CHAPTER 18 PROGRESSIVE ERA:

Key Events and Developments in the Progressive Era (1900-1916)

Beginning of the Progressive Era

• 1889: Founding of Hull House by Jane Addams.

• 1898: Publication of Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s Women and Economics.

• 1901: Assassination of President McKinley; Socialist Party founded in the U.S.

  • Eugene V. Debs becomes significant

Major Events (1902-1915)

• 1902: Teddy Roosevelt assists in the coal strike.

  • 1904: The Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine is established, asserting the U.S. right to intervene in Latin America.

• 1904: Publication of The Shame of the Cities by Lincoln Steffens; History of the Standard Oil Company by Ida Tarbell; dissolution of Northern Securities.

• 1905: Establishment of Ford Motor Company; formation of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW).

  • AFL vs IWW

  • The American Federation of Labor (AFL) focused on skilled workers and aimed for better wages and working conditions through collective bargaining, while the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) sought to unite all workers, regardless of skill level, to challenge the capitalist system directly.

• 1906: Upton Sinclair publishes The Jungle; adoption of the Pure Food and Drug Act, Meat Inspection Act, and Hepburn Act.

• 1908: Muller v. Oregon case.

  • Supports Maternalistic movement

• 1911: Triangle Shirtwaist Company fire; founding of the Society of American Indians.

• 1912: Theodore Roosevelt organizes the Progressive Party; establishment of the Children’s Bureau.

• 1913: Ratification of the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Amendments; establishment of the Federal Reserve.

• 1914: Passage of the Clayton Act and the Federal Trade Commission law; Ludlow Massacre.

  • Clayton act under Wilson’s administation

Context of the Progressive Era

• Characterized by urbanization and significant social alteration due to heavy immigration.

• The Muckrakers: Journalists who exposed social issues like child labor and corrupt practices in business.

  • Notable works: Steffens’ The Shame of the Cities, Sinclair’s The Jungle.

Key Themes of Progressivism

• Varieties of Progressivism: Included industrial freedom, socialism, labor rights, civil liberties, and the new feminism.

  • The era saw diverse movements addressing labor strife and advocating for women’s rights.

• Industrial Freedom: Focused on improving working conditions and allowing workers to enter unions; proposals such as minimum wage emerged.

• New Feminism: Women sought not only suffrage but broader social and economic freedoms, confronting both workplace conditions and domestic roles.

• The Rise of Fordism: Economic model emphasizing mass production and consumption; exemplified by Henry Ford’s assembly line.

• Consumer Freedom: Shift towards a consumer economy defined independence; access to goods became intertwined with personal freedom.

  • American standard of living and living wage

The Political Landscape

• Progressive Presidents: Focused on using government to regulate and facilitate social justice.

  • Theodore Roosevelt: Advocated for the Square Deal, emphasizing fairness in business and labor relations; supported conservation.

  • William Howard Taft: More conservative but continued antitrust actions; introduced the graduated income tax.

  • Woodrow Wilson: Advanced the New Freedom agenda aimed at restoring competition by regulating trusts and supporting labor rights.

Summary of Changes in Governance

• Growth in government intervention in the economy and regulation of industries was pivotal, leading to significant reforms in labor laws and consumer protections.

• Development of an activist government aimed to balance interests in a rapidly changing industrial society.

Key Questions of the Era

• Focus on freedom: What did freedom mean in the context of labor rights, women's suffrage, and consumerism?

• Democracy and exclusion: How did Progressive reforms expand and restrict democratic participation simultaneously?

Conclusion

The Progressive Era was marked by reform, activism, and the redefinition of freedoms within an industrial context. It laid the groundwork for subsequent changes in American society, especially concerning labor rights and women's roles.

Major Events (1902-1915)

• 1902: Teddy Roosevelt assists in the coal strike.

• 1904: dissolution of Northern Securities. + enforcement of Sherman anti-trust act

• 1905: Establishment of Ford Motor Company; formation of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW).

• 1911: Triangle Shirtwaist Company fire; founding of the Society of American Indians.

• 1912: Theodore Roosevelt organizes the Progressive Party;

• 1913: Ratification of the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Amendments; establishment of the Federal Reserve.

• 1914: Passage of the Clayton Act and the Federal Trade Commission law; Ludlow Massacre.

Changes and Continuities over Time

• Social Change: The Progressive Era saw increased awareness and activism around social issues such as labor rights and women's suffrage, shifting from previous eras that were more passive.

• Economic Regulation: While laissez-faire was previously the dominant philosophy, the Progressive Era introduced a significant shift towards government intervention in the economy through antitrust laws and regulations.

• Labor Movements: There was a continuity in labor unrest and strikes, but the Progressive Era marked a period of more organized labor movements advocating for rights and reforms.

