The ProgressivesThe Progressives

Q: Why were the Progressives Q: Why were the Progressives more successful at achieving more successful at achieving their goals than the Populists?their goals than the Populists?

I. What and WhoI. What and Who Progressive movement(s): series of Progressive movement(s): series of

movements to renovate/restore American movements to renovate/restore American society, values, institutionssociety, values, institutions Diff. motives + tactics, sometimes at oddsDiff. motives + tactics, sometimes at odds Legacy of social activismLegacy of social activism forerunner of New Deal forerunner of New Deal

3 goals: 1) end abuses of political/economic 3 goals: 1) end abuses of political/economic power; 2) reform institutions power; 2) reform institutions (government/education) to address problems (government/education) to address problems (poverty); 3) apply scientific expertise(poverty); 3) apply scientific expertise Centrist, moderate: laissez-faire obsolete, but Centrist, moderate: laissez-faire obsolete, but

rejected radicalism (v. few joined socialists)rejected radicalism (v. few joined socialists)

Motivated by:Motivated by:

1) Belief direct gov’t action, when guided 1) Belief direct gov’t action, when guided by experts, can benefit society,by experts, can benefit society,

2) Foreign examples (Euro: city planning, 2) Foreign examples (Euro: city planning, suffrage, old-age insurance)suffrage, old-age insurance)

3) Social Gospel 3) Social Gospel 4) Working-class experience4) Working-class experience “bread + “bread +

butter reforms” butter reforms” 5) Humanitarianism (esp. upper class)5) Humanitarianism (esp. upper class) 6) Stability (biz leaders)6) Stability (biz leaders) 7) Apparent collapse Gilded Age politics: 7) Apparent collapse Gilded Age politics:

turnout falling, party loyalty collapsingturnout falling, party loyalty collapsing opening for interest groupsopening for interest groups

““Populists who moved to the cities”: view Populists who moved to the cities”: view city w/alarm (greed, immorality, vice), but city w/alarm (greed, immorality, vice), but Prog see as not necessarily badProg see as not necessarily bad

Southern Progressives: sim. to N, but Southern Progressives: sim. to N, but marred by maintenance white supremacymarred by maintenance white supremacy N + W also marked by racismN + W also marked by racism

Most influential: well-educated WASPs Most influential: well-educated WASPs (lawyers, educators, doctors, small (lawyers, educators, doctors, small businessmen)businessmen) faith in rational thought and faith in rational thought and driven by moral mission: “humanity’s driven by moral mission: “humanity’s universal growth”, utopianismuniversal growth”, utopianism

Opponents: 1) biz (defend free enterprise), Opponents: 1) biz (defend free enterprise), 2) Supreme Court (strict construction), 3) 2) Supreme Court (strict construction), 3) Major parties (undermined power)Major parties (undermined power)

II. Progressive ReformsII. Progressive Reforms

A. Local: Undermining the A. Local: Undermining the BossesBosses

Run “good government Run “good government reformers” (“goo-goos”) to reformers” (“goo-goos”) to reform from w/inreform from w/in city city managers + commissionsmanagers + commissions

Settlement Houses + poverty Settlement Houses + poverty reliefrelief

MuckrakerMuckraker Lincoln Steffens Lincoln Steffens TR: TR: Pilgrim’s PassagePilgrim’s Passage, focused , focused

on problemson problems

B. State + NationalB. State + National

1. Leaders1. Leaders ““Battling Bob” La Follette (WI): goal Battling Bob” La Follette (WI): goal

“not to ‘smash’ corporations, but to “not to ‘smash’ corporations, but to drive them out of politics, and then to drive them out of politics, and then to treat them exactly the same as other treat them exactly the same as other people are treated.” (later US Senator)people are treated.” (later US Senator)

Hiram Johnson (CA): 1 of strongest Hiram Johnson (CA): 1 of strongest Prog. movements in nation: opp. to Prog. movements in nation: opp. to Southern Pacific RxR: controls 90% Southern Pacific RxR: controls 90% transport + state legis.transport + state legis.1910 elect HJ 1910 elect HJ + Prog. Legis.+ Prog. Legis.

2. Reforms2. Reforms

DemocracyDemocracy Direct primaries (undermine party conventions), Direct primaries (undermine party conventions),

initiatives, referendum, recallinitiatives, referendum, recall Often fell under control of well-funded special-interest Often fell under control of well-funded special-interest

groupsgroups Woman suffrage: “cleaning up” gov’t [States Woman suffrage: “cleaning up” gov’t [States

(esp. W) grant suffrage before 19(esp. W) grant suffrage before 19thth in 1920] in 1920] Politics did Politics did notnot change dramatically change dramatically

Bosses controlled elections through organizationBosses controlled elections through organization Women did not vote diff. (gender gap)Women did not vote diff. (gender gap) White supremacy and nativismWhite supremacy and nativism

MoralityMorality

Ban prostitution/white slavery (1910: Ban prostitution/white slavery (1910: Mann Act)Mann Act)

