Progressivisim
Goals of Progressives
Seek to promote social justice, economic equality, environmental sustainability.
What triggers people’s motivation to make reforms?
Exposure to social injustices (e.g., poverty, child labor, unsafe working conditions).
Muckraker journalism revealing corruption and abuses.
Public health crises and unsafe consumer products.
Economic inequality and monopolies.
Political corruption and lack of democratic participation.
Impact from the writings of the following Muckrakers:
Upton Sinclair – Exposed the unsanitary conditions in the meatpacking industry in The Jungle, leading to the Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act.
Jacob Riis – Used photography (How the Other Half Lives) to expose poor living conditions in tenements, leading to housing reforms.
Lincoln Steffens – Wrote The Shame of the Cities, exposing political corruption in municipal governments.
Ida Tarbell – Wrote The History of the Standard Oil Company, exposing Rockefeller’s unfair business practices, contributing to antitrust regulations.
What was the purpose of the Social Gospel Movement led by Walter Rauschenbusch?
Advocated for applying Christian ethics to social problems, such as poverty and inequality.
Encouraged social justice, charity, and labor rights.
What does the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory tragedy lead to?
Stricter workplace safety laws, fire codes, and labor protections.
What was the purpose of sterilization?
Eugenics programs aimed at preventing reproduction by those deemed "unfit," often targeting marginalized groups.
Alice Paul
Leader of the National Woman’s Party, fought for women’s suffrage and equal rights, helped push for the 19th Amendment.
Carrie Chapman Catt
Leader of the NAWSA, promoted a state-by-state strategy for securing women’s voting rights.
Booker T. Washington
Advocated for African American progress through vocational education and economic self-reliance rather than immediate civil rights demands.
W.E.B. DuBois
Co-founder of the NAACP, argued for immediate civil rights and higher education for African Americans.
Define the purpose of the following organizations:
NAACP – Fought for civil rights and against racial discrimination.
Urban League – Helped African Americans transition to urban life with job placement and housing assistance.
Women’s Christian Temperance Union – Advocated for Prohibition, women’s suffrage, and social reforms.
National Consumers League – Promoted workers’ rights, fair wages, and safe consumer products.
National Woman’s Party (NWP) – Led by Alice Paul, fought for women's suffrage and the Equal Rights Amendment.
National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) – Focused on securing women’s voting rights through lobbying and state campaigns.
Five examples of Teddy’s Square Deal:
Trust-busting – Broke up monopolies and regulated big business.
Pure Food and Drug Act (1906) – Required accurate labeling and banned harmful substances in food.
Meat Inspection Act (1906) – Mandated federal inspection of meat products.
Conservation efforts – Established national parks and forest reserves.
Regulation of railroads – Enforced fair rates through the Hepburn Act.
Why did Roosevelt choose to come back and run for president in 1912?
He was dissatisfied with William Taft’s conservative policies and believed Taft had abandoned progressive reforms.
Why did Roosevelt form the Bull Moose Party?
After failing to secure the Republican nomination, he created the Progressive Party (Bull Moose Party) to continue advocating for progressive reforms.
How did Wilson win the election of 1912?
Roosevelt and Taft split the Republican vote, allowing Democrat Woodrow Wilson to win.
Reforms to Society:
Pure Food & Drug Act – Regulated the food and drug industries to prevent mislabeling and unsafe ingredients.
Meat Inspection Act – Required federal inspections to ensure sanitary meat production.
Newlands Reclamation Act – Funded irrigation projects to develop land in the West.
Reforms to Businesses:
Sherman Antitrust Act – Prevented monopolies and anti-competitive business practices.
Federal Reserve Bank – Created a central banking system to regulate the economy.
Federal Trade Commission – Established to prevent unfair business practices and protect consumers.
Reforms to City Governments:
Introduction of city managers and commission systems to reduce political corruption.
Reforms to State Government:
Direct Primary – Allowed voters to choose candidates instead of political bosses.
Initiative – Citizens could propose laws directly.
Referendum – Allowed citizens to vote directly on laws.
Recall – Enabled voters to remove corrupt officials.
Reforms to the Federal Government:
16th Amendment – Allowed Congress to levy an income tax.
17th Amendment – Established direct election of U.S. Senators.
18th Amendment – Prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcohol (Prohibition).
19th Amendment – Granted women the right to vote.