The
Progressive
Movement
What You Need To Know
VUS.8d
12/7/2008
The Progressive Movement


How did the excesses
of the Gilded Age
contribute to the
development of the
Progressive
Movement?
Essential Question:
What were the goals
of the Progressives
and what were their
accomplishments?
Theodore Roosevelt
2
The Progressive Movement



Main Idea: The
Progressive Movement
used government to
reform conditions
created by
industrialization.
Theodore Roosevelt –
“Square Deal”
Woodrow Wilson – “New
Freedom”
Woodrow Wilson
3
Progressive Movement

Square Deal:
Goals of the Square
Deal were to keep
the wealthy and
powerful from taking
advantage of small
business owners and
the poor.
Teddy Roosevelt was
president from 19011909


New Freedom:


Placed strict
government controls
on corporations.
More opportunities
and more freedoms
for small businesses.
Woodrow Wilson was
president from 19131921
4
Causes of the Progressive
Movement:
Excesses
of the
Gilded
Age



These excesses
brought about:
Income disparity
and lavish lifestyles
Practices of robber
barons
5
Causes of The Progressive
Movement






Working Conditions for Labor
Dangerous working conditions
Child labor
Long hours, low wages, no job security,
no benefits
Company towns (example – Pullman,
Illinois and Homestead, Pennsylvania)
Employment of women
6
Goals of The Progressive
Movement




Goals of Progressive Movement
Government controlled by and responsive
to the people
Guaranteed economic opportunities
through government regulation
Elimination of social injustices
7
Accomplishments of The
Progressive Movement



Progressive
Accomplishments
In local governments:
New forms of
government
(commissioner-style
and city-manager
style) to meet the
needs of increasing
urbanization.
8
The Progressive Movement



Progressive
Accomplishments
Commission - corrupt
city councils were
replaced by reforming
commissions
City Manager –
professional city
managers were hired
to run city agencies
Members of the Progressive
Party march down Michigan
Avenue, c. 1912.
9
The Progressive Movement





Progressive
Accomplishments
In state
governments:
Referendum
Initiative
Recall
10
The Progressive Movement





Progressive Accomplishments
In elections
Primary elections
Direct election of U.S. senators (17th
Amendment)
Secret ballot
Prototype of the first secret ballot
box, c. 1870
11
The Progressive Movement




Progressive
Accomplishments
In child labor
Muckrakers
described abuses
of child labor
Child labor laws
passed
12
The Progressive Movement



Progressive
Accomplishments
The Jungle by
Upton Sinclair
Led to reforms in
the meat packing
industry
13
The Progressive Movement


Meat Inspection
Act
Pure Food and
Drug Act
14
The Progressive Movement

“We recognize and
are bound to war
against the evils of
today.” – Theodore
Roosevelt
15
Progressive Accomplishments:

Impact of labor Unions:

Organizations:
Knights of Labor
 American Federation of Labor (Samuel Gompers)
 American Railway Union (Eugene V. Debs)
 International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union

16
Progressive Accomplishments

Impact of Labor Unions:

Strikes
 Haymarket
Square Riot
 Homestead Strike
 Pullman Strike

Gains:
 Limited
work hours
 Regulated work conditions
17
Progressive Accomplishments

Antitrust Laws:


Sherman Anti-Trust
Act: prevents any
business structure that
“restrains trade”
(monopolies)
Clayton Anti-Trust Act:
expands Sherman AntiTrust Act; outlaws
price-fixing; exempts
unions from Sherman
Act

Women’s suffrage




Was a forerunner of
modern protest
movement
Benefitted from strong
leadership (ex. Susan
B. Anthony)
Encouraged women to
enter the labor force
during WWI
Resulted in the 19th
Amendment to the
18
Constitution
Source
http://americaninstituteforhistory.org/presenters/index.php
?dir=Percoco/Robber_Barons/&file=The_Progressive_Mo
vement.ppt
19