progressives ppt

8/14/2019 Progressives PPT

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Progressives


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Progressives/Progressivism

Changes in America around 1900- Progressives seek to control these changes.Changes causing: uncertainty; poverty;crime; immigration; race issues; urbanproblems; changes in values

Some important issues: Industrialization/Monopolies/Trusts Corruption in government Urbanization

Rich/Poor gap

Technology/Rise of Science Immigration increased


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Optimism of the

Progressives

Progressives were very concerned about all of the problemsdescribed above, but they were very optimistic about the

possibility of solving them. They believed in the potential of thepeople, the government, and the scientific method. By applyingthe scientific method

to social problems (thus the origins of the

"social sciences") problems could be solved.

Shared values

Concern about effects of industrialization

Optimistic about human nature and potential for progress

Willing to intervene in others lives, either private charity orgovernment

Sense of evangelical Protestant duty and faith in the benefits of

science Commitment to improve all aspects of American life


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Friction

All of these issues are sources of FRICTION. Especiallysocio-economic class problems. Classes have very

different experiences in America.

Upper class: Life of leisure. Opulence.

Lower class: Struggle

Middle class: Caught in the middle


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Upper Classes

Typical great mansion required: Staff of about 24 servants andcost $200-300K /year ($6.7M 2004) to maintain.

JP Morgan-

great library-

exact value unknown. Likely

considered priceless when he died and now. (His made it apublic institution after the death of his father.)

1884, paid $24,750 for a 1459 Mainz Psalter (most ever paidfor a book at the time and for years). ($500,000 dollars in 2004dollars)

1899, paid $200,000 for a collection of manuscripts, booksfrom the early days of printing, works related to Shakespeare.($4.5M in 2004 dollars)

JD Rockefeller: Total worth-

$2 Billion (approx. $50 today). [Bill

Gates worth about $27 Billion.]


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Lower Classes

On the edge of survival: Low wages, lay offs, accidents, early death-

constant threats Avoided changing jobs because even a loss of a days pay couldhurt the family.

Incomes:

Wage workers: $435/yr ($9000/yr, 2004)Coal workers: $340/yr ($7,600/yr 2004)

Domestics: $240/yr ($5,368/yr 2004)

Agricultural laborers: $178/yr. + room and board. ($40002004)

Middle class clericals: $1,011 (for comparison) ($22,000 2004)

Cost of Living: In Buffalo, NY, cost approx $700 to supportfamily of 5, but laborers income was only approx. $300- $600/yr


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Lower Classes

People who went rags to riches lessrole models than freaks of nature tolower classes.

Working class children:

Grew up fast- entered work world earlyGrew up slow-

did not have enough $ to

develop autonomy. Tended to live w/parents longer than middle and upper class.

Farmers- felt loss of status in society.Economic pinch as well.


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Middle Class

Becomes the radical center- sought to haltfriction in society.

White collar jobsLived in comfort w/ limits

Women key to middle class progressivismThe task of running a home became less

demanding (w/ new inventions, electricity,etc.) and less fulfilling.

By 1900, 85,000 women in higher education.


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Middle Class

Face up to what rich wanted to deny-

existence of potentially dangerous classconflict. Rich and poor were alien to each other, butmiddle class, in the middle, saw each, and

had concerns

Self-Indulgence

Rich: mansions and extravagance

Poor: saloons, crime


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Middle Class

Tension between old concept ofindividualism and the newrealities:

individualism is the characteristic ofsimple barbarism, not republican

civilization.individualism means tyranny.

the community has become toooften the prey of individuals.


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Who are the Progressives?

Answer usually centers on the middle class. Broad based movement- virtually everyonefighting for the progressive label eventually.The way a whole generation of Americans

responded to the problems of America Diverse movement- many groups w/

competing objectives and who had little to dow/ each other.

women, blacks, protestant ministers, middle

class professionals.


