Chapter 21
The Progressive Era, 1900-1917
Chapter Summary
Chapter 21 explores early twentieth-century reform during the Progressive movement. Topics examined in this
chapter include the historical context for Progressive reform; early strides in urban, rural, social, and industrial
reform; early twentieth-century political reform; and progressive change under Theodore Roosevelt, William Taft,
and Woodrow Wilson.
The Ferment of Reform
Progressivism was a diverse movement; reformers responded to the tensions of industrialization and urbanization by
developing programs to give women the right to vote, expose business abuses, end child labor, make government
more efficient, manage natural resources, and bring about social reform. The Social Gospel movement sought to
introduce religious ethics into industrial relations; as businesses adopted Taylorization to improve workplace
efficiency, workers resisted these new rules of efficiency. Opponents of reform held to traditional values and
religious fundamentalism; businesses, angered by muckraking, used public relations as well as less desirable tactics
to counter their critics.
Reforming Society
Progressives worked to transform society by improving living conditions, educational opportunities, family life, and
social and industrial relations. Settlement houses were the spearheads of social reform in urban immigrant
neighborhoods; however, many reformers concluded it would take government intervention to end some of the
abuses. Today’s modern public school system emerged, and reformer Margaret Sanger crusaded for birth control.
Nativists sought to limit immigration; the prohibition of alcohol was linked to social controls; the Eighteenth
Amendment made prohibition the law of the land. The Niagara Movement sought to extend equal justice to African
Americans; most Progressive reforms had not extended to them.
Reforming Politics and Government
Progressives clamored for the reform of politics and the government; many wanted to change procedures and
institutions to promote greater democracy; others hoped to improve the efforts of government and eliminate
corruption. One of the most important achievements was woman suffrage; the Nineteenth Amendment gave women
across America the right to vote. The secret ballot, initiative, referendum, recall, and direct election of senators were
all introduced into the American political landscape during this period.
Theodore Roosevelt and the Progressive Presidency
Progressive proponent Theodore Roosevelt entered the White House upon the assassination of President McKinley
in 1901. He rejected the limited role of the Gilded Age presidents and believed it was the role of the president to
meet any national needs not prohibited by the Constitution. Called the first “modern president,” Roosevelt’s
flamboyance and ambitions made him the most popular president of the time and enabled him to take aggressive
approaches toward a coal strike, conservation, “busting” trusts, and regulating business abuses. His administration
marks the first time that the federal government gained the power to set rules in private enterprise.
Woodrow Wilson and Progressive Reform
Progressivism was not limited to the Republican party; following Taft’s administration Democrats pushed
progressive remedies. President Woodrow Wilson, elected in 1912, introduced the New Freedom program; though
he believed government’s role should be more limited, he took steps to reduce the high protective tariff, create the
Federal Reserve, break up monopolistic practices through the Federal Trade Commission, assist farmers, help
workers, and build highways. Wilson’s “limited” view of Progressivism resulted in an unprecedented expansion of
federal power.
Chapter Outline
I.
The Ferment of Reform
A.
The Context of Reform: Industrial and Urban Tensions
B.
Church and Campus
1.
The Social Gospel movement
2.
Government involvement in social reform
C.
Muckrakers
D.
The Gospel of Efficiency
E.
Labor’s Demands for Rights
F.
Expanding the Woman’s Sphere
1.
Changes in the role and status of women
2.
Women’s organizations of the Progressive Era
II.
Trans-Atlantic Influences
A.
Socialism
1.
Eugene Debs and the Socialist Party of America
2.
The role of socialism in the Progressive movement
B.
Opponents of Reform
1.
Religious fundamentalism
2.
Business interests
3.
Supporters of laissez-faire conservatism
III.
Reforming Society
A.
Settlement Houses and Urban Reform
B.
Protective Legislation for Women and Children
1.
Child labor
2.
Labor laws for women
3.
Origins of the welfare state
C.
Reshaping Public Education
D.
Challenging Gender Restrictions
1.
Margaret Sanger and the birth control movement
2.
The National Birth Control League
E.
Reforming Country Life
F.
Social Control and Moral Crusades
G.
For White People Only?
IV.
Reforming Politics and Government
A.
Woman Suffrage
B.
Electoral Reform
1.
The Australian ballot
2.
