The Origins of the Progressive Movement

•The US was struggling on many levels by the turn of the century.

•Political corruption was rampant in all levels of government

•Working class and lower class American were being exploited by big business

•Many Americans had just about given up until a team of reformers began to shake things up and make changes.

•Who might you ask, was this team?

It wasn’t this team, even though they are the best ever.

Nor this team, even though these guys are very intimidating.

Wasn’t these guys either, all though they probably would have solved every problem.

Turns out it was this “team”.

GENERAL GOALS• The Progressive movement will appeal to many Americans

due to its broad, all encompassing goals which are:1. Protecting social welfare2. Promoting moral improvement3. Creating economic reform4. Fostering efficiency

• These broad goals will allow the movement to attract people from all social classes, backgrounds, professions, and political parties

• By 1910 the Progressive movement is considered the cat’s pajamas by most Americans

• Protecting social welfare focused on solving urban problems

• The YMCA, Salvation Army, and settlement houses all helped

• Florence “don’t dare call me Flo the lady from the Progrssive commercials” Kelly became an advocate for women and children

• Promoting moral reform focuses on prohibition

• WCTU, Anti-Saloon League all fight to see alcohol banned.

• Creating economic reform focused on correcting the free enterprise system

• Socialism appealed to Eugene “the dancing machine” Debs

• Muckrakers exposed the corrupt side of government and industry

• Fostering efficiency focused on applying scientific principles to government and industry

• Henry “the hammer” Ford applied these principles by creating the assembly line and he made lots of cars and lots and lots of money

• Efforts to reform corrupt local governments see the creation of the council-manager and commission forms of government

• State level reform is led by Wisconsin Governor Robert “The Bigcat” LaFollette

• Other states see laws passed to protect workers. Maximum hour, overtime, workman’s comp, minimum wage, age restriction laws are passed in many states

• Election reforms in some states leads to secret ballots, initiatives, referendums, recalls, and the 17th Amendment