GamblingGambling Prohibition: “local option”: Prohibition: “local option”:

cities/states can ban (1919: 18cities/states can ban (1919: 18thth Amend)Amend) As before, major push women: Women’s As before, major push women: Women’s

Christian Temperance UnionChristian Temperance Union

Labor and BusinessLabor and Business 1906: Pure Food and Drug Act + Meat 1906: Pure Food and Drug Act + Meat

Inspection ActInspection Act Upton Sinclair, Upton Sinclair, The JungleThe Jungle

Aimed for their hearts, hit them in their stomachsAimed for their hearts, hit them in their stomachs National Child Labor CommitteeNational Child Labor Committee child labor child labor

lawslaws Little change: not enough enforcement, families Little change: not enough enforcement, families

needed children to workneeded children to work Muller v.Muller v. OregonOregon (1908): limits women’s work (1908): limits women’s work

hourshours Split among Prog./feminists: should women be Split among Prog./feminists: should women be

treated diff?; split middle/working: women need to treated diff?; split middle/working: women need to workwork

Lochner v. NY Lochner v. NY (1905) Court voided work-hour (1905) Court voided work-hour limits for male bakerslimits for male bakers

3. Ambiguities3. Ambiguities Anti-Immigration (push 1921 + 1924 laws)Anti-Immigration (push 1921 + 1924 laws) 1913: Alien Land Act (CA, OR, WA): bars 1913: Alien Land Act (CA, OR, WA): bars

immigrants (esp. Japanese) from owning immigrants (esp. Japanese) from owning landland

Eugenics: forced sterilization “defectives” Eugenics: forced sterilization “defectives” (30 states legalize by 1930)(30 states legalize by 1930) California: about 20,000 mentally ill and California: about 20,000 mentally ill and

criminalscriminals Skinner v. Oklahoma (1942): Supreme Court Skinner v. Oklahoma (1942): Supreme Court

upholds State laws; last use 1981 in Oregonupholds State laws; last use 1981 in Oregon

III. Progressive WomenIII. Progressive Women

““Woman Movement”: women, as Woman Movement”: women, as mothers, could humanize society & mothers, could humanize society & correct problems (J. Addams)correct problems (J. Addams) Club movementClub movement

Feminism: equal rights & challenged Feminism: equal rights & challenged sex-typing/ stereotypessex-typing/ stereotypes Tend to be younger and more radicalTend to be younger and more radical

Florence Kelley: National Consumer’s Florence Kelley: National Consumer’s League: white ribbonsLeague: white ribbons combine combine power of consumer’s w/needs of power of consumer’s w/needs of workersworkers

Charlotte Perkins Gilman: Charlotte Perkins Gilman: Women and Women and EconomicsEconomics (1898): radical rejection (1898): radical rejection domesticity + female innocencedomesticity + female innocence women into industry, treat domestic women into industry, treat domestic work as real work (paid + regulated)work as real work (paid + regulated)

Frances Willard: head WCTUFrances Willard: head WCTU expand to “do everything”expand to “do everything” vice in vice in general, suffragegeneral, suffrage Link prohibition + suffrageLink prohibition + suffrage liquor liquor

industry opposes suffrageindustry opposes suffrage

Margaret SangerMargaret Sanger: nurse in NYC : nurse in NYC for immigrants (stairs, lye, coat for immigrants (stairs, lye, coat hangers) hangers)

Opposed abortion but info about Opposed abortion but info about birth control illegal (Comstock birth control illegal (Comstock Laws: moral reform)Laws: moral reform) “The “The Woman Rebel” + direct action + Woman Rebel” + direct action + Birth Control Federation of Birth Control Federation of America (later Planned America (later Planned Parenthood)Parenthood) 1936 Supreme 1936 Supreme Court legalizes prescription birth Court legalizes prescription birth controlcontrol However: found eugenics rhetoric However: found eugenics rhetoric

gained her supportgained her support 1973 Roe v Wade1973 Roe v Wade

IV. Fighting Jim CrowIV. Fighting Jim CrowA. Booker T. Washington and Self-HelpA. Booker T. Washington and Self-Help

Assimilation through temporary acceptance of Assimilation through temporary acceptance of subordination/ segregationsubordination/ segregation

Called for hard work & dignity of “common labor” as Called for hard work & dignity of “common labor” as paths to acceptance/ successpaths to acceptance/ success ““In all things that are purely social we can be as In all things that are purely social we can be as

separate as the fingers, yet one as the hand in all separate as the fingers, yet one as the hand in all things essential to mutual progress.”things essential to mutual progress.”

