progressivism. collection of ideas to solve problems in american society, many of which grew out of...
TRANSCRIPT
Progressivism
Collection of ideas to solve problems in American society, many of which grew out of industry Examples of problems with industry?
Believed laissez-faire economics and unregulated market cause problems Examples of problems due to laissez-faire
economics?
What is Progressivism?
Fix current government, then government can fix problems Major ideas of reform?
Strong belief in science and technology Why?
Progressive Ideals
Crusading journalists who investigated social conditions and political corruption Where did they get the name from?
Examples Charles Edward Russell (Everybody’s Magazine): Beef Industry Ida Tarbell (McClure’s): Standard Oil Lincoln Steffens (Shame of Cities): Political Machines Jacob Riis (How the Other Half Lives): Urban life Upton Sinclair (The Jungle): Meat Industry
Muckrakers
1848: Elizabeth Cady Stanton & Seneca Falls Biggest Issue: Civil War & Slavery
Questions over how to approach issue in late 19th Century
Paid lobbyists, delivered speeches, organized marches March on DC before Wilson’s inauguration Questions still around about how to approach issue
w/ Wilson
NAWSA: Carrie Chapman Catt and the final push
Women’s Suffrage
Women’s Suffrage Map
Child Labor Laws Breaker Boys, Farm Workers
Health Codes Worker’s Compensation Laws,
Restaurant Codes
Prohibition Women’s Christian Temperance
Union
Progressive Reforms
PROGRESSIVISMUnited States History
Progressive Ideas
Essentially a movement based in responses to America’s problems
Laissez-Faire policies do not work
Science and technology will help society
Industrialization/Urbanization cause problems
Government should fix problems, but government itself needs to be reformed
Muckrakers
Crusading journalists who investigated social conditions and political corruption Charles Edward Russell
attacked the beef industry in Everybody’s Magazine
Ida Tarbell crushed Standard Oil Company in McClure’s
Lincoln Steffens exposed voting fraud in Shame of Cities
Jacob Riis photographed inner-city life in How the Other Half Lives
Democratic Reforms
Robert LaFollette, Governor of Wisconsin Pushed for direct primaries, where people
voted for a candidate to run in the general election
Other Progressive Reforms Initiative: citizen-introduced legislation Referendum: citizens vote on proposed
laws Recall: voters can have special election
to remove government official Direct election of Senators
Other Reforms Happening
Women’s Suffrage
Child Labor
Health Codes and Worker Safety Laws
Prohibition (WCTU)
Big Business Breakdown
Theodore Roosevelt
Social Darwinist
Reform Plans (Square Deal) Took on big business Roosevelt (big stick) with 1902 mine
strike Government sets railroad rates and
regulates some business (Hepburn Act) Protect Consumers (Meat Inspection Act
and Pure Food & Drug Act) after Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle
Environmental Conservation
William Howard Taft
Succeeded Roosevelt…perfect for job?
Tariff Reform (Roosevelt warns about splitting party)
New Secretary of Interior Ballinger Tries to turn protected lands into private development Pinchot fired for insubordination (disobedience to
authority)
Passed many Progressive Reforms
Woodrow Wilson’s Rise
Roosevelt challenges Taft for Republican nomination Splits party (Republicans and Progressives/Bull
Moose) Wilson wins easily
Wilson Reforms (New Freedom) Lowered tariffs, levied income taxes Federal Reserve created Federal Trade Commission to watchdog
business
Progressive Thinkers
Teddy Roosevelt
Square Deal Programs Economy, Conservation
Draw line against misconduct, not wealth Trusts help economy more often than not
Don’t promote self interest at nation’s expense (ex—Coal Strike of 1902)
Regulate industry through negotiations
New Nationalism (1912)
William Howard Taft
Perfect replacement for TR…or so they thought
Replaced many of TR’s reformers and upset progressives with environmental stance
Actually a stronger trustbuster and conservationist than Roosevelt
Woodrow Wilson
“New Freedom” Reforms
Believed monopolies should be destroyed
Promoted “freedom” over “efficiency”
Reduced tariffs on goods and created the income tax
Attacked child labor and banks
Key Acts
Sherman Antitrust Act Prohibited conspiracy to restrain trade across
state lines
Interstate Commerce Commission Limited railroad rates to reasonable and just
rates and made it illegal to charge more for shorter hauls
Hepburn Act Strengthened ICC by allowing them to set rates
More Acts
Payne-Aldrich Tariff Taft wanted to lower tariffs, TR tells him to avoid
topic Ends up doing very little, but divides party
Underwood Tariff Act Lowered tariffs and created an income tax on
individuals
Federal Reserve Act Indirectly controls interest rates and money
circulation
More Acts
Federal Trade Commission Stop unfair trade practices that hurt
competition
Clayton Antitrust Act Toughened Sherman Act, and added guidelines
on stock sales, price regulation, and trade
Others to note… Keating-Owen Child Labor (declared
unconstitutional in 2 years) and Adamson Act (8 hour worked)
The Good and Bad of Progressivism
Good Health Reforms New Regulations Women’s Rights
Bad Racial and Religious Equality not addressed Some acts declared unconstitutional