POLITICAL & SOCIAL REFORMS 1890-1920
Main Goals
(1) Correct abuses in American life (i.e., poverty/living conditions in cities)
(2) Reform the political process to empower middle and lower classes
Progressive Political Reforms
Election Reforms
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Initiative – proposal of legislation by citizens
Referendum – vote by citizens on legislation (usually a “yes” or “no” vote)
Recall – dismissal from office by a vote of citizens
Secret Ballot (aka Australian ballot)
Direct Primary – adopted by most states so that voters registered to a political party
17th Amendment – popular election of senators instead of each state’s legislature
choosing them. This took power away from the political machines and wealthy corporate
heads and gave more power to the people to choose their candidates/senators.
Women’s Suffrage
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19th amendment gave women the right to vote.
Anne Dallas Dudley, Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton were key players in
the movement.
TN as the “perfect 36” (Tennessee was the deciding state in the ratification of the 19th
Amendment).
Harry Burn – young legislator whose vote change at the last minute pushed the
ratification bill through the legislature
Governor Al Roberts – signed the 19th amendment ratification (lost his bid for re-election)
Reforms under Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt
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Teddy Roosevelt felt that the federal government
should step in whenever states could not solve
problems on their own. He saw the presidency as a
“bully pulpit” from which he could influence the news
media and shape legislation.
Roosevelt wanted to ensure the people of the U.S.
would get a “Square Deal.” This meant that he would
do the right thing for the common man if they were
being victimized by big business.
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Trustbusting: Roosevelt’s administration would file 44 antitrust lawsuits against big businesses,
trying to break up monopolies and mergers (trusts).
1902 Coal Strike: in 1902 coal miners in Pennsylvania went on strike and the mine operators
refused to bargain with them. Roosevelt, seeing the coal reserves running low, intervened and
brought both sides to the White House to negotiate. An agreement
was
reached“Trustbusting”
and from then
Teddy
Roosevelt
on the Federal Government was expected to intervene when a strike threatened the public’s
welfare.
Northern Securities v. U.S. 1903 – SC declared Northern Securities (Railroads) to be a
trust and “busted” it – TR had pushed for this action
Elkins Act of 1903: made it illegal to give, and shippers to receive, rebates for using particular
railroads. Railroads could not change set rates without notifying the public.
Hepburn Act of 1906: strictly limited the distribution of free railroad passes, a common form of
bribery.
Meat Inspection Act of 1906: Due to the influence of Upton Sinclair’s “The Jungle” which
described unsanitary condition in the meatpacking industry, Roosevelt pushed for the passage of
the Meat Inspection Act.
Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906: halted the sale of contaminated food and medicines and
called for truth in labeling products.
Conservation Measures: Roosevelt was a huge fan of the outdoors and nature. He spent time
camping in Yosemite National Park with famous writer and naturalist John Muir.Muir convinced
Roosevelt to enact measures to protect America’s wilderness. Roosevelt set aside 148 million
acres of forest reserves (in which many national parks lie).
Civil Rights
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National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was founded in 1909
with the help of African-American reformer W.E.B. Dubois.
Amendments & Acts
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16th amendment – income tax
17th amendment – direct election U.S. senators
18th amendment – Prohibition
19th amendment – women’s suffrage
Federal Reserve Act – divided nation into 12 Federal Reserve districts with a governing
board to determine interest rates and to control the currency supply.
Federal Trade Commission Act of 1914: sets up the FTC, a “watchdog” agency that
would investigate violations of regulations by businesses and put an end to unfair
business practices.
Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914: prohibited corporations from gaining the stock of
another corporation if doing so would create a monopoly.
Political Development
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Republican Party Splits: two types of people emerge in the Republican Party during this time,
Progressives (seekers of change) and Conservatives (don’t want change). This will lead to the
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formation of a third party called the “Bull Moose Party” after its presidential nominee who was
going to seek his third term after taking a break: Theodore Roosevelt.
The split in the Republican Party gave the Democrats an opportunity to win the
Presidential Election of 1912. The winner: Woodrow Wilson.