Vocational school (Tuskegee, 1881)Vocational school (Tuskegee, 1881) Washington did Washington did notnot argue blacks inferior argue blacks inferior White leaders praised Washington’s accommodationism White leaders praised Washington’s accommodationism

& gradualism& gradualism

B. W.E.B. Du Bois & the B. W.E.B. Du Bois & the “Talented Tenth”“Talented Tenth”

To other blacks, Washington’s ideas degrading To other blacks, Washington’s ideas degrading Niagara meeting (1905) demanded rights nowNiagara meeting (1905) demanded rights now Du Bois = a Progressive & a sociologistDu Bois = a Progressive & a sociologist Called for educated black elite to lead chargeCalled for educated black elite to lead charge Founded NAACP (1909) to use courts to Founded NAACP (1909) to use courts to

challenge discrimination (Ida B. Wells + Anti-challenge discrimination (Ida B. Wells + Anti-Lynching crusade) & gain voteLynching crusade) & gain vote

Debate continued over whether to join white Debate continued over whether to join white society or preserve aspects of black culturesociety or preserve aspects of black culture

Despite reformers Despite reformers in all levels of gov, in all levels of gov, white Progressives white Progressives did little to aid did little to aid blacksblacks No action on No action on

lynching, 1896 lynching, 1896 Plessy v. FergusonPlessy v. Ferguson

Some econ + pol Some econ + pol gains in urban gains in urban N+W (Harlem N+W (Harlem Renaissance in Renaissance in 1920s)1920s)

V. Progressive PresidentsV. Progressive PresidentsA. Theodore Roosevelt (1901–A. Theodore Roosevelt (1901–

1909) 1909) Most forceful president since Most forceful president since

LincolnLincoln Shaped office for 20th-century by his Shaped office for 20th-century by his

activityactivity Wealthy but concerned for less Wealthy but concerned for less

fortunatefortunate In age of industry, U.S.G. must In age of industry, U.S.G. must

guide economic development to guide economic development to protect public good: Began protect public good: Began government regulationgovernment regulation

Trust Busting: TR Trust Busting: TR enforces Sherman Anti-enforces Sherman Anti-Trust (tobacco, oil, RxR) Trust (tobacco, oil, RxR) Ida Tarbell, Ida Tarbell, The History of The History of

the Standard Oil Companythe Standard Oil Company Roosevelt accepted Roosevelt accepted

consolidation as efficientconsolidation as efficient Distinguished b/t good & Distinguished b/t good &

bad trusts bad trusts More regulation but More regulation but

compromised w/ trusts compromised w/ trusts Cut deal w/ J.P. Morgan to Cut deal w/ J.P. Morgan to

stem 1907 financial stem 1907 financial panic (stop dumping panic (stop dumping stocks/expand US Steel); stocks/expand US Steel); criticized “bad” trustscriticized “bad” trusts

ConservationConservation Roosevelt loved outdoors Roosevelt loved outdoors

and praised efficiencyand praised efficiency conservation of resourcesconservation of resources

Kept U.S.G. control of Kept U.S.G. control of public lands in West, public lands in West, expand forests + parksexpand forests + parks

Worked w/ Gifford Pinchot Worked w/ Gifford Pinchot & new U.S. Forest Service & new U.S. Forest Service to stop to stop overuseoveruse of public of public lands by businesslands by business

B. Taft Administration B. Taft Administration (1909–1913)(1909–1913)

Offended reformers on tariff: Offended reformers on tariff: allowed to stay highallowed to stay high

1910 fires Pinchot over water 1910 fires Pinchot over water + coal+ coal

But: Taft prosecuted more But: Taft prosecuted more trusts, expanded national trusts, expanded national forests, strengthened ICC, forests, strengthened ICC, supported labor reform, 16supported labor reform, 16thth + + 1717thth

Lacked Roosevelt’s ability to Lacked Roosevelt’s ability to mold public opinionmold public opinion

1912 Election1912 Election Splintering RepublicansSplintering Republicans TR bolted TR bolted

Progressive or Bull Moose Party Progressive or Bull Moose Party TR platform: TR platform: New NationalismNew Nationalism: gov : gov

coordinated economy w/big biz: coordinated economy w/big biz: notnot destroy big businesses / ensure destroy big businesses / ensure public goodpublic good

Taft (R) and Woodrow Wilson (D)Taft (R) and Woodrow Wilson (D) WW: WW: New FreedomNew Freedom: Rejected TR’s gov-big : Rejected TR’s gov-big

business cooperation: trusts business cooperation: trusts threaten threaten libertyliberty break-up, continue gov. regulation break-up, continue gov. regulation 3-way race: WW 42% pop, overwhelming 3-way race: WW 42% pop, overwhelming

electoralelectoral

C. Woodrow Wilson (1913-C. Woodrow Wilson (1913-1921)1921)

In office, mixed New Freedom/ New NationalismIn office, mixed New Freedom/ New Nationalism 1913: Fed. Reserve Act1913: Fed. Reserve Act Board shaped interest Board shaped interest

rates (monetary policy) + regulated banksrates (monetary policy) + regulated banks 1914 Clayton Anti-Trust Act: strengthened 1914 Clayton Anti-Trust Act: strengthened

Sherman, created Federal Trade Commission to Sherman, created Federal Trade Commission to enforceenforce

Underwood Tariff (1913) reduced rates & levies Underwood Tariff (1913) reduced rates & levies first U.S. income tax (16first U.S. income tax (16thth Amendment) Amendment)