The Imperialists and Progressives, 1898 – 1917
Unit 7
Big Picture Question
To what extent did the progressive reforms of 1901 – 1917 effectively address problems
created by the growth of American industry?
To what extent were the lives of American women affected by the economic, political, and
ideological developments between 1890 and 1920?
Quick Look
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Demands for reform of the economic and political system were widespread during the early
1900s.
Government regulation of the economic system began at the state level, but since economic
power was in the hands of national monopolies, the federal government was needed for
meaningful reform.
After Theodore Roosevelt became president the U.S. entered a period of reform that
continued under William Howard Taft, and Woodrow Wilson. The reforms passed under
these three presidents would institutionalize a regulated capitalism.
Internal division between Roosevelt and Taft loyalists splits the Republican Party vote
allowing Democrat Wilson to attain the presidency.
Readings: American Pageant, Chapters 28, 29, and 30
The Spirit of America, Selected Readings
“Trust-buster”
Carrie Nation: Prohibition Champion
Unit 6 Schedule
Week #1
Content reading: The American Pageant
Due Date
Chapter 28: pages 646-659
Essential Documents: American Spirit
America’s First Iraq (Handout)
“The White Man’s Burden” (Handout)
Beveridge Deplores Unpatriotic Talk, pages 186-187
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Week #2
Content reading: The American Pageant
Chapter 29: pages 664-672
Chapter 29: pages 672-686
Chapter 30: pages 687-696
Essential Documents: The American Spirit
The Jungle, Upton Sinclair, pages 200-201
______
Jacob Riis Goes Slumming, pages 104-105
______
Jane Addams Demands the Vote, pages 127-128
______
Essential Content Questions
A. What was the progressive movement?
The progressive movement was a response to the problems created by the transformation from
rural society to an urban and industrial society (Gilded Age Problems). In general, the progressive
movement was characterized by people who wanted to use government to solve society’s
problems. In the early 1900s the progressive movement focused its attention on gaining
government regulation of big business to protect the interests of the American public.
B. How effective was government regulation of business before 1901?
Government regulation started at the state level with several farm states regulating railroad
monopolies. After the Supreme Court ended effective state regulation with the Wabash v. Illinois
decision, the movement to regulate business turned to federal regulation. The first attempt at
federal regulation came with the creation of the Interstate Commerce Commission. The federal
government also tried to limit monopolies with the Sherman Antitrust Act. The ICC and the
Sherman Antitrust Act, however, were generally ineffective because they were not enforced and
they were limited by the Supreme Court. The Sherman Antitrust Act, for example, was used
primarily to break up labor unions rather than business monopolies.
C. When did effective regulation of business begin at the federal level?
The progressive movement began at the federal level in 1901 after Theodore Roosevelt became
president. Roosevelt became president after the assassination of William McKinley who had
selected Roosevelt to run as vice-president. Ironically, Roosevelt was selected in part because New
York political bosses wanted to get him out of New York and render him harmless. Instead,
Roosevelt as president was able to bring about progressive reform and begin federal regulation of
business, trust-busting, and conservation of natural resources.
D. Did the public support the progressive reforms passed under Roosevelt?
After muckraking journalists had graphically exposed a variety of social, political, and economic
problems, the public was beginning to demand government action and generally supported
progressive reforms. In addition, the Social Gospel movement had many Americans wanting the
government to take action and apply the teachings of Jesus to social and industrial problems
created by the rapid growth of big business.
E. Who became president after Theodore Roosevelt?
Roosevelt’s popularity allowed him to hand pick a successor, and William Howard Taft was
chosen to succeed Roosevelt as president. Taft generally continued the progressive reforms of
Roosevelt’s Square Deal by continuing the policies of regulating business, breaking up trusts, and
conserving natural resources.
F. What happened in the election of 1912?
In the election of 1912, Roosevelt challenged Taft for the Republican nomination. Because Taft
controlled the party machinery he beat Roosevelt for the nomination, prompting Roosevelt to run
as a third party candidate. Roosevelt’s third party was called the Progressive or “Bull Moose”
Party. The Split in the Republican Party helped Woodrow Wilson, the Democratic nominee, win
the election.
G. What ideas for reform were proposed by Roosevelt and Wilson in the 1912 election?
Roosevelt proposed a New Nationalism in which big government would regulate big business. In
short, Roosevelt believed monopolies were not harmful as long as they operated under federal
regulation. Wilson proposed a New Freedom in which monopolies would be broken up, an action
that Wilson thought would reestablish business competition and allow government to remain
relatively small.
H. How did the reforms of the Progressive Era change the United States?
After numerous pieces of reform legislation were passed under Woodrow Wilson, the policy of
Laissez Faire had been replaced by the idea of regulated capitalism. However, Reforms of the
Progressive Era did not provide direct government relief to the poor and needy. These reforms
would not be instituted until Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal of the 1930’s.
Significant Events
1. Munn v. Illinois, 1877
2. Wabash v. Illinois, 1886
3. Interstate Commerce Act, 1887
4. Sherman Antitrust Act, 1890
5. McKinley assassinated, Roosevelt
becomes president, 1901
6. Roosevelt mediates a coal strike, 1902
7. Wright brothers fly first airplane, 1903
8. Roosevelt breaks up the Northern
Securities Company, 1904
9. Industrial Workers of the World
created, 1905
10. Meat Inspection Act, 1906
11. Pure Food and Drug Act, 1906
12. Payne-Aldrich Tariff, 1909
13. Ballinger-Pinchot controversy, 1909
14. Election of 1912
15. Underwood Tariff, 1913
16. Federal Reserve System created, 1913
17. Federal Trade Commission, 1914
18. Clayton Antitrust Act, 1914
Significant People
19. Theodore Roosevelt
20. William H. Taft
21. Woodrow Wilson
22. Eugene V. Debs
23. Robert LaFollete
24. Susan B. Anthony
25. Jane Addams
26. Lillian Wald
Additional Information
27. Social Gospel
28. muckraker
29. Charles Sheldon, In His Steps
30. Jacob Riis, How the Other Half Lives
31. Lincoln Steffens, Shame of the Cities
32. Ida Tarbell, History of the Standard Oil
Company
33. Upton Sinclair, The Jungle
34. Square Deal
35. conservation
36. Progressive “Bull Moose” Party
37. New Nationalism
38. New Freedom
39. Sixteenth Amendment
40. Seventeenth Amendment
41. Eighteenth Amendment
42. Nineteenth Amendment
Big business is not dangerous because it is big, but because its bigness is an
unwholesome inflation created by privileges and exemptions which it ought
not to enjoy.
- Woodrow Wilson, Democratic Nomination Acceptance Speech, 1912