The Progressive Era
(1890 – 1920)
Fall & Winter 2013
Harrison Career Center
Mr. Leasure
The Progressive Era (1890 – 1920) Unit Objective
• I will examine the nation’s social and political problems at the turn of
the 20th century and the ways people worked to solve them.
Roosevelt and Progressivism
Roosevelt and Progressivism Student Objectives
• I will identify the goals of the progressive movement.
• I will analyze Theodore Roosevelt’s “square deal”.
• I will evaluate Roosevelt’s qualities as an activist POTUS.
• I will summarize Roosevelt’s conservation policies.
Roosevelt and Progressivism Main Idea
• Reformers tried to solve the problems of the cities. They gained a
champion in President Theodore Roosevelt.
• Many of the reforms of the Progressive Era have had an effect in
America Today.
Roosevelt and Progressivism Key Terms
1. Progressivism – An early 20th century reform movement seeking
to return control of the government to the people, to restore
economic opportunities, and to correct injustices in American life.
2. Muckraker – The term for journalist who exposed corruption in
American society around 1900.
Roosevelt and Progressivism Key Terms
3. Direct Primary – Voters, rather than party conventions, choose
candidates to run for public office.
4. Initiative – This reform allowed voters to propose a law directly.
5. Referendum – In this reform, a proposed law was submitted to the
vote of the people.
6. Recall - This reform allowed people to vote an official out of
office.
Roosevelt and Progressivism Key Terms
7. Sherman Anti-Trust Act of 1890 – This act made it illegal for
corporations to gain control of an industry by forming trusts.
8. Theodore Roosevelt – The first progressive POTUS.
Roosevelt and Progressivism: Notes
The Rise of Progressivism
• The rapid growth of cities and industries in the U.S. at the turn of
the century brought many problems – poverty, slums, and poor
conditions in the factories.
• To attack these problems, individuals organized a number of reform
movements.
The Rise of Progressivism
• These individuals became known as reformers and they were
mostly native born and lower middle class.
• They could be found in either political party. Their reform
movements came to be grouped under the label of progressivism.
The Rise of Progressivism
• About 1900, a new group of writers began to expose corruption in
American society.
• They were called muckrakers.
• These muckrackers created a public demand for reform.
The Rise of Progressivism
• The progressive reformers shared at least one of the three basic
goals:
1. Reform government and expand democracy.
2. Promote social welfare.
3. Create economic reform.
Reforming Government and Expanding Democracy
• In the late 19th century, elected officials often handed out
government jobs and contracts.
• In return, they won political support. This practice is called
patronage.
Reforming Government and Expanding Democracy
• To combat this practice, the U.S. Congress passed legislation which
required individuals to take a civil service exam for certain
government jobs.
• The law also prevented elected officials from firing civil service
workers for political reason.
Reforming Government and Expanding Democracy
• There were four reforms proposed by Progressives at the start of
the 20th century. These reforms include:
1. Direct Primary – Voters, rather than Party Conventions , chose
candidates to run for Public Office.
2. Initiative – This reform allowed voters to propose a law directly.
3. Referendum – A proposed law was submitted to the vote of the
people.
4. Recall – This allowed people to vote an official out of office.
Promoting Social Welfare
• This goal addressed such problems as poverty, unemployment, and
poor working conditions.
• Leaders in these movements promoted many social-welfare
reforms.
• Progressive reformers pushed for minimum wage laws and limits on
women’s working hours.
Promoting Social Welfare
• Another group of reformers who wanted to improve social welfare
were the prohibitionists.
• They worked to prevent alcohol from ruining people’s lives.
Creating Economic Reform
• The third progressive goal was to create economic reform. This
meant limiting the power of big business and regulating its
activities.
• By the late 1800’s, business leaders in some major industries had
formed trusts.
• This is a combination of businesses who work together to cut prices
and squeeze out competitors.
Creating Economic Reform
• This is a combination of businesses who work together to cut prices
and squeeze out competitors.
• Then the trusts would raise prices and make larger profits.
Creating Economic Reform
• The Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890 made it illegal for corporations
to gain control of industries by forming trusts.
• However, the POTUS did not enforce the law at first. Enforcement
required a strong POTUS.