The direct primary
3.
The emergence of organized lobbies
4.
The impact of disfranchisement
C.
Municipal Reform
D.
Progressive State Government
1.
Initiative and referendum
2.
The Seventeenth Amendment
3.
Robert La Follette and progressive democracy in Wisconsin
V.
Theodore Roosevelt and the Progressive Presidency
A.
TR and the Modern Presidency
B.
Roosevelt and Labor
1.
The anthracite coal strike of 1902
2.
The expansion of the government’s role in labor disputes
C.
Managing Natural Resources
1.
Conservation of natural resources
2.
The influence of Gifford Pinchot
D.
Corporate Regulation
1.
The suit against the Northern Securities Company
E.
2.
The expansion of government’s “police power”
Taft and the Insurgents
1.
Taft’s commitment to Progressive reform
2.
Roosevelt’s Progressive party
VI.
Woodrow Wilson and Progressive Reform
A.
The Election of 1912
B.
Implementing the New Freedom
C.
The Expansion of Reform
1.
Legislation designed to help farmers and labor
2.
Louis Brandeis’ appointment to the Supreme Court
VII.
Conclusion
Chapter 21
The Progressive Era, 1900–1917
Section 1: The Ferment of Reform (pp. 550-555)
Section 2: Transatlantic Influences (pp. 555-556)
Section 3: Reforming Society (pp. 556-564)
Section 4: Reforming Politics and Government (pp. 564-566)
Section 5: Theodore Roosevelt and the Progressive Presidency (pp. 566-572)
Section 6: Woodrow Wilson and Progressive Reform (pp. 572-574)
Multiple Choice
1.
The “progressive movement” was driven by
Page Ref.: 549
2.
After the depression of the mid-1890s, a majority of Americans began to
Page Ref.: 550
3.
Public outrage against unsafe working conditions peaked when
Page Ref.: 550
4.
All of the following are true about working conditions in the early 1900s EXCEPT
Page Ref.: 550
5.
The immigrants known as new immigrants included all of the following groups EXCEPT
Page Ref.: 550
6.
Americans of “Old Stock” sometimes disliked new immigrants because
Page Ref.: 551
7.
Leaders of the Social Gospel movement sought to
Page Ref.: 551
8.
Proponents of the Social Gospel believed all of the following ideas EXCEPT
Page Ref.: 551-552
9.
The main goal of the muckrakers was to
Page Ref.: 553
10.
Which work of literature was NOT authored by a muckraker?
Page Ref.: 552-553
11.
Theodore Roosevelt’s reform philosophy was closest to that of
Page Ref.: 553
12.
Frederick Taylor’s scientific management emphasized all of the following ideas EXCEPT
Page Ref.: 553
13.
The International Workers of the World differed from the A.F.L. by
Page Ref.: 554
14.
Which of the following statements about women in the early 1900s is NOT true?
Page Ref.: 554-555
15.
The Feminist Alliance formed in response to the
Page Ref.: 555
16.
An accomplishment of the Women’s Trade Union League was that it
Page Ref.: 554
17.
Most American socialists did NOT advocate
Page Ref.: 555-556
18.
One effect of socialist ideals being openly expressed was
Page Ref.: 556
Identification
19–23. Directions- Fill in the letter of the name with its correct description.
A) Washington Gladden
B) Eugene Debs
C) William Howard Taft
D) Robert LaFollette
E) W.E.B. Dubois
24–28. Directions- Fill in the letter of the name with its correct description.
A) Ida Tarbell
B) Jane Addams
C) Mother Jones
D) Margaret Sanger
E) Frances Kellor
Multiple Choice
29.
All of the following groups or people opposed progressive social reforms EXCEPT
Page Ref.: 556
30.
A peak of anti-union violence occurred when
Page Ref.: 556
31.
Most settlement houses were staffed by
Page Ref.: 557
32.
A leader of the housing reform movement and a worker at University Settlement was
Page Ref.: 557
33.
Reformers who focused on ending child labor faced resistance from big business and
Page Ref.: 557
34.
In general, American reforms that addressed awful working and living conditions were
Page Ref.: 559
35.
John Dewey and Jacob Riis were activists in the move to make progressive reforms
Page Ref.: 559
36.
All of the following statements about Margaret Sanger are true EXCEPT
Page Ref.: 559-560
37.