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Ideals of the Progressives

Application of natural sciences to society

Social Sciences created in this time Ethical concerns high on the agenda ofearly social sciences- this a sign ofinfluence of progressives

Scientific method to study, analyzeand solve problems


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Social sciences-

role of environment

People are creatures of their environmentChange environment, change the person

Study and cause change in environmentand people will be improved

This is a challenge to conventionalwisdom of individualism.



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New definition of Individualism

In modern America the individual could not hopeto compete. Slowly realized that they were nolonger free.

Did not accept common notion of liberty that hadbeen held up to that point, which equated libertyw/ contract. Free to make contract

free to

Progressives- individuals could not freely contractw/ big business.

Wage Slavery

a term which began to be used.

d l f h


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Individual liberty needed to includesocial and moral considerations, not just supply and demand. Issue of fairliving wage came to dominateProgressive thinking

An American Standard of LivingCan workers afford the products theymake at work?


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Find an alternative vision- ideal is not accumulation of wealthand property more communitarian- COMMUNITY IS KEY


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Faith in progress

Optimism

Faith that peoples abilities, through purposefulaction, can improve conditions of life and society. Can reform capitalism to make it more human dont have to get rid of capitalism

not socialist or communist

Intervene in economic and social affairs to controlforces (i.e. supply and demand) and impose ameasure of control on those forces.


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Restrain big business

Scale: so large that big businesses werethreats to competition and efficiency. Endmonopoly power.

Compel business to care for employees. Compel business to consider safety of workenvironment and products. Recognize that big business here to stay, soneed to regulate since individual cannot

compete w/ it.


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Use govt. as a tool for improving society

Nation/State becomes a moral agent whichshould set rules of conduct for a justsociety

Not anti-govt. (that govt. which governs bestgoverns least) Laissez faire anathema to liberty andprogressivism- just a means of oppression ofthe many by the few.

Government a necessity to set the socialconditions for freedom.


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Use govt. as a tool for improving society

Nation-state a moral actor (contd.)Big government is a counterbalance to bigbusiness Who else can control Standard Oil? J.P. Morgan?More faith in executive power thanlegislative legislatures a long history of corruption

executive commissions and agencies w/ experts



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Humanize Capitalism

more egalitarian

more power to ordinary people in

citizenry

civic harmony to replace friction

reject concepts of Social Darwinism


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Efficiency

Apply Taylorism to society ingeneral Eliminate waste in govt.

Study to see what works

Dont waste human resources


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Social Gospel

Concern about the impact ofurbanization and industrialization onmorality Destruction of family life in cities andw/ children working, for example

The conditions of life [in the city] arenot favorable to purity according toone RC Bishop. Red light districts, etc.


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Social Gospel

Humanitarianism seek salvation by reaching out toothers in industrial America- inthe community

Contrast w/ indifference ofemployers to their employees


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Social Gospel

Washington Gladden,AppliedChristianity: Moral Aspects of SocialQuestions: set a new style ofChristianity-

take on social ills.

Get involved in politics- dont leave it tothe corrupt.


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Ideals of the ProgressivesSocial Gospel

Charles M. Sheldon, In His Steps (novel),encouraged Christians to ask repeatedlyWhat would Jesus do?Not enough to preach at the poor-

need

to help themReligious folk must confront the

problems of society


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Social Gospel

Walter Rauschenbush

(Baptist Minister)

Advocate for working people and unions Embrace the social aims of Jesus

and create the

Kingdom of God on Earth.

Economic justice is the proper work of all Christians.

Jesus asked, Is not a man more than a sheep? Ourindustry says, No. It is careful of its live stock and

machinery, and careless of its human working force.

Why should we demand of one of the lowest classes

an unselfish devotion to all society which the upperclasses have never shown?

It is the function of religion to teach the individual tovalue his moral integrity more than his income.

To teach society to value human life more than property,and to value property only insofar as it forms thematerial basis for hi her develo ment of human life.


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Social Gospel

Evangelical Protestantism Help purge America from it sins Temperance Not just moral suasion- compel if necessary.Use govt.

