Progressive Era Big Ideas Reviewed 

Context

  • In the late 19th century the U.S. continued its shift from a rural, agricultural economy to an urban,
  • industrial economy led by large corporations’ Industrial growth expanded opportunity and changed American society   * New jobs & technology   * Movement to urban areas   * Immigration increased (especially from Southern and Eastern Europe)
  • Economic instability led to new efforts to reform U.S. society and laissez faire capitalism   * Panic of 1893 & other economic declines led for calls for reform     * Interstate Commerce Act & Sherman Anti-Trust Act were rarely enforced

<<The Progressive Era of the early 20th century responded to economic instability, political corruption, and social concerns by calling for greater government action and other political and social measures<<

  • BIG IDEA: Effort to use government power to regulate and improve society   * Rejection of laissez faire ideology

Progressive Era

  • Progressive journalist attacked what they saw as political corruption, social injustice, and economic inequality   * Muckrakers: investigative journalist that advocated for reform   * Economic- Ida Tarbell's "History of Standard Oil": John D. Rockefeller's business practices   * Political-Lincoln Steffens "The Shame of the Cities": political machines   * Social: Jacob Riis "How the Other Half Lives": urban poverty
  • Progressive Era reformers were often from the middle and upper classes   * Many women were involved in various Progressive Era reforms     * Temperance, suffrage, child labor, consumer safety, etc.   * Worked to effect social changes in cities and among immigrant populations     * Jane Addams settlement house movement (Hull House)     * Florence Kelly: National Consumers League       * It's complicated: often immigrants needed their children to work\

The progressive movement was not actually a unified movement

The Progressive “Movement”

  • Race and the Progressive Movement   * Some Progressive reformers were racist     * Support for Southern segregation   * Black activism during the Progressive Era     * NAACP created from Niagara movement     * W.E.B. Du Bois, lda B. Wells actively fought against racism
  • Some Progressive reformers sought to expand popular participation in government   * Initiative, referendum, recall, & primary system were all reforms that expanded popular participation in government   * 17th Amendment- direct election of Senators   * Nevertheless, black voting rights continued to be denied and racism flourished
  • Greater reliance on professional and technical experts to make government more efficient   * Hope to reduce graft and corruption of political machines

Progressive era reforms took place at the local, state, and federal level

National Movement

  • Progressive reformers advocated for federal legislation to:   * Effectively regulate the economy     * Muller v. Oregon (1908) limited work hours for women     * Meat Inspection Act & Pure Food & Drug Act (1906)     * Trust busting: Sherman Anti-Trust Act, Clayton Anti-Trust Act (1914)     * Regulation of railroads: Elkins Act (1903) & Hepburn (1906)   * Expand democracy     * 17th Amendment: direct election of senators   * Implement moral reform     * Prohibition, immigration restrictions, support for eugenics
  • Progressive Amendments to the Constitutions   * 16th Amendment: income tax   * 17th Amendment: direct Election of Senators   * 18th Amendment (Prohibition)   * 19th Amendment: women’s suffrage

Protecting the Environment

  • Preservationists and conservationists both supported the establishment of national parks while advocating different government responses to the overuse of natural resources.   * Preservation: protect the environment by restricting human development   * Conservation: protect the environment by advocating for managed use of resources
  • Sierra Club (1892) advocated for the preservation of natural areas   * Led by John Muir
  • Theodore Roosevelt used the presidency to pursue various conservationist projects   * Creation of national parks, national forests, national monuments

Connections

  • Progressive Movement (1890s-1917ish): response to problems/challenges caused by industrialization, urbanization, immigration, and other problems in American society
  • New Deal (1933-1940s): response to Great Depression
  • Great Society (1960s): response to racial issues, poverty, and other issues

\