9.1 Origins and Goals of the
Progressives

Goals of Progressivism
• The Progressives picked up where the
Populists left off
• Four Goals:
• 1. Protecting Social Welfare: improving the lives of the less fortunate
– Groups like the YMCA and Salvation Army tried to meet people’s basic needs (food, shelter, etc.)

Goals of Progressivism
• 2. Promoting moral development: the big push was against alcohol
– Groups like the Woman’s Christian Temperance
Union highlighted “Christian” reasons for avoiding drinking.

Goals of Progressivism
• 3. Economic Reform: a strong push to limit one’s ability to become mega-rich.
– Ida Tarbell helped turn popular opinion against major companies like Rockefeller’s Standard Oil
– People blamed big businesses for economic problems

Goals of Progressivism
• 4. Fostering Efficiency: make the most amount of stuff with the least amount of time/resources
– “Taylorism:” timing every little process in a factory to make small improvements.
– Makes prices of goods cheaper, which means we can own more things

Local and State Govt.
• In cities, they were takin’ down the “Bosses!”
– Progressives wanted cities run by experts, not just anybody
• “Fighting Bob” La Follette was a Progressive governor, attacking the railroads
• Child-labor laws were passed at the state level

Local and State Govt.
• Lawyer Louis Brandeis argued that people needed rest, employers should shorten work shifts
– In Muller v. Oregon, Supreme Court agreed that workers needed the govt.’s protection from harsh working conditions