Many churches/church organizationsbegan to see themselves as supplydepots to those in need

Knights of Columbus, YMCA


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The idea that social and moral

considerations, not simply the lawof supply and demand, should

determine the level of wages,became a staple of Progressive

thought.

Eric Foner, The Story of American Freedom, p. 144



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Progressive Agenda

Sought a wide host of reforms-

a

bold effort to reawaken Americansto create a new people living by a

new code of conduct. Political, Social, Economic Reforms Muckrakers key in all areas: exposeinjustice where it exists to create

public pressure for reform

Jacob Riis


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Ida TarbellJacob Riis

Upton Sinclair

MUCKRAKERS


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Progressive Agenda: Political

Reform Progressives wanted government to

follow the public will Reform government

Reorganize for efficiency, effectiveness

New agencies address particular social

ills

Posts staffed with experts


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Interest Groups and the Decline

of Popular Politics


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Interest Groups and the Decline

of Popular Politics

Decline in voter participation

77% from 18761900 65% from 19001916 52% in the 1920s remained near 52% through 20

th

century

Interest groups got favorable legislationthrough lobbying

Progressives hope to change the trend and

increase democracy.


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Progressive Agenda: Political

Reform Australian (Secret) ballot Direct primaries Direct election of senators Initiative, referendum, recall more direct democracy

City managers/commissions

heads of city departments elected by thepeople Manager- an expert hired by the commissionto direct the work of various departments


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Progressive Agenda:

Political Reform

Professionalism civil service (as opposed

to spoils system) Regulatory agencies (Interstate

Commerce Commission, for example) Govt. control of public utilities Anti-corruption legislation Restrictions on lobbyists

Womens suffrage


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Womens Suffrage

Before 1920


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Progressive Agenda: Social

Reform Prohibition Settlement Houses- Jane Addams

part of changing environment=changing person

School reforms-

Dewey

Methodologies-

more authentic

Education should stress personal growth, free inquiry,creativity

Get kids out of factory and into school-

laws eliminating

child labor part of education reforms

had to fight resistance of both families and employers on

this

This a key method of changing the environment

d l


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Progressive Agenda: Social

Reform

Juvenile courts

Liberalized divorcelaws Safety regulations housing andfactories Reformingcriminals

not just punishing

Aid to economic

downtrodden Civil rights anti-lynching political rights

equality??

Promotion ofmorality stop prostitution limit hours of bars

P i A d


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Progressive Agenda:

Economic ReformMain goal: control excesses of the rich and of

big businesses; govt. restrains bigbusiness to prevent it from doing justanything it wishes

Anti-Trust legislation Progressive income taxExcessive wealth causing bad behavior among

rich- so give some to the poor. Environmental protectionRegulate industries to protect public

Food safety

Dru safet


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The Republican Roosevelt

Often defied convention Brought an exuberance to the

presidency Surrounded himself with able

associates


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Busting the Trusts

1902: Wave of trust-busting led by

suit against Northern SecuritiesCompany

1904: Northern Securities dissolved Roosevelt reputed a "trust-buster"

Comparatively few antitrust casesunder Roosevelt, Taft did almost

twice as many in half the time

"S D l" i h


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"Square Deal" in the

Coalfields 1902: United Mine Workers strike in

Pennsylvania threatened U.S.economy

U.M.W., companies to White House Roosevelt won company concessions

by threatening military seizure ofmines

Roosevelt acted as broker of interests

R lt P i i


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Roosevelt Progressivism

at Its Height 1904A four-way election

RepublicanTheodore Roosevelt

DemocratAlton B. Parker

SocialistEugene V. Debs

ProhibitionSilas C. Swallow

Roosevelt won 57% of popular vote,336 electoral votes


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The Election of 1904


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Regulating the Railroads

1903: Elkins Act prohibited railroad rebates,strengthened Interstate Commerce Commission

Widespread popular demand for further railroadregulation after Roosevelts reelection

