Studying the Progressive Era

Through the Election of 1912The Election that

shaped the course of the 20th Century

The Progressive Issues – Immigration & Urbanization

• Southern & Eastern Europe– Italy, Russia, & Austria-Hungary

• 1901 – 1914 13 Million• Ellis Island / Angel Island• Asian & Mexican Immigrants• 1910 – 40% of NY’s population foreign-born• Quest for Jobs “freedom & prosperity”• Urban inequality 5th Avenue vs.

tenements

Mulberry Street Bend, 1889

Mulberry Street Bend, 1889

5-Cent Lodgings5-Cent Lodgings

Men’s LodgingsMen’s Lodgings

Women’s LodgingsWomen’s Lodgings

Immigrant Family Lodgings

Immigrant Family Lodgings

Dumbbell Tenement PlanDumbbell Tenement Plan

Tenement House Act of 1879, NYCTenement House Act of 1879, NYC

Italian Rag-PickerItalian Rag-Picker

Another Struggling Immigrant Family

Another Struggling Immigrant Family

The Other Side of the City – 5th Avenue

The Other Side of the City – Early Luxury Apartments

The Other Side of the City – The Dakota (1st Luxury Apt. Complex in Manhattan)

• The Other Side of the City – William Vanderbilt’s 5th Avenue Mansion

The Other Side of the City – 5th Avenue Mansions

The Other Side of the City – Cornelius Vanderbilt’s Mansion

The Other Side of the City – Cornelius Vanderbilt’s Mansion

The Other Side of the City – Cornelius Vanderbilt’s Mansion

The Other Side of the City – Charles Schwab’s Mansion

The Other Side of the City – Charles Schwab’s Mansion

The Other Side of the City – Carnegie’s Mansion

The Other Side New Jersey’s Lambert Castle

Urban Growth: 1870 - Urban Growth: 1870 - 19001900

Vanderbilt Chateau – 5th Ave. & 52nd

Urban Conditions• Cramped living spaces /

overcrowding– 2 Million in Manhattan; 500k in lower

east side

• Tenements:– No electricity– No indoor toilets

• Horse Manure:– 400,000 Horses– 24 pounds of manure per horse per

day

Urban Political Corruption

• Legislative lobbying• Political Machines / Tweed Ring

(Tammany Hall):– Private welfare system– Patronage– Kickbacks

• NYC Courthouse construction - $11 Million vs. $3 Million

– “Robin Hood” vs. Corrupt Thief

Thomas Nast

Healthcare Issues

• Unclean meatpacking processes• Sales of rotten meat• Opium, Cocaine, & alcohol in

children’s medications.• No labeling• No inspection

Muckrakers

• Journalists who expose the corruption of society, government, and business.

• Upton Sinclair - The Jungle• Lincoln Steffens – The Shame of

the Cities• Ida Tarbell – History of Standard Oil• Theodore Dreiser – Sister Carrie

Steffens – Shame of the Cities• But there is hope, not alone despair, in the commercialism of our politics.

If our political leaders are to be always a lot of political merchants, they will supply any demand we may create. All we have to do is to establish a steady demand for good government. The bosses have us split up into parties. To him parties are nothing but means to his corrupt ends. He “bolts” his party, but we must not; the bribe-giver changes his party, from one election to another, from one county to another, from one city to another, but the honest voter must not. Why? Because if the honest voter cared no more for his party than the politician and the grafter, then the honest vote would govern, and that would be bad—for graft. It is idiotic, this devotion to a machine that is used to take our sovereignty from us. If we would leave parties to the politicians, and would vote not for the party, not even for men, but for the city, and the State, and the nation, we should rule parties, and cities, and States, and nation. If we would vote in mass on the more promising ticket, or, if the two are equally bad, would throw out the party that is in, and wait till the next election and then throw out the other party that is in—then, I say, the commercial politician would feel a demand for good government and he would supply it. That process would take a generation or more to complete, for the politicians now really do not know what good government is. But it has taken as long to develop bad government, and the politicians know what that is. If it would not “go,” they would offer something else, and, if the demand were steady, they, being so commercial, would “deliver the goods.”

Tarbell – History of Standard Oil Co.

• (about John D. Rockefeller)And he calls his great organization a benefaction, and points to his church-going and charities as proof of his righteousness. This is supreme wrong-doing cloaked by religion. There is but one name for it -- hypocrisy.

• Rockefeller and his associates did not build the Standard Oil Co. in the board rooms of Wall Street banks. They fought their way to control by rebate and drawback, bribe and blackmail, espionage and price cutting, by ruthless ... efficiency of organization.

