The Rise of Progressivism
Notes:
Comments/ Analysis:
-The Rapid increase of urbanization and
urbanization had caused problems in the US
-This caused the progressives to arise and attempt
to impose order and justice in the US.
-“Progressivism” meant a lot of things to different
people from the late 19th century to the early 20th
century up until the end of World War I
- Progressives tried to change the nation as a
response to modern problems in society such as
harsh working conditions, corrupt government,
and poor living houses. They strived for a better
government and social structure. Progressives
were intertwined with political issues also as they
attempted to organize the economy and morals of
communities and individuals.
-Progressive Era did change the nation for the
better in some aspects and not so much in others.
It was successful and spread throughout the
nation swiftly.
- Reform Movements gained a lot of support from
people as well as faced resistance from other
sources. This was illustrated in the racial change
movements when some people were incapable of
changing their perspective on how African
Americans and other immigrants should be
treated. It was a political stalemate in US History
at this time.
Summary:
The progressive era was the belief in making improvements in society as a response to modern
issues caused by rapid urbanization and industrialization. It gained support and arose the public’s
attention to the social, political, and economic injustices. However for all the support it achieved, the
opposition to them was just as strong bringing the nation to a stalemate. Yet in an entirety
progressivism shaped the nation and had some essential victories for the future.
Key Terms: pg 566- 589
The Progressive Impulse
Belief in Progress (566) – belief tht society is capable of improving through development of growth
Varieties of Progressivism
“Antimonopoly” (566) – fear of concentrated power and the desire to disperse authority and wealth
Other Progressivism Impulses (566) – individuals were part of a web of social relationships
Faith in Knowledge (566) – social order is a result of intelligent social order and rational procedures
The Muckrakers
Ida Tarbell (566) – muckraker who focused on Standard Oil Trusts
Lincoln Steffens (566) – influential muckraker for McCure’s magazine; portrayed machine gov and boss
rule= arose feelings of want 4 public reform
Muckrakers (566) – journalists who directed the public’s attention to social, political, and economic
injustices
The Social Gospel
Progressive Sentiment (567) – outrage at social and economic injustice at societies lack of human sense
of social responsibility
Social Gospel (568) – early 20th century; movement within protestantism that’s goal was to redeem the
nation’s cities (provided material and spiritual aid to the cities) ; dominant elementin social reform
The Settlement House Movement
Jane Addams and Hull House (569) – it was opened in Chicago 1889; it was the settlement house; model
for 400 other institutions in the nation
Settlement Houses (569) – middle class people settled in the inner cities; sought to help immigrants
adapt to the language and customs of their new countries
The Allure of Expertise
Rise of Social Sciences (571) – use of scientific techniques to study of society and its institutions
The Professions
American Medical Association (572) –1901, national professional society of doctors considered
professionally trained, followed strict scientific standards for admission to the practice of medicine=
state and local gov passed laws requiring tht physicians be licensed
National Association of Manufacturers (572) – 1895, business men created the association to support
schools of business administration

People were beginning to revolutionize all aspects of society starting with having qualified
workers for each profession
Women and the Professions
Female-Dominated Professions (572) – school teachers (90%) , often 4 black women it was the only
available profession/ nursing dominated by women 2
Women and Reform
The “New Women”
Socioeconomic Origins of New Women (573) – children were going to school at an earlier age, income
producing activity was no longer at home but in factories, technology advances made housework easier
and faster= women looking 4 activities outside of the house cause of growing free time
“Boston Marriages” (573) – women who chose to never marry cause they felt tht it was the only way to
continue their roles in the public; lived with other women instead in long term relationships
The Club Women
GFWC (573) – General Federation of Women’s Club; coordinated activities of local organizations;
established in 1892
Women Public Space (574) – women wanted to be able to act and express themselves in public without
openly challenging male dominated order
Women’s Trade Union League (575) – 1903; female union workers and upper class reformers; raised $
to support strikes, marched on picket lines, bailed striking women out of jail and held public meeting on
