Unit Focus:
to recognize and understand the massive reform effort in America
between 1900 and 1917 which sought to :
(1) alleviate immediate short-term social, economic and political problems
(2) bring about significant, long-term fundamental change within existing
social, economic and political relationships and institutions.
The PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENT:
An era of reform began when a large group set out to correct
the social ills that they perceived had permeated US society.
These reformers were middle class, educated professionals
who sought to improve the lives of a majority of Americans.
This began the first “LIBERAL REFORM” movement in
America that would respond to similarth social and economic
conditions through the 20 century.
“liberty creates wealth and wealth destroys liberty”
The Roots of Progressivism
• From what did their basic ideology derive from?
• What did Progressives believe was the true role of government?
• Who was drawn into this activist era of Progressive reform?
• What role did SOCIALISM or MARXISM play in Progressivism?
Who were the “Progressives”?
Progressives came from across the political spectrum
› Radicals like Eugene V. Debs
› Socialists: sought revolutionary change, not reform
and we’re marginally popular
› State and national-level politicians
› W.J. Bryan, Robert LaFollette, Roosevelt, Taft and
Wilson were leading Progressives
› African-American Activists:
› Booker T. Washington, Marcus Garvey and W.E.B.
DuBois and women like Ida B. Wells were the voices
of the early civil rights movement.
› Feminists:
› Jane Addams , Margaret Sanger, Carrie Catt, Susan B.
Anthony
› Conservatives and liberals:
› were involved in the reform efforts of the time but in
varying degrees.
Progressive goals and strategies:
• Goal:
o Use government to regulate powerful corporations.
• Goal:
o Eliminate the political power of special interest groups and return
it to the people.
• Goal:
o Restore the principles of capitalism and democracy in order to
save both from revolutionary change.
• Strategy:
o Used journalists to expose America’s SOCIAL, POLITICAL and
ECONOMIC problems to the public
• Strategy:
o Used local, state and national governments to promote massive
LEGISLATIVE REFORM.
The “Muckrakers”:
“Investigative reporters” who sought to arouse public opinion by exposing the “ills” of
US society through journalism
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Ida Tarbell: The History of Standard Oil (trusts, or, monopolies)
Upton Sinclair: The Jungle (conditions in meat packing industry)
Frank Norris: The Octopus (railroad trust)
Jacob Riis: How the Other Half Lives (immigrant experience)
Henry Lloyd: Wealth Against Commonwealth
Lewis Hine: photojournalist (exposed truth about child labor)
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Lincoln Steffans: The Shame of the Cities (political corruption)
David Phillips: The Treason of the Senate (political corruption)
Ray Stannard Baker: Following the Color Line (racism)
John Spargo: The Bitter Cry of Children (child labor)
Magazines like McClure’s, Cosmopolitan and others
Progressives sought to return political power to the people by
enacting these reforms:
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•
•
•
•
•
•
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Initiative
– Voters create legislation, not politicians
Referendum
– Voters vote on legislation, not politicians
recall elections
– Remove bad politicians from office
voter registration
– One voter, one vote
direct primary
– Voters, not the party, select party candidates
Australian, or secret ballot
Direct election of US Senators
– 17th amendment to the US Constitution
– Voters elect US senators, not legislatures
Women’s suffrage
– 19th Amendment to the Constitution
The Progressive Era Presidents
• Theodore Roosevelt (Rep) 1901-1909
• William Howard Taft (Rep): 1909-1913
• Woodrow Wilson (Dem): 1913-1921
1.
What was “Progressivism”? Who were the “Progressives”? What did they
consider to be the most pressing domestic problems of the time?
2.
What were the roots of Progressivism? How and why did the Progressive
Movement take place?
3.
What role did journalists have in the Progressive Movement?
4.
In what ways did Progressives reform American politics?
5.
What Progressive reforms were instituted at the state and local levels?
6.
What role did women play in the Progressive movement?
7.
Describe President Theodore Roosevelt’s brand of Progressivism (The Square Deal
and the Three C’s). What reforms was TR responsible for?
8.
Describe President William Taft’s brand of Progressivism and compare/contrast it
to TR’s brand of Progressivism. What reforms was Taft responsible for?
9.
Describe President Woodrow Wilson’s brand of Progressivism and
compare/contrast it to TR and Taft. What reforms was Wilson responsible for?
Review:
The Legacies of the Progressive Movement
 Signaled the emergence of “liberalism” and philosophy of reform politics.
 Expanded the role of the government in protecting public welfare.
 Broke up monopolies that hurt the public and regulated those that were in
the public’s best interests, and to restore capitalism.
 Established safety codes, sanitation codes, child labor laws, minimum wage
laws, worker’s compensation and insurance, working condition codes, etc.
 Restored democratic principles through various political reforms.
 Established precedent with regards to legislating morality within American
society and tried to find ways to distribute wealth more equitably.
 BUT, Progressivism ENDED by 1920…it & WW1 brought prosperity to US.
 The next 3 presidents (Harding, Coolidge and Hoover) will be conservative
Republicans who’ll restore “laissez faire” policies and return to isolationism.
 WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT PROGRESSIVISM?
 WHAT IS THE WORST THING ABOUT PROGRESSIVISM?