The Progressive EraThe Progressive Era

What is progressivism?What is progressivism?

Progressivism deals with addressing Progressivism deals with addressing problems in government and society and problems in government and society and taking action in order to change them for taking action in order to change them for the better. the better.

This desire for change gained support in This desire for change gained support in the late 1800’s and continued till roughly the late 1800’s and continued till roughly 1920.1920.

Who were progressives? Who were progressives?

The Progressive The Progressive movement is best movement is best understood as a common understood as a common spirit of an age rather spirit of an age rather than as an organized than as an organized group of people or a group of people or a political party. political party. Progressives included Progressives included farmers, urban business farmers, urban business leaders, professional leaders, professional leaders, white middle leaders, white middle class, immigrant working class, immigrant working class, Democrats, class, Democrats, Republicans, Populists, Republicans, Populists, and Socialists. and Socialists.

What were the goals of What were the goals of progressives?progressives?

Most Progressives did not Most Progressives did not support dramatic social, support dramatic social, economic, or political economic, or political change.  change. 

They wanted:They wanted: a government active in the a government active in the

economy and society.  economy and society.  a government to be free at a government to be free at

all levels of corruption and all levels of corruption and inefficiency. inefficiency.

Social welfare programs for Social welfare programs for citizenscitizens

Workplace ReformWorkplace Reform

A dangerous workplaceA dangerous workplace

As a result of As a result of industrialization, workers industrialization, workers labored on average 54 labored on average 54 hours/weekhours/week

These long hours caused These long hours caused America to have higher America to have higher accident rates than other accident rates than other industrialized countries.industrialized countries.

Why so many long Why so many long hours?hours?

Big business was too Big business was too powerfulpowerful

Reforming the WorkplaceReforming the Workplace

In 1916, the In 1916, the Commission on Commission on Industrial Relations Industrial Relations reported on women’s reported on women’s salaries and child salaries and child labor.labor.Their findings helped Their findings helped bring about legislation bring about legislation to improve these to improve these inequalities.inequalities.

Labor LawsLabor Laws

Reformers worked to Reformers worked to pass laws limiting or pass laws limiting or restricting child labor.restricting child labor. By 1912, 39 states had By 1912, 39 states had

passed these types of passed these types of laws.laws.

In addition, reformers In addition, reformers worked to ensure a worked to ensure a minimum wage for minimum wage for workers.workers.States began to States began to gradually adopt this gradually adopt this measuremeasure

Workplace safetyWorkplace safety

The Triangle The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire was a Shirtwaist Fire was a huge catalyst for huge catalyst for progressives to enact progressives to enact workplace safety workplace safety standards and laws.standards and laws.

The Rise of Labor UnionsThe Rise of Labor UnionsLabor unions joined Labor unions joined progressives in their progressives in their movement for better working movement for better working conditions.conditions.Some unions favored a Some unions favored a closed shop, as well as, closed shop, as well as, socialism.socialism.

Closed ShopClosed Shop: a workplace : a workplace where all employees must where all employees must belong to a union.belong to a union.

SocialismSocialism: economic : economic theory where the theory where the government or workers government or workers control factories and control factories and industries. industries.

UnionsUnionsSome unions included:Some unions included: AFLAFL – American – American

Federation of LaborFederation of Labor ILGWUILGWU – International – International

Ladies’ Garment Ladies’ Garment Workers UnionWorkers Union

IWWIWW – Industrial – Industrial Workers of the WorldWorkers of the World

What do you think this cartoon What do you think this cartoon is saying?is saying?

Government CorruptionGovernment CorruptionGraft and government Graft and government corruption from the corruption from the Gilded Age spilled over Gilded Age spilled over into the 20into the 20thth century. century.Progressives aimed at Progressives aimed at correcting these evils and correcting these evils and returning to honest returning to honest government.government.

Reforming ElectionsReforming ElectionsProgressives wanted to Progressives wanted to change the way elections change the way elections worked by instituting a worked by instituting a few specific reforms:few specific reforms:

Direct primaryDirect primary 1717thth Amendment Amendment InitiativeInitiative ReferendumReferendum RecallRecall

Direct PrimaryDirect PrimaryDirect Primary – voters Direct Primary – voters pick the candidates to run pick the candidates to run in a general election.in a general election.This took power away This took power away from political bosses.from political bosses.

A Direct Primary is almost as cool as my shades!!!