1906: Hepburn Act further strengthened InterstateCommerce Commission

Membership from five to seven

May fix reasonable maximum rates

Jurisdiction broadened to include oil pipeline,express, sleeping car companies

Cl i U F d d


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Cleaning Up Food and

Drugs Upton Sinclairs The Jungle (1906) promptedfederal investigation of meatpacking industry 1906: Meat Inspection Act

Sets rules for sanitary meatpacking

Requires government inspection of meat products Samuel Hopkins Adams exposed dangers ofpatent medicines 1906: Pure Food and Drug Act

Required manufacturers to list certain ingredients

Banned manufacture and sale of adulterated drugs


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Conserving the Land

First comprehensive national conservation

policy Roosevelt worked with Gifford Pinchot, chiefof Forest Service Policy defined conservation as wise use ofnatural resources

Quadrupled acreage under federalprotection

N ti l P k d


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National Parks and

Forests

C h L d


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Conserving the Land

Roosevelts challenge

Attacked malefactors of great wealth Criticized conservatism of federal courts Agitated for pro-labor legislation Popular response Business leaders blamed for financialpanic Overwhelming majority support

Th O d l f


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The Ordeal of

William Howard Taft

Taft: Able administrator, poorpresident

Conservative Republicans resurgent

Taft lost support of Progressives


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The Election of 1908


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Party Insurgency

Tariff split Republicans

Progressives: high tariff favoredtrusts

Conservatives: high tariff protectedbusiness1909 Payne-Aldrich Act provoked

Progressives to break with Taft

Th B lli Pi h t


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The Ballinger-Pinchot

Affair Gifford Pinchot leading

conservationist, Rooseveltappointee

Pinchot accused Interior SecretaryRichard Ballinger of selling public

lands to friends Taft fired Pinchot

Progressives antagonized

Taft Alienates the


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Taft Alienates the

Progressives 1910: Taft successfully pushed Mann-

Elkins Act to strengthen ICC Empowers ICC to fix railroad rates

Progressive Republicans attacked Tafts

plan of a Commerce Court to hear ICCappeals

Progressives obstructed Tafts

negotiations 1910: Taft attacked Progressive

Republicans, Democrats gained Congress

Taft Alienates the


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Taft Alienates the

Progressives

Legislation protecting laborers

Sixteenth Amendment created incometax Taft a greater trustbuster thanRoosevelt Taft, Roosevelt attackd one anotherpublicly

1912: Taft renominated by Republicans,little chance for victory

Diff i Phil hi i th


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Differing Philosophies in the

Election of 1912 Roosevelt: Progressive ("Bull Moose")

New Nationalism

Federal regulation of economy

Wasteful competition replaced by efficiency

Woodrow Wilson: Democrat

"New Freedom" for individual

Restrain big business, government

Democrats won White House, Congress


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Woodrow Wilson's


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Woodrow Wilson s

New Freedom Woodrow Wilson: Former president

of Princeton, governor of New Jersey Progressive, intellectual, inspiring

orator One of America's most effective

presidents

The New Freedom in


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The New Freedom in

Action

1913: Underwood Tariff cut duties

1913: Federal Reserve Act reformedbanks, established stable currency 1914: Clayton Antitrust Act outlawedunfair trade practices, protected unions 1914: Federal Trade Commission

New Freedom in Action:


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New Freedom in Action:

Retreating from Reform November, 1914: Wilson announces "New

Freedom" has been achieved It was a time of healing because a time ofjust dealing Statement stunned many progressives

Wilson Moves Toward the


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New Nationalism Reasons for the move

Distracted by the outbreak of war inEurope Needed conservative Southern support

Republicans seemed to gain by

attacking his programs 1916: Presidential election



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New Nationalism Wilson renewed reform in reelection bid

Federal Farm Loan Act

Intervened in strikes on behalf of workers

Attempted to ban child labor

Increased income taxes on the rich

Supported womens suffrage

Program won Wilson a close election

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