Reforms in rural areas during the early 1900s achieved all of the following aims EXCEPT
Page Ref.: 560-562
38.
Many progressive reformers supported prohibition legislation because
Page Ref.: 562
39.
The Harrison Act
Page Ref.: 562-563
40.
In 1905, Du Bois and other black activists met in Canada to make plans to promote political and economic equality; out
of this meeting came
Page Ref.: 563
41.
Changes in the strategy of suffragettes in the early 1900s included
Page Ref.: 564-565
42.
The Nineteenth Amendment
Page Ref.: 564
43.
Reformers who called for use of the Australian ballot succeeded in getting
Page Ref.: 564
44.
The accomplishments of Mayor Samuel “Golden Rule” Jones in Toledo, Ohio, included
Page Ref.: 565
45.
Use of the initiative allowed reformers to
Page Ref.: 566
46.
The Seventeenth Amendment
Page Ref.: 566
47.
As governor, Robert LaFollette successfully passed all of the following reforms EXCEPT
Page Ref.: 566
48.
Why were Mark Twain and other critics wary of Theodore Roosevelt’s presidential style?
Page Ref.: 567
49.
A major difference between Theodore Roosevelt and the presidents of the Gilded Era was
Page Ref.: 567
50.
When mine owners refused to meet with coal workers at the White House, Roosevelt
Page Ref.: 567
51.
Major focuses of Theodore Roosevelt’s presidency included all of the following EXCEPT
Page Ref.: 567-571
52.
Roosevelt’s accomplishments as president included all of the following EXCEPT
Page Ref.: 567-571
53.
William Howard Taft’s support for the Sixteenth Amendment opened a period when
Page Ref.: 571
54.
During the presidency of William Howard Taft,
Page Ref.: 572
55.
Woodrow Wilson’s New Freedom rejected what he called Theodore Roosevelt’s
Page Ref.: 573
56.
Who was NOT a candidate for president in 1912?
Page Ref.: 572-573
57.
The major beneficiary of the four-way ticket in the election of 1912 was
Page Ref.: 572
58.
Which statement best describes Woodrow Wilson’s style as president?
Page Ref.: 572-573
59.
Conservatives opposed Wilson’s nomination of Louis Brandeis to the Supreme Court
Page Ref.: 574
Chronology
60–67. Directions- Fill in the letter of the president who was in office when each reform act was passed by Congress.
A) Theodore Roosevelt
B) William Howard Taft
C) Woodrow Wilson
60.
Federal Trade Commission is established.
61.
Hepburn Act strengthens the Interstate Commerce Commission.
62.
Constitutional Amendment initiates a national income tax.
63.
Mann-Elkins act extends authority of I.C.C. over telephone and telegraph companies.
64.
Keating-Owen Act prohibits interstate shipment of products made by child labor.
65.
The Federal Farm Loan Act passed to ease pressure of debts for farmers.
66.
The Newlands (National Reclamation) Act supports internal improvements such as canals and irrigation.
67.
The Kern-McGillicuddy Act awards workers’ compensation for federal employees.
Short Essays
68.
What characteristics defined the philosophy of Americans who fell under the general category of “progressives”?
69.
What social elements combined behind the move to pass prohibition legislation?
70.
What were examples of reform in city and rural areas?
71.
Compare and contrast the ideas of those Americans who believed in either conservation or preservation.
72.
What amendments to the Constitution were passed in the period 1910–1920?
Extended Essays
73.
Compare and contrast the ideas of reform expressed by two of the three following presidents: Theodore Roosevelt,
William Howard Taft, and Woodrow Wilson.
74.
Some historians feel that Theodore Roosevelt was the “first modern president” of the twentieth century. What evidence
supports this claim? In what ways do you feel this is true or untrue?
75.
In what ways did social reform and social control often intermingle in the Progressive Era? Which impulse was more
prevalent in the period 1905–1918?
76.
How did the role of women change during the Progressive Era? What effect did this have on the progress of
progressivism?
77.
What views of reform were expressed by labor, blacks, and the Socialist Party? What effect did their views have on the
nature of reform?
78.
Many historians believe that the election of 1912 revealed a desire by voters for a continuance of moderate reforms. What
evidence causes historians to express this thesis? Did voters get what they wanted?