• Women's Roles: The role of women evolved from primarily home-centered to active participants in social reform, advocating for suffrage and economic rights, indicating both change and continuity in gender dynamics.

Key Questions of the Era

• Focus on freedom: What did freedom mean in the context of labor rights, women's suffrage, and consumerism?

• Democracy and exclusion: How did Progressive reforms expand and restrict democratic participation simultaneously?

Conclusion

The Progressive Era was marked by reform, activism, and the redefinition of freedoms within an industrial context. It laid the groundwork for subsequent changes in American society, especially concerning labor rights and women's roles.

Significant Parts of Taft's Presidency

• Continuation of Progressive Reforms: Taft maintained many of Roosevelt's policies and continued to push for progressive reforms, although with a more conservative approach.

  • Example: Under Taft, the number of antitrust suits increased, and he famously took action against the Standard Oil Company.

• Federal Trade Commission: Taft supported the establishment of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to address unfair business practices.

  • Example: While the FTC was established later under Wilson, Taft's efforts set the groundwork for increased regulation of corporations.

• Child Labor Act of 1916: Although it was passed after his presidency, Taft's advocacy for labor reforms laid the foundation for this legislation.

• Tariff Reform: Taft convened the 1909 Tariff Commission to review tariff rates, aiming for a more equitable tariff policy, but the resulting Payne-Aldrich Tariff received backlash for not significantly lowering rates as promised.

  • Example: The tariff led to a split in the Republican Party between progressives and conservatives, illustrating Taft's struggle to maintain party unity.

• Focus on Foreign Policy: Taft's approach to foreign policy, known as "Dollar Diplomacy," aimed to promote American interests abroad through economic investment.

  • Example: He encouraged U.S. businesses to invest in Latin America to extend American influence and secure markets.

Significant Parts of Woodrow Wilson's Presidency

• New Freedom: Wilson's domestic agenda aimed at addressing economic and social issues by promoting small businesses and reducing the power of monopolies. He believed in a more hands-off government approach compared to Roosevelt's regulatory reforms.

  • Example: Wilson's administration saw the passage of the Underwood Tariff Act in 1913, which lowered tariffs and established a graduated income tax to redistribute wealth more equitably.

• Federal Reserve Act (1913): This act established the Federal Reserve System, which created a central banking authority to regulate the nation's monetary policy and stabilize the economy.

  • Example: The Federal Reserve could control interest rates and the money supply, providing the government with better tools to respond to economic crises.

• Antitrust Actions: Wilson continued the progressive movement's fight against monopolistic practices and sought to curb corporate malpractices more rigorously.

  • Example: The Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914 strengthened antitrust laws and protected workers' right to strike, aiming to improve conditions for laborers.

• Labor Rights and Social Welfare: Wilson supported labor rights and various social welfare initiatives, addressing issues like working conditions and labor relations.

  • Example: He supported the establishment of the Children’s Bureau in 1912 to focus on issues related to child welfare.

• Foreign Policy - Moral Diplomacy: Wilson’s foreign policy was based on moral principles and aimed at promoting democracy and human rights abroad.

  • Example: Wilson's administration initially focused on diplomacy, but eventually intervened in Latin America to protect American interests, as seen in the invasion of Mexico in 1914 during the Punitive Expedition against Pancho Villa.

Significant Parts of Teddy Roosevelt's Presidency

• Square Deal: Roosevelt's domestic policy aimed at ensuring fairness for workers, consumers, and businesses. He emphasized equal opportunity and was particularly focused on regulating big corporations.

  • Example: Roosevelt intervened in the 1902 Coal Strike, supporting the workers' demands and ensuring fair bargaining.

• Trust Busting: Roosevelt took a strong stance against monopolies and trusts that restrained trade.

  • Example: He initiated legal actions against the Northern Securities Company in 1902, leading to its dissolution.

• Conservation: Roosevelt was a strong advocate for the conservation of natural resources and the establishment of national parks.

  • And Gifford Pichnot's influence

  • Example: He established five national parks and numerous national forests, playing a crucial role in the conservation movement.

• Regulatory Legislation: Roosevelt backed legislation that aimed to protect consumers and workers.

  • Example: The Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Act were passed in 1906, spurred by the revelations from Upton Sinclair’s "The Jungle."

• Foreign Policy: Roosevelt believed in a strong international presence, coining the phrase "speak softly and carry a big stick" as a motto for his foreign policy.

  • Example: He mediated the end of the Russo-Japanese War in 1905, which earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1906.

  • Also Panama Canal

  • Great White Fleet - A fleet of U.S. Navy ships that Roosevelt sent on a world tour in 1907 to demonstrate American naval power and promote goodwill among other nations.