Chapter 9: The Progressive Era 18901920
Section 1: The Origins of Progressivism
I. The Origins of Progressivism
A. Introduction
1. Progressivism. What is it?
•a political movement which sought to improve daily
life.
•when? 1890-1920
2. The Progressive Movement began in
cities because of industrialization. For example,
•urban and rural poverty and blight
•child labor
•immigration
•political corruption
•public health
•poor working conditions
•monopolies
Social Welfare
Reform
Moral Reform
Goal:
Goal:
Examples:
Examples:
Four Goals of
Progressivism
Summery:
Economic Reform
Goal:
Industrial Reform
(fostering
efficiency)
Goal:
Examples:
Examples:
Social Welfare
Reform
Moral Reform
Goal: To uplift immigrants and
the poor by improving
personal behavior
Goal: To soften some of the
harsh conditions of
industrialization
Examples:
Prohibition
WCTU/Francis Willard
Anti-Saloon League
Examples:
YMCA
Settlement Houses
Salvation Army
Florence Kelly
Four Goals of
Progressivism
Summery: Middle Class
Reformers addressed
problems such as, unsafe
working conditions, role of
corporations, and making
government more
democratic.
Economic Reform
Goal: To question the
uneven balance among big
business, government, and
ordinary people under
capitalism.
Examples:
Socialism
Eugene V. Debs
Muckrakers
Ida M. Tarbell vs. Standard Oil
Industrial Reform
(fostering
efficiency)
Goal: To improve society
through science/technology
Examples:
Brandeis Brief
Frederick Winslow Taylor
Scientific Management
Henry Ford
B. The Four Goals
1. Social Welfare Reform.
• Goal: To soften some of the harsh
conditions of industrialization
• How
– Settlement Houses: Homes for the
homeless/immigrants/poor
– YMCA: libraries and sports for poor
– Salvation Army: Soup kitchens
Hull House
Henry Street Settlement
Florence Kelly
(September 12, 1859 – February 17, 1932)
Fought against sweatshops and for the minimum
wage, eight-hour workdays and children's rights.
2. Promoting Moral Improvement.
•
•
Goal: To uplift immigrants and the poor by
improving personal behavior
How?
– Prohibition: ban alcohol/ Carry Nation
– WCTU: went into saloons and made scene
– Kindergartens, visiting sick and prisons
(November 25, 1846 - June 9, 1911)
3. Creating Economic Reform.
•
•
Goal: To question the uneven balance among big
business, government, and ordinary people under
capitalism.
How?
–
–
–
–
Some people looked for a new economic systems.
Socialism: Eugene V. Debs
» Said business had too much power
Government can be trusted more than individuals
Monopolies should be broken apart
(November 5, 1855 – October 20, 1926)
•
Muckrakers: Journalists who wrote about
corporate abuses
»
»
Ida Tarbell: Wrote The History of the
Standard Oil Company in 1904.
Helped lead to the break up of Standard
Oil.
(November 5, 1857 – January 6, 1944)
John D. Rockefeller
(July 8, 1839 – May 23, 1937)
4. Industrial Reform (Foster Efficiency)
• Goal: To improve society through
science/technology
• How?
– Shortened hours, better conditions
– Scientific Management
» Assembly lines
» Not always better for workers
Sir Charles Spencer "Charlie" Chaplin
Modern Times (1936)
Cleaning Up
Local
Government
Reforming Local
Government
Topics:
Reform Mayors
Topics:
Cleaning Up
Local
Government
Summery: Cities
were in trouble.
Poverty and political
corruption were very
common.
Reforming Local
Government
Topics:
•Commission Government (Galveston,
Texas)
•Council-manager Government (Dayton,
Ohio)
• People elected city council who in
turn selected an Individual to
“manage” the city.
Reform Mayors
Topics:
•Hazen Pingree (Detroit)
• Fair taxes
• Transportation
• End corruption
• Help the unemployed
•Tom Johnson (Cleveland)
• Socialist
• Took over utilities
• Circus tent meetings
II. Government Reform
A. City Government
1. Too much corruption
2. Reform Mayor
a. Hazen Pingree: Detroit
» Targeted corrupt utility companies, railroads
and construction.
» Built schools and parks
Hazen Stuart Pingree
(August 30, 1840 – June 18, 1901)
He gained national recognition
through his "potato patch
plan," a systematic use of
vacant city land for gardens
which would produce food for
the city's poor.
Statue of Pingree in Grand Circus
Park, Detroit.
II. Government Reform (cont.)
A. City Government (cont.)
1. Tom Johnson (Cleveland)
–
–
–
–
Socialist
Fired corrupt officials
Took over utility companies
Circus tent meetings
Efforts to Limit
Working Hours
Reform
Governors
Reform at the
State Level
Summery: Reform
railroads, industry
and other large
businesses
Protecting
Working Children
Direct
Election of
Senators
Reforming
Elections
Efforts to Limit
Working Hours
Reform
Governors
Topics:
•Muller v. Oregon, 1908
•Bunting v. Oregon,
1917
•Injury/death Benefits
Topics:
•Robert M. La Follette (Wisconsin)
•
Railroad
Reform at the
State Level
Summery:
Reforming
Elections
Protecting
Working Children
Topics:
•National Child Labor Committee
•Keating-Owen Act, 1916
•
Supreme Court ruled
unconstitutional
Direct
Election of
Senators
Topics:
•17th Amendment
Topics:
•Secret Ballot
•Initiative
•Referendum
•Recall
B. State Government
1. Governor Robert Lafollette (Wisconsin)
•
•
Targeted the RR. Why?
To protect children
–
–
–
–
•
•
•
Too many children working
Earning less pay
Not going to school
Victims of accidents
(June 14, 1855– June 18, 1925)
What would that mean for future?
Used photography to show horrors
Led to the Keatings-Owen Act (1916): stopped transportation of
goods produced by children across state lines.
C. Election Reforms
– Promote Democracy and Citizen Action
– Examples
•
•
•
•
•
Initiative
Secrete ballot
Recall
Referendum
17th Amendment: Direct election of
Senators
Child Labor Today