The Progressive Movement1890s-1920

Ms. Jerome

Ms. Jerome

What is the *Progressive Movement?An attempt to deal with the problems brought on by industrialization and urbanization

A search for order

Turn of the Century

Progressive movement sought change, equality and reform.

A new century…a new beginning Communism or SAVE CAPITALISM? HOW DO YOU SAVE CAPITALISM?

Does Communism sound good?

ELIMINATE private ownership Make companies government owned. SO WHY DIDN’T AMERICA TURN TO

SOCIALISM? WAS PUTTING GOVERNMENT IN CONTROL

OF BUSINESSES THE ANSWER? PROGRESSIVES THOUGHT OTHERWISE

Muckrackers

Goo

Goos

Temperance

Suffragettes

Populists

Midclass

Women

Labor

Unions

Civil

Rights

*PROGRESSIVES

Mission: to improve capitalism Make government more responsie to social

inequities Reform government and business, Ensure decent working conditions and wages Fair governmental rule.

Recap of Populists

Post Civil War return to the farm Overproduction of farm goods (remember

new machinery made farming faster, more efficient)

High cost of fertilizer, railroad transportation, seeds, machinery left farmers in debt to bankers.

Populist Party emerged

http://www.wwnorton.com/college/history/eamerica/media/ch22/resources/documents/populist.htm

Progressive Ideas

*Social Gospel: Protestant Christian Movement The Kingdom of God on earth could be achieved

not by striving for personal salvation but in the cause of social justice

*Walter Rauschenbusch: the leading early theologian of the Social Gospel in the United State

Progressive Ideas Cont’d

Philosophy of *Pragmatism Turn towards pragmatism and away from Social

Darwinism Turn away from “Absolute Truths” notion that

society has unchanging laws (e.g. you are poor because…)

Pragmatism is a turn towards judging consequences This happened because… NOT Because you are poor…

The of Progressive Movement;

Middle Class Women

Industrial system was in profound disorder. The middle class had to fight the wrongs of society.

It was a middle class task.* The rich wouldn’t * The poor couldn’t

Women for change

Think about it: If history was told though the lens of women, it would be a history of peace and social justice

Historically, women are the “social housekeepers”

Shouldered the burden of humanitarianism Foot soldiers for charity Lobbying and running settlement houses

Jane Addams andSettlement Houses Jane Addams is a poster-child for a female

progressive “Hull House” was a hallmark of social

progressivism. Women began to have a voice and wanted

more rights… Suffrage

*National Women’sTrade Union League Formed in 1903 Eliminate sweat shop conditions Effort to organize women in labor union Inspired by British women

Muller vs. Oregon*

1908 Topic: Sex Discrimination Restricted the working hours of women as

justified by the special state interest in protecting women's health.

"the difference between the sexes.“ child-bearing physiology and social role of

women provided a strong state interest in reducing their working hours.

Repercussions:

Was this court decision a milestone or a setback for women’s rights?

Distinguished between two groups of women activists: Feminists: sought equal-rights feminists Anti the notion of the separation of the sexes into

two stereotyped gender-roles

*Triangle Shirtwaist Fire

March 25, 1911 10th Story NYC building (downtown) 8th floor fire Seamstresses Mostly Immigrant women 146 jumped or burned to their deaths They had been locked in so they wouldn’t be

caught slacking on the job.

Results

Raised public awareness to realities of workplace conditions.

*“Feminism”

A new term during the Progressive era. Freedom for full personal development

Militantly pro-suffrage on the basis that they were just as good as men.

Women’s Suffrage: *Alice Paul

Picket Hunger Strikes in jail Against state-by-state women suffrage Forced Feeing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pO70ZjZ0wrw

Parade in Washington: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtUY-wVLdeY