant tactics and formed the National Women’s Party.
The Nineteenth Amendment (1920) granted women the right to vote, a culmination of years of activism.

The Progressive movement was both a response to the challenges of industrialization and urbanization and a complex, multi-faceted attempt to reform society while facing internal contradictions and exclusions.
Historians debate the motives behind Progressivism, questioning whether it was genuinely democratic or more about maintaining the status quo through elite reforms.