Unit 12 the Progressive Reform Era (1890-1920)

Unit 2 1

Unit 12 – The Progressive Reform Era (1890-1920)

I. The Origins of Progressivism

A. The Progressive Era

 Who was Upton Sinclair?

1. The Roots of the 20th Century Reform . Progressives grew out of earlier reform movements such as the Populists. What was the big difference between the two?

. The new reformers were reacting to the effects of the era rapid industrialization, immigration and urbanization . Why were they called progressives?

2. The Progressives: Their Goals and Beliefs . This was not a single movement and progressivism was not a unified movement. . Most held (4) basic beliefs:

i. ii. iii. iv.

B. Igniting Reform: Writers and Their New Ideas

 the ideas of journalists and other writers had enormous influence on public opinion.

1. Two Early Reformers

. Henry George wrote Progress and Poverty and his big idea was to tax landowners on the value of their land. For what reason? . Edward Bellamy wrote of government ownership of big businesses so they would help people.

2. The Muckrakers . Were journalists who wrote to expose wrongdoings . Discuss the origin of the term

. Identify some famous muckrakers Unit 2 2

C. Progressive Reform Organizations

1. The Labor Movement . The union movement grew slowly in the 1890’s because employers discouraged workers from joining. . DEFINE injunction

2. Socialists . The Progressive Era saw a rise in the popularity of socialism – an economic and political philosophy favoring public or government control of property and income. . What did American socialists want?

. The Socialist Party of America was formed in 1901.

3. Women’s Groups . Women played a pivotal role in the reform movements of the Progressive Era. . National Consumers’ League (NCL)

D. Two Women Reformers

 Because so many urban women and children worked in factories, women’s organizations took a special interest in workplace reform.

1. Florence Kelley . Leader in the work for labor reforms . What are some accomplishments Kelley had?

2. Mother Jones . Irish immigrant who was inspired by her own personal convictions and tragedies. . Organized unions in the mines of West Virginia and Colorado.

E. Progressive Reform Meet With Resistance

 Why would poor families resist the Progressives? Unit 2 3

II. Progressive Legislation

 What was the Triangle Shirtwaist Company?

A. An Expanded Role for Government

 Progressives believed that the government ought to increase its responsibility for the welfare (well being) of people  They wanted more social welfare programs - Identify some of the programs they wanted.

B. Municipal Reforms

1. Attacking the Bosses . The power of the city bosses was a road block for progressive reform. . In some cities voter support for reforms prompted machines to work with reformers (improve city services)

2. New Forms of Municipal Government . Commission form of government – no mayor but 5 appointed administrators . What made Galveston, Texas turn to this system?

. Council manager system was used in Dayton, Ohio; elected city council and a professional city manager to run city services.

3. Cities Take Over Utilities . Reformers were successful in taking control of utilities from monopolies in some cities.

4. Providing Welfare Services . Public baths, parks and a work-relief program in Detroit and playgrounds, free kindergarten, housing for homeless in Toledo

C. State Reforms

1. More Power to Voters . Direct primary = . Initiative = . Referendum = . Recall =

. 17 Amendment = Direct election of Senators Unit 2 4

2. Reforms in the Workplace . States worked to curb workplace hazards. . Business owners successfully argued that the government should not interfere with private contracts. . Lochner v. New York 1905

. Muller v. Oregon 1908

3. Wisconsin’s Reform Governor . One of the most determined Progressives in US politics was Robert La Follette of Wisconsin. (3-term governor from Wisconsin) . What was the ‘Wisconsin Idea’?

D. Federal Reforms

 Theodore Roosevelt became president and he was a powerful voice of change – what was the “bully pulpit”?

1. TR’s Square Deal . TR intervened in a labor dispute between mine workers and management and worked out a “square deal”.

2. Anti-trust Activism . The Roosevelt administration filed 42 anti-trust actions . What was TR belief about trusts?

3. Protecting Public Health . Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection in 1906 – these laws required accurate labeling of ingredients, strict sanitary conditions and a rating system for meats.

4. A New Labor Department . A cabinet-level Department of Labor was added in 1913 to look out for workers.

5. New Constitutional Amendments . 16th Amendment =

. 17th Amendment =

. 18th Amendment = Unit 2 5

III. Progressivism Under Taft and Wilson

A. Taft’s Presidency

 With TR’s backing, Taft easily won the election of 1908 against Democrat William Jennings Bryan (who ran for the 3rd and last time!)