1717thth Amendment Amendment1717thth Amendment – voters elect Amendment – voters elect their senators directlytheir senators directly Take Route 17 to

elect your own senator

InitiativeInitiativeInitiative – gives voters Initiative – gives voters the power to initiate the power to initiate legislationlegislation

“

INITIATE!!!!!!!!

ReferendumReferendumReferendum – allows Referendum – allows voters to approve or veto voters to approve or veto a recently passed law.a recently passed law.

“

REF-erendum….”I approve that play!”

RecallRecallRecall – enables voters to Recall – enables voters to remove an elected official remove an elected official from office.from office.

“

I Love Recalls!!!!

Reforming City GovernmentReforming City Government

City Government City Government Corruption was Corruption was addressed by addressed by progressive mayors progressive mayors who gained office with who gained office with the promise to clean the promise to clean things up.things up.Mother Nature also Mother Nature also played a role in played a role in reforming city reforming city government.government.

The Galveston HurricaneThe Galveston Hurricane

A hurricane struck A hurricane struck Galveston, TX in 1900 Galveston, TX in 1900 and killed at least 6,000and killed at least 6,000To rebuild the city, the To rebuild the city, the state legislature formed a state legislature formed a five person commission. five person commission. These members were These members were

experts in their field experts in their field rather than party rather than party loyalists.loyalists.

The city soon recovered The city soon recovered and other cities and other cities established similar established similar commissions commissions

Theodore RooseveltTheodore Roosevelt

Roosevelt’s political careerRoosevelt’s political career

In 1900, Roosevelt ran as the running In 1900, Roosevelt ran as the running mate of William McKinley.mate of William McKinley.

Roosevelt was considered a reformer as Roosevelt was considered a reformer as governor of New York and his opponents governor of New York and his opponents thought him running as V.P. would help thought him running as V.P. would help silence him….why is that?silence him….why is that?

McKinley won reelection and Roosevelt McKinley won reelection and Roosevelt became Vice Presidentbecame Vice President

Roosevelt becomes PresidentRoosevelt becomes PresidentOn September 6, 1901, On September 6, 1901, McKinley was shot at the McKinley was shot at the Pan-American Exposition Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo by Leon in Buffalo by Leon Czolgosz.Czolgosz.

Roosevelt took over as Roosevelt took over as President at the age of 42. President at the age of 42. He was the youngest He was the youngest person to ever do so.person to ever do so.

He took a very active role He took a very active role in government as opposed in government as opposed to his predecessors.to his predecessors.

Roosevelt and his Square DealRoosevelt and his Square Deal

In 1902, 150,000 miners struck for higher wages.In 1902, 150,000 miners struck for higher wages.

Americans began to panic over the strike so TR Americans began to panic over the strike so TR stepped in.stepped in.

He urged both sides to accept arbitrationHe urged both sides to accept arbitration ArbitrationArbitration is the process by which 2 opposing sides allow a is the process by which 2 opposing sides allow a

third party to settle the disputethird party to settle the dispute

The strike ended as a result of the arbitration and it The strike ended as a result of the arbitration and it was seen as a huge success for TR and the federal was seen as a huge success for TR and the federal government.government.

The compromise was seen as a “square deal” and TR The compromise was seen as a “square deal” and TR used that as his campaign slogan in 1904.used that as his campaign slogan in 1904.

Roosevelt the TrustbusterRoosevelt the Trustbuster

TR sought to regulate large corporations.TR sought to regulate large corporations.

He was not anti-business; however, he was anti-He was not anti-business; however, he was anti-trust because they went against the public good.trust because they went against the public good.

He launched a campaign against these He launched a campaign against these organizations and won victories under the Sherman organizations and won victories under the Sherman Anti-Trust Act.Anti-Trust Act.

He also helped pass the He also helped pass the Elkins ActElkins Act and and Hepburn ActHepburn Act aimed at regulating the railroad industry.aimed at regulating the railroad industry. These acts significantly increased the power of the These acts significantly increased the power of the

Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC)Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC)..

TR Protects the ConsumerTR Protects the ConsumerFood and Drug companies were Food and Drug companies were altering their products to make altering their products to make them appear fresh and safe when them appear fresh and safe when in reality they were far from it.in reality they were far from it.

TR urged Congress to pass to TR urged Congress to pass to laws protecting American laws protecting American consumers:consumers:

Meat Inspection ActMeat Inspection Act: required : required federal inspection of meat federal inspection of meat shipped across state lines.shipped across state lines.

Pure Food and Drug ActPure Food and Drug Act: : forbade the manufacture, forbade the manufacture, sale, or transportation of food sale, or transportation of food and medicine containing and medicine containing harmful ingredients.harmful ingredients.