Dreiser - Sister Carrie• “The pieces of leather came from the girl at the machine to her

right, and were passed on to the girl at her left.  Carrie saw at once that an average speed was necessary or the work would pile up on her and all those below would be delayed.  She had no time to look about, and bent anxiously to her task.  The girls at her left and right realized her predicament and feelings, and, in a way, tried to aid her, as much as they dared, by working slower.”

• “The place smelled of the oil of the machines and the new leather—a combination which, added to the stale odors of the building, was not pleasant, even in cold weather.  The floor, though regularly swept every evening, presented a littered surface.  Not the slightest provision had been made for the comfort of the employees, the idea being that something was gained by giving them as little and making the work as hard and unremunerative as possible.  What we know of foot-rests, swivel-back chairs, dining-rooms for the girls, clean aprons and curling irons supplied free, and a decent cloak room, were unthought of.  The washrooms were disagreeable, crude, if not foul places, and the whole atmosphere was sordid.” 

Social & Moral Reform• WCTU

– @ 1st Prohibition– Transforms into program of economic & political reform

• Louis Brandeis– Muller v. Oregon Labor protection for “weaker” women;

Positive & Negative– Economic entitlement income, protection,

compensation• Jane Addams Hull House (Chicago)

– Immigrant poor– Urban problems

• Suffrage– NAWSA (Susan B. Anthony / Carrie Chapman Catt

• Vs. Child & Female labor exploitation– Florence Kelley

State & Local Reform

• Governors Robert La Follette (Wisconsin)– Vs. RR & Lumber Lobbyists’ corruption– “Wisconsin Idea” – Primaries vs. political bosses,

taxing corporate wealth, state reg. of RR & utilities

• Mayors Hazen Pingree (Detroit)– Battles big business (lower utility rates)– 8-hour work days– Paid vacations

• Governors Hiram Johnson (San Francisco)– Child labor laws– Limits women’s work hours– Public Utilities Act (RR Regulation)

Progressive Presidents

• Energetic gov’t. needed• Poverty, economic insecurity, &

lack of industrial freedom• Goal social conditions of

freedom• “Jeffersonian” ends with

“Hamiltonian” mean• Government intervention

Progressive Presidents – Roosevelt • 1901 - McKinley’s assassinated

• TR 42; youngest ever @ time• Elected 1904• “Strenuous Life” & “manly adventure”• President as “steward of public welfare” • New Nationalism Big gov’t. for big business• Square Deal

– Confront consolidation– Good vs. Bad Corps (Northern Securities Case)– Prosecutions under Sherman Anti-Trust Act

• President as broker in labor disputes– 1902 Coal Strike

• Pure Food & Drug Act / Meat Inspection Act• Conservation National Parks

Progressive Presidents - Taft• TR’s handpicked successor• 1908; Defeats Bryan• “The scope of a modern gov’t. . . . Has

been widened far beyond the principles laid down by the old ‘laissez-faire’ school of political writers.”

• Aggressive anti-trust Standard Oil– “Rule of Reason” Big Business only bad if

competition stifled

• 16th Amendment – Graduated income tax• Drifts toward Conservative Reps w/ Payne-

Aldrich Tariff Reformers want greater reduction.

Conservation

Issue:

TheBallinger-Pinchot

Controversy

Conservation

Issue:

TheBallinger-Pinchot

Controversy

Split in the Republican Party

• Taft’s growing conservatism

• Ballinger returns TR’s wildlife lands to public

• Pinchot vs. Ballinger’s business connections

• Taft fires Pinchot, alienating Progressives

• TR heads new Prog. Wing– Bull Moose Party

The Progressive

Party &Former

President Theodore Roosevelt

The Progressive

Party &Former

President Theodore Roosevelt

People should risePeople should riseabove their sectarianabove their sectarianinterests to promote the general good.interests to promote the general good.

Progressive Party Platform

Progressive Party PlatformWomenWomen’’s suffrage.s suffrage.

Graduated income tax.Graduated income tax.

Inheritance tax for the rich.Inheritance tax for the rich.

Lower tariffs.Lower tariffs.

Limits on campaign Limits on campaign spending.spending.

Currency reform.Currency reform.

Minimum wage laws.Minimum wage laws.

Social insurance.Social insurance.

Abolition of child labor.Abolition of child labor.

WorkmenWorkmen’’s compensation.s compensation.

NNeeww

NNaattiioonnaalliissmm

NNeeww

NNaattiioonnaalliissmm

The “Bull

Moose”Party:The

LatestArrivalat the

Political Zoo

The “Bull

Moose”Party:The

LatestArrivalat the

Political Zoo

The Republican

Party &

President William H.

Taft

The Republican

Party &

President William H.

Taft

Republican Party Platform

Republican Party PlatformHigh import tariffs.High import tariffs.