1. Conflict Over Tariffs . Taft wanted to lower taxes, but the Senate out maneuvered him. . What did the Payne-Aldrich Tariff do?

2. The Ballinger-Pinchot Affair . Richard Ballinger, Taft’s Secretary of the Interior, angered conservationists because he sided with big business on issues dealing with developing federal lands in the west. . Gifford Pinchot, head of the US Forest Service, exposed that Ballinger had given business interests special treatment in land dealings. . What happened to Pinchot?

B. Turmoil in the Republican Party

1. The Midterm Elections of 1910 . When TR came home from a long safari, he saw the political turmoil but at first refrained from criticizing his old friend Taft. . But in 1910, he campaigned for Progressives in the midterm elections on the idea of New Nationalism

C. The Election of 1912

 TR challenged Taft for the Republican nomination in 1912, but Taft used his control of the convention won the nomination/  How did TR and his supporters react?

1. The Bull Moose Party . Platform included tariff reduction, child labor ban, 8 hour work day, federal worker’s compensation, and direct election of senate

2. Taft’s Record . What were some of Taft’s accomplishments as President?

3. Wilson’s New Freedom . To head the Democrat ticker, the party choose New Jersey Governor Woodrow Wilson. Unit 2 6

. Called his plan ‘New Freedom” – What did this mean? 4. A Four-Way election . Democrat Wilson wins the election because Republicans are split between Taft and Tr. Who was the 4th candidate?

D. Wilson’s Policies as President

 As former president of Princeton and governor of New Jersey, Wilson acquired a reputation as a tireless reformer.

1. Tariffs and Taxes . First major victory was the Underwood Tariff of 1913 that reduced tariff rates 40% - How did he make up this lost revenue?

2. Attacking the Trusts . Clayton Anti-Trust Act of 1914 strengthened the Sherman Anti-Trust Act – regulating certain business practices. . What did the Federal Trade Commission do?

3. The Federal Reserve System . Wilson wanted to overhaul the Federal Banking System . Congress passed the Federal Reserve Act – 1913 o Created 12 districts, each with a Fed Bank o Every national bank had to join – What was the purpose here?

4. Brandies to the Supreme Court . First Jewish Supreme Court justice in American history.

5. Wilson Wins a Second Term . Wilson ran on “he kept us out of war” and won 277 to 254 over Charles Evan Hughes.

E. The Limits of Progressivism

1. Social Justice and Progressivism . The Progressive presidents took little action to pursue social justice reforms – no work for women’s suffrage of ending Jim Crow

2. The End of Progressivism . What will end Americans interest in reform? Unit 2 7

IV. Suffrage at Last

A. Anthony and Stanton: Preparing the Way

 American women activists first formally demanded the right to vote in 1848 at the Seneca Falls Convention in New York.  Who were the (3) leaders of the women’s movement?

 American Equal Rights Association (Anthony and Stanton) worked on the passage of a Constitutional Amendment for suffrage.  What did the American Woman Suffrage Association work on?

 In 1872, Stanton led a group of women to the polls in Rochester, NY where she insisted on voting – she was arrested for this civil disobedience.

B. Suffragist Strategies

 What were the two paths that suffragists followed toward their goal?

 Pushing for the Federal Amendment was very difficult . First introduced in 1868, it stalled and was reintroduced in 1878 and made it to a Senate Committee. . How did Stanton describe the chair of the committee’s reaction?

C. Suffrage at the Turn of the Century

 In 1890, veteran leaders of the suffrage movement were joined by younger leaders in forming the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA).  By the time of this founding, women had won many rights – IDENTIFY

 The beloved leaders of the movement, Stanton and Anthony, died in 1902 and 1906 respectively without seeing the realization of their life’s work.  It was time for a new generation to take on the cause of women’s suffrage. Unit 2 8

D. A New Generation

 One leader who emerged to re-energize the movement was Carrie Champman Catt.  She headed NAWSA and focused on precinct-by-precinct political work  Who was Alice Paul?

1. A Split in the Movement . The Congressional Union (CU) headed by Alice Paul called for an aggressive, militant campaign for the constitutional amendment. . Went to jail and went on hunger strikes to protest their treatment. . How did NAWSA feel about the CU’s plan?

2. Impact of World War I . What did the US entrance into WW I do for the women’s suffrage movement?

E. Victory for Suffrage

 In 1919, Congress formally proposed the suffrage amendment  In August 1920, Tennessee became the 36th state to ratify the 19th Amendment – and women had the right to vote.