Untitled Notes

Roosevelt defined a "square deal" in 1905 as a commitment not to ensure every person's success, but to ensure fairness in government dealings.
- Acknowledged that some may not receive favorable conditions but emphasized against crookedness in the process of governance.

In 1900, approximately 76 million Americans entered the new century, with nearly 1 in 7 being foreign-born.
Over 14 years leading to World War I, about 13 million additional migrants arrived in America, indicating a booming immigrant population.
The early 20th century was marked by a robust reform movement, the Progressive movement, which emerged in response to social injustices, corruption, monopolies, and inefficiencies.
The unifying battle cry of progressives: "Strengthen the State."
The movement aimed to harness government for the benefit of human welfare, reflecting a shift from laissez-faire to government intervention.

The roots of progressivism trace back to the Greenback Labor party of the 1870s and the Populists of the 1890s.
Progressives sought to address the concentration of power among industrialists and challenge the inadequacies of the antique philosophy of individualism in a modern context.
Key figures like William Jennings Bryan and reformers like Henry Demarest Lloyd before 1900 laid the groundwork for progressive ideals.
- Lloyd's book Wealth Against Commonwealth (1894) criticized corporate monopolies.
Eccentric intellectuals like Thorstein Veblen criticized the wealthy in The Theory of the Leisure Class (1899), denouncing “predatory wealth.”
Writers like Jacob A. Riis, in How the Other Half Lives (1890), highlighted the dire conditions of urban slums, greatly influencing public opinion and reform agendas.

The period around 1902 saw the rise of muckraking, where journalists exposed societal evils through magazine publications and books, with prominent magazines including McClure’s, Cosmopolitan, and Collier’s.
Theodore Roosevelt coined the term “muckrakers“ in 1906, metaphorically comparing them to Bunyan's figure who focuses solely on raking muck, neglecting higher ideals.
Prominent muckrakers included Lincoln Steffens, who exposed corruption in municipal governments in The Shame of the Cities (1904), and Ida M. Tarbell, whose investigative work on Standard Oil revealed corrupt business practices.
The muckrakers often faced significant challenges in verifying information but were integral in raising public awareness about systemic corruption and social issues, including child labor and racial injustice.

Following the Color Line (Ray Stannard Baker, 1908): addressed racial injustice faced by African Americans.
The Bitter Cry of the Children (John Spargo, 1906): exposed the horrors of child labor in factories.
Critiques extended to patent medicine vendors for selling harmful products, and investigative work involved public health matters emphasizing consumer protection.
Despite impactful reports, muckrakers often relied on public sentiment and advocacy rather than institutional reform.

Political progressivism had strong roots among middle-class citizens concerned about corporate power, labor unrest, and lacking representation when politicians were beholden to wealthy interests.
Core goals included:
- Regaining political power from corporate interests.
- Advocating for direct primary elections, initiatives, referendums, and recalls to bolster democratic processes at all levels of governance.

Movements led to the establishment of corrupt-practices acts and the introduction of the secret ballot to combat bribery.
The direct election of U.S. senators became a pivotal reform with the eventual passage of the Seventeenth Amendment in 1913.

The suffrage movement gained momentum with progressive support; feminists sought to elevate political engagement through the right to vote, which also aligned with temperance and social justice movements.
By 1910, nationwide female suffrage was yet to be realized, but movements intensified in more liberal states.

Progressives achieved significant reforms in cities, focusing on eradicating corruption and inefficiencies in local governments.
Pioneering cities like Galveston initiated commission systems to manage urban affairs effectively.
States like Wisconsin, under Robert M. La Follette, emerged as leaders in reform, regulating corporations effectively and promoting public interests.

Settlement House Movement: Provided women entry into public life and highlighted urban issues like poverty and corruption.
Women became increasingly involved in labor reform and consumer rights through organizations such as the Women’s Trade Union League and the National Consumers League.
Landmark case Muller v. Oregon (1908) upheld laws protecting women workers, signaling a shift in views on labor and gender roles at the time.

Roosevelt emphasized conservation of natural resources, realizing the impacts of rapid industrialization and resource depletion.
Key legislation:
- The Forest Reserve Act (1891) and the Newlands Act (1902) aimed to conserve public lands and improve irrigation practices.
- Established commissions to manage these resources sustainably, partnering with figures like Gifford Pinchot who focused on efficient land use over outright preservation.

The Panic of 1907 tested Roosevelt's policies and leadership, leading to widespread financial distress that some blamed on his reformist attitudes.
This economic crisis catalyzed significant financial reforms, preparing the ground for the Federal Reserve Act of 1913.

After a successful election, Taft found himself contrasted starkly against Roosevelt; he struggled to manage the schisms within the Republican party and ultimately lost the progressive wing's support.
Taft's presidency underscored the complexities of being a reform leader; he maintained Roosevelt’s trust-busting efforts but faced backlash from both the reform and conservative factions of the party.

Taft's foreign policy emphasized economic intervention through American capital investments in strategic regions to manage global stability and protect U.S. interests, dubbed ‘dollar diplomacy.’

A rift emerged between Taft and Roosevelt supporters, culminating in Roosevelt's decision to run as a third-party candidate in 1912, vying against Taft and the Democratic candidate.

The period of progressivism was marked by significant social changes, reform initiatives, and the establishment of future policy foundations. Roosevelt's legacy, particularly his advocacy for a Square Deal and conservation, left enduring impacts, as did the tumultuous dynamics of Taft's administration, setting the stage for further progressive developments into the 20th century.