Study Notes on Progressivism and the Progressive Era

Overview of Important Information

  • Before the current discussions, students should be reminded to check Canvas for missed lectures related to the upcoming test.
    • Test scheduled for Friday covering chapters fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, and eighteen.
    • Makeup tests available for those unable to attend; next potential date is Wednesday.

Recap of Progressivism

  • Progressive Era defined as the period from 1900 to 1920.
  • Key themes discussed:
    • Labor movements and scientific management in corporations aimed at profit maximization.
    • Increased labor unrest and emergence of the Socialist Party led by Eugene Debs.

Labor Movements

  • Emergence of significant workers' unions:
    • The AFL (American Federation of Labor)
    • Exclusionist; did not allow women, immigrants, African Americans, or farmers.
    • The IWW (Industrial Workers of the World)
    • Inclusive of various demographics; held a socialist perspective.

Rise of Feminism

  • New Feminism during this era connects work to women's freedom.
  • Movements for birth control initiated by figures like Margaret Sanger and Emma Goldman.

Impact on Native Americans

  • Formation of the Society of American Indians in 1911.
  • Federal government took control of communal lands, facilitating white settlement and the creation of Oklahoma.

Political Reforms of Progressivism

  • Notable figures: John Dewey and pragmatism.
  • Introduction of the Oregon system which included:
    • Initiative - allows for direct legislation by citizens.
    • Referendum - allows citizens to vote on proposed laws.
    • Recall - process for removing public officials by popular vote.

State-Level Reforms

  • California's reforms banning child labor and limiting women's work hours.
  • The Wisconsin Idea promoting:
    • Primary elections.
    • Taxation on corporate wealth.
    • Systems for workers' compensation and unemployment insurance.

Seventeenth Amendment

  • Shifted the election of U.S. senators from House appointments to direct elections by voters.

Social Activism

  • Activism seen with women forming groups like Jane Addams’ Hull House aimed at providing support to impoverished immigrant women.
  • Women’s Suffrage Movement:
    • Significant growth from 13,000 members in 1893 to over 2,000,000 by 1917 within the National American Women’s Suffrage Association.
    • Initial gains in western states (e.g., Wyoming, Colorado) for women's voting rights, especially in local school elections.
    • Increased militancy in tactics and use of modern advertising techniques.

Global Influence of the Suffrage Movement

  • Efforts inspired by campaigns in Britain led by figures like Emmeline Pankhurst.
  • Aggressive tactics including protests and hunger strikes, leading to violent police response.
    • Example of the hunger strike: women arrested and force-fed, highlighting brutality of the movement.

National Campaign for Suffrage

  • The movement shifted towards a national campaign aiming for constitutional amendment granting women's suffrage, which ultimately occurred in 1920.

Women’s Role and Legislative Changes

  • Societal reforms initiated to protect women and children, including state pensions for mothers.
  • Acknowledgment of women's employment in the workforce, necessitating protective legislation.

Landmark Legal Cases

Mueller v. Oregon (1908)

  • Supreme Court case ruling that women's long work hours were detrimental to their health, leading to protective legislation.
  • This case marked an intersection of workers' rights and gender discrimination in labor markets, challenging the liberty of contract doctrine.

Workers’ Compensation Laws

  • By 1913, 22 states had enacted laws benefiting both male and female workers, paving the way for broader social insurance programs.

Ideological Foundations

The Welfare State

  • Vision of a welfare state rooted in universal economic entitlement advocated by progressives like Louis Brandeis.
  • Intervention in labor rights and safety redefined gender roles in society.

Progressive Presidents

Theodore Roosevelt (1901-1909)

  • Promoted Square Deal focusing on fairness in economic regulation.
  • Championed progressive reforms, distinguishing between good and bad businesses.
  • Launched antitrust actions, notably against National Securities Company.
  • Advocated for regulatory powers for the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC).

William Howard Taft (1909-1913)

  • Continued progressive policies but was more conservative; supported antitrust actions, including the breakup of Standard Oil.
  • Alienation of progressive members due to conflicted views on land usage and conservation.

Woodrow Wilson (1913-1921)

  • Introduced New Freedom policies focusing on small businesses, antitrust, and labor protections.
  • Clayton Act (1914) exempted unions from antitrust laws and limited court injunctions against strikes, empowering workers.
  • Established the Federal Reserve System to manage currency and stabilize the economy.

Conclusion

  • By 1916, the Progressive Era had significantly expanded the role of the national government in economic and social life, establishing protections and regulations that would define future welfare state initiatives.
  • Test review scheduled for Wednesday for further preparation on key topics discussed.