The Progressive Movement

20th Century Reform

The Progressive Movement?● Reform movement that occurred

in early 1900s ● Caused by problems created from

urbanization & industrialization ○ Monopolies ○ Political Corruption ○ Social Injustices

● Goal was to strengthen the role of government in ensuring human welfare ○ Meaning no more what??

● The Progressive Movement Major Goals ○ Stronger Central

Government that would be based upon…■ SOCIAL Reform ■ POLITICAL Reform■ REGULATION of

BUSINESS

FOUR GOALS OF

PROGRESSIVE REFORMS

The Progressive movement sought to reform society by “cleaning”

up the social ills caused by Industrial Revolution to end the unequal distribution of wealth

1) Protect Social WelfareGet rid of the conditions in society that make life

bad and create a disparity of wealth 2) Promote Moral Improvement

Some things only help a bad weed grow so it needed to be taken care of (don’t allow society to

get any worse)3) Create Economic Reform

Help make business better for people (anti-monopoly)

4) Political Corruption Make the government more fair → power to the

people

The Progressive Movement & Its Champions

Influential Muckrakers• Jacob Riis: exposed slums through magazines and photographs

“How the Other Half Lives” • Lewis Hines: exposed the horrors of child labor with

photographs• Ida Tarbell: exposed monopoly cut throat tactics to acquire

power and frightened the middle class of their powerThe History of Standard Oil

• Lincoln Steffens: exposed the corrupt government in the cities“The Shame of Cities”

• Upton Sinclair: goal was to expose poor working conditions BUT actually exposed the unsanitary conditions of meatpacking plants

The Jungle

Troubles in the Cities: Social Issues

Trouble in Cities: Social Issues Tenement Houses

� Constructed quickly & cheaply � Overcrowded & dirty � No window, heat or indoor plumbing � No fire escape → increased fires

▫ Tightly packed buildings made worse� Unhealthy due to lack of light, sanitation & cramped conditions

Social Services � Lack of social services → police, fire, sanitation & medical

▫ Horse manure & waste (human & trash) lay in street or flow in open gutters

▫ Great Chicago Fire 1871 (volunteer, not enough)� Disease, crime, social illness ran rampant � Noise, traffic, air pollution and health issues � Government was controlled by wealthy (political machines)

Political Machines & Corruption: Political Issues ● Political Machines in Cities

○ Group that controlled the activities of a political party ○ By giving voters services, they won their votes & controlled city government ○ Help “friends” get elected in return for jobs, city contracts, money

■ Trade favors for votes = corrupt elections ● Voting fraud ● Bribes (grafts) ● Kick backs

○ Monopolies using wealth and power to gain support in government ○ Fail to address true issues at hand in the city and other areas causing more

problems to arise ○ Boss Tweed in NY most famous machine

The Problem with Monopolies

● Laissez-Faire Economics ○ Government needs to step up and

regulate business ○ Elimination of monopolies/trusts

■ Ruthless business tactics■ Unregulated working

conditions ● Labor Issues

■ Child labor

Economic Issues

Reforms of the Progressive Movement

Teddy Roosevelt becomes President Elected president in 1901

● Brought a spirit of reform to office

● Wanted to clean up government

● Wanted to clean up society ● Considered the first

Progressive President ○ Taft & Wilson were others

Roosevelt’s Square Deal for America● Addressed the primary

concerns of the era● Ensured fair & equal treatment

for all

“...to see that each is given a square deal because he is entitled to no more and should receive no less.”

● The Three C’s ○ Control Corporations ○ Consumer Protection ○ Conservation

Social Reforms of the Progressive Era

More Social Reforms of the Progressive Era● Meat & Inspection Act

○ Required federal government inspection of meat shipping

○ Health inspection in meat processing plants (cleaner) ■ This has

extended

● Pure Food & Drug Act ○ Outlawed food and

drugs containing harmful ingredients

○ Containers must list ingredients

Improved food and drug processing to decrease death & disease in cities

More Social Reforms of the Progressive Era● Child Welfare Laws

○ Minimum Age to hire children ○ Children’s Bureau -

investigate & report the welfare of children

○ John Dewey PUBLIC EDUCATION (YAY) ■ Education is fundamental in

social progress ■ Many states started

requiring children to attend school (YIPPEE)

● Other Work/Social Related Laws○ Muller v. Oregon

(women) ■ “The overwork of

future mothers thus directly attacks the welfare of the nation”

○ Minimum Wage○ 8-Hour Day ○ Safety Regulations

Required○ Workers Compensation

The Need for Economical

Reform The Power of Trusts

Economical Reforms of the Progressive Era

More Economic Reforms of the Progressive Era

● Split up monopolies & limit power◼ Targeted trusts that sold inferior products

& competed unfairly in capitalistic market ▫ Elkins & Hepburn Acts • limited power of the railroad

companies (increased competition) • No rebates! No Bribery!

● Resulting Legislation◼ Sherman Anti-Trust: outlawed monopolies

– increased competition◼ Clayton Anti-Trust – outlaws price fixing

Finally, Addressing Political Corruption

Political Machines & Monopolies Dominated Politics

Political Reforms of the Progressive Era● Back to the Basics

○ DEMOCRACY ● Change Government at all Levels

○ City Level ■ Eliminated political machines with city manager's/commission model

(business model=divide power) ○ All Levels

■ Fair elections ■ Make officials accountable to constituents (representative

democracy)● Secret Ballot ● Direct Elections (17th Amendment)● Initiative, Referendum & Recall

Political Reforms of the Progressive Movement (in detail)

Citizens Input

1. Initiative: citizens propose (initiate) a new law

2. Referendum: proposed legislation (laws) approved by citizens

3. Recall: citizens remove corrupt leader from offer

Progressive Amendments

1. 16th (1913): Federal Income Tax2. 17h (1913): Direct Election of

Senators 3. 18th (1919): Prohibition Initiative

(clean up society) 4. 19th (1920): Women’s Suffrage