behalf of the women workers
Women Suffrage
Women Suffrage Movement (575) – lrgest single reform movement in the progressive era= women
deserved the same rights as men including the right to vote, challenged the women’s sphere in which
the omens 1st and main priority was as mothers and wives
NAWSA (576) – National American Women Suffrage Association; 1893, leaders of the Women Suffrage
Movement; gained support and made it possible for the movement to gain support
Conservative Arguments (576) – support for the suffrage movement also came from people (middle
class part); thought tht if blacks and immigrants got access to franchise then it would make it a matter of
justice for edu, well born women to vote
19th Amendment (576) – 1920; guaranteed political rights of women throughout the nation
Equal Rights Amendment (576) – some women felt tht 19th amendment wasn’t enough and tht there
should be one tht provided clear legal protection tht would prohibit discrimination based on gender
The Assault on the Parties
Reforming Government (577) – attempt to reform political institutions because they were seen as
outdated, corrupt, and insufficient; 1st step to gov reform was to eliminate political party dominance
Early Attacks
Attacking Party Rule (577) – 1890s people felt tht party power had to prevented by placing power in the
hands of nonpartisan and nonelective officials & increasing g the power of the people
Municipal Reform
Middle-Class Progressives (578) – saw politics as a demeaning activity snd avoided it, but now aristocrats
were taking an interest in the gov
New Forms of Governance
Commission Plan (579) – when the mayor and council of cities were replaced by an elected nonpartisan
commission
City-Manager Plan (579) –form of municipal reform; elected officials hired an outside expert
(professional businessman) to take charge of the gov in order to avoid corruption
Statehouse Progressivism
Initiative and Referendum (580) – 1890s; initiative: allowed reformers to circulate state legislatures by
submitting new legislation directly to voters & refer: method in which legislature could return to
electorate w/ approval
Direct Primary and Recall (580) – efforts to limit the power of party and improve quality of elected
officials
Robert La Follette (580) – state level reformer, elected governor in 1900= passed laws to regulate the
workplaces/ railroads/ utilities= spread public awareness of progressive goals
Parties and Interest Groups
Decline of Party Influence (581) – decline in voters 81% in 1800s to 59% 1912= other powers like
professional/ trade associations gained the lost power
Sources of Progressive Reform
Labor, the Machine, and Reform
Triangle Shirtwaist Fire (582) –1911= fire caught in a factory in NY, 146 (mainly women) workers died=
state commission looked at workplaces because so many deaths were caused by the locked doors by the
management
Western Progressives
Sources of W Progressivism (583) – Federal gov main source (not state/local gov) = political parties had
power in the W
African Americans and Reform
W.E.B. Du Bois (583) – chief spokesman for African Americans race relationships with Washington= goal
to eliminate the prejudice and injustices
NAACP Founded (583) – (National Association for the Advancement f Colored People) 1905, Du Bois and
his supporters met in Niagara Falls and launched the Niagara Movement=movement for equal rights
using lawsuits in fed courts
NAACP’s Strategy (584) – wanted full equality for exceptional blacks= hoped by creating an elite group
capable of leadership, they could fight for the entire race in the future
Crusade for Social Order and Reform
The Temperance Crusade
WCTU (585) – (Women’s Christian Temperance Union) 1879, led by Frances Willard= publicized the evils
of alcohol by connecting it to family violence, unemployment, drunkenness, poverty, and disease
18th Amendment (585) – 1920, regulated the consumption of alcohol
Immigration (586) – felt that to improve society, immigrants had to conform to American culture
Eugenics (586) – science of altering reproduction of animals and plants to create new hybrids/breeds
Eugenics Movement (586) – applied to humans= spread belief tht human inequalities were genetic and
tht immigrants were contributing to the unfit population
Challenging the Capitalist Order
The Dream of Socialism
Election of 1900(587) – few voters/ supporters
Eugene Debs (587) – candidate, only durable leader, strong loyalty in urbanization immigrants,
protestant farmers
“Wobblies” (588) – aka as a racial labor union Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) , led by William
Haywood, wanted to abolish wage slave system= favored strikes
Decentralization and Regulation
Problems of Corporate Centralization (588) – considered inefficient; thought it was a threat to freedom
and of individuals to control their own destinies
“Good Trusts”/ “Bad Trusts” Faulty trusts were being given out