TR and the EnvironmentTR and the EnvironmentPerhaps TR’s greatest Perhaps TR’s greatest legacy was his work legacy was his work with with conservationconservation..

Because of his efforts, Because of his efforts, Congress set up Congress set up national parks national parks across across the country.the country.

In addition, a In addition, a National National Conservation Conservation CommissionCommission was was formedformed

Thanks Teddy!!!!

Campaign SloganCampaign Slogan

It is 1904 and you are working for Teddy It is 1904 and you are working for Teddy Roosevelt’s campaign. In pairs, use what Roosevelt’s campaign. In pairs, use what you know and create a campaign slogan you know and create a campaign slogan for TR. Remember, campaign slogan’s for TR. Remember, campaign slogan’s should be short, to the point, and explain should be short, to the point, and explain what a voter can expect from the what a voter can expect from the candidate.candidate.

Taft and the ProgressivesTaft and the Progressives

William Taft followed William Taft followed the lead set by the lead set by Roosevelt.Roosevelt.

Taft Reforms:Taft Reforms: Broke up more Broke up more

truststrusts Approved new mine Approved new mine

safety rulessafety rules Eight hour day for Eight hour day for

government workersgovernment workers

Wilson in the White HouseWilson in the White House

Woodrow Wilson became Woodrow Wilson became President in 1912President in 1912Wilson’s reforms:Wilson’s reforms:

Lowered tariffsLowered tariffs Clayton Antitrust Act: Clayton Antitrust Act:

stated what corporations stated what corporations could not docould not do

Federal Reserve Act: Federal Reserve Act: created a system of federal created a system of federal banksbanks

Federal Trade Federal Trade Commission: investigated Commission: investigated companies thought to have companies thought to have unfair business practicesunfair business practices

Working for Women’s SuffrageWorking for Women’s Suffrage

Following the Civil War, Following the Civil War, Elizabeth Cady & Susan B. Elizabeth Cady & Susan B. Anthony fought diligently to Anthony fought diligently to gain women’s suffrage, or gain women’s suffrage, or the right to vote.the right to vote.They set up the National They set up the National Woman Suffrage Woman Suffrage Association (NWSA), which Association (NWSA), which was a group that worked for was a group that worked for a constitutional amendment a constitutional amendment to give women the right to to give women the right to vote.vote.

Support Grows for SuffrageSupport Grows for Suffrage

After the death of Stanton & Anthony, After the death of Stanton & Anthony, Carrie Chapman Catt took over leadership Carrie Chapman Catt took over leadership of the NWSA.of the NWSA.She implemented a strategy to win the She implemented a strategy to win the right to vote state by state.right to vote state by state.She was followed by many suffragists, or She was followed by many suffragists, or people who worked for women’s right to people who worked for women’s right to vote.vote.Women began to call for a constitutional Women began to call for a constitutional amendment to give them the right to vote amendment to give them the right to vote in all elections.in all elections.

1919thth Amendment Amendment

Suffragists, like Alice Paul, Suffragists, like Alice Paul, took radical steps to gain took radical steps to gain women’s suffrage.women’s suffrage.

She was jailed and went on She was jailed and went on hunger strikeshunger strikes

Paul, along with other Paul, along with other women, began to picket the women, began to picket the White House in 1917.White House in 1917.

They achieved victory They achieved victory when in 1919, Congress when in 1919, Congress passed the Nineteenth passed the Nineteenth AmendmentAmendment

Progressive AmendmentsProgressive Amendments

1616thth – Income Tax – Income Tax

1717thth – Direct Election of Senators – Direct Election of Senators

1818thth – Manufacture and Sale of Alcoholic – Manufacture and Sale of Alcoholic Beverages was prohibited (Prohibition)Beverages was prohibited (Prohibition)

1919thth – Women granted full voting rights – Women granted full voting rights

Regulating Big BusinessRegulating Big Business

Interstate Commerce ActInterstate Commerce Act This act forbade practices such as pools and This act forbade practices such as pools and

rebates.rebates. It also set up the Interstate Commerce It also set up the Interstate Commerce

Commission, or ICC, to oversee the railroadsCommission, or ICC, to oversee the railroads

Sherman Antitrust ActSherman Antitrust Act This act prohibited trusts or other businesses This act prohibited trusts or other businesses

from limiting competition.from limiting competition. This act was difficult to enforce and was not This act was difficult to enforce and was not

very effective.very effective.