Put limitations on female and child labor.Put limitations on female and child labor.

WorkmanWorkman’’s Compensation Laws.s Compensation Laws.

Against:Against:

Initiative (Petition by registered voters to force Initiative (Petition by registered voters to force a vote on a statute)a vote on a statute)

Referendum (Vote by the entire electorate on a Referendum (Vote by the entire electorate on a proposal)proposal)

Recall (Removing elected official through direct Recall (Removing elected official through direct vote)vote)

Against Against ““badbad”” trusts. trusts.

Creation of a Federal Trade Commission.Creation of a Federal Trade Commission.

Stay on the gold standard.Stay on the gold standard.

Conservation of natural resources because they Conservation of natural resources because they are finite.are finite.

Keepthe

WhistleBlowing

Keepthe

WhistleBlowing

Taft was Taft was determined to determined to defeat TR and preserve the defeat TR and preserve the conservative heart of the Republican conservative heart of the Republican Party.Party.

Come, Mr.

President. You Can’t Have

the Stage ALL of

the Time!

Come, Mr.

President. You Can’t Have

the Stage ALL of

the Time!

The GOPAfterthe

Circus

The GOPAfterthe

Circus

TR TR The Republican The Republican Party must stand for Party must stand for the rights of the rights of humanity, or else it must stand for humanity, or else it must stand for special privilege.special privilege.

TheAnti-Third-Term

Principle

TheAnti-Third-Term

Principle

The Socialist Party

& Eugene V. Debs

The Socialist Party

& Eugene V. Debs

The issue is Socialism The issue is Socialism versus Capitalism. I am versus Capitalism. I am for Socialism because I for Socialism because I am for humanity.am for humanity.

“The Working Class Candidates”

“The Working Class Candidates”

Eugene V. Debs Emil Seigel for President for Vice-President

Growth of the Socialist VoteGrowth of the Socialist VoteYear

Socialist Party

Socialist Labor Party Total

1888   2,068 2,068

1890   13,704 13,704

1892   21,512 21,512

1894   30,020 30,020

1896   36,275 36,274

1898   82,204 82,204

1900 96,931 33,405 130,336

1902 223,494 53,763 277,257

1904 408,230 33,546 441,776

1906 331,043 20,265 351,308

1908 424,488 14,021 438,509

1910 607,674 34,115 641,789

1912 901,873901,873

Socialist Party PlatformSocialist Party Platform

Government ownership of Government ownership of railroads and utilities.railroads and utilities.

Guaranteed income tax.Guaranteed income tax.

No tariffs.No tariffs.

8-hour work day.8-hour work day.

Better housing.Better housing.

Government inspection of Government inspection of factories.factories.

WomenWomen’’s suffrage.s suffrage.

The Democratic Party &Governor Woodrow

Wilson (NJ)

The Democratic Party &Governor Woodrow

Wilson (NJ)

Could he Could he rescue the rescue the Democratic Democratic Party from Party from ““BryanismBryanism””????

Democratic Party Platform

Democratic Party PlatformGroundwork for modern democratic Groundwork for modern democratic

welfare statewelfare state

Government control of the Government control of the monopolies monopolies trusts in general were bad trusts in general were bad eliminate them!! eliminate them!!

Tariff reduction.Tariff reduction.

vs. Big Govvs. Big Gov’’t.t.

Direct election of Senators.Direct election of Senators.

Create a Department of Labor.Create a Department of Labor.

Strengthen the Sherman Anti-Trust Strengthen the Sherman Anti-Trust Act.Act.

Did NOT openly support womenDid NOT openly support women’’s s suffragesuffrage

NNeeww

FFrreeeedd

oo

mm

NNeeww

FFrreeeedd

oo

mm

The Reform

Governorof NJ:

It TakesTime

to Remove

the Grime

The Reform

Governorof NJ:

It TakesTime

to Remove

the Grime

Which

Wayto

Jump?

Which

Wayto

Jump?

UpAgainst

theHurdles

UpAgainst

theHurdles

As Big As a BalloonAs Big As a Balloon

Tariff ReformTariff Reform

The Unanswerable Argument for Suffrage

The Unanswerable Argument for Suffrage

Never Again!Never Again!

Taft Abandons Support for WomenTaft Abandons Support for Women’’s s SuffrageSuffrage

“I don't think we ought to take as radical a step as that without being certain that when we do it it will meet the approval of all those or substantially all of those in whose interest the franchise is extended because if it does not meet their views and they don't avail themselves of the opportunity to exercise the influence which that would give them, then we should be in a bad way because we might lose a substantial proportion of the votes of those that would be for better things. Therefore I am willing to wait until there shall be a substantial, not unanimous but a substantial, call from that sex before the suffrage is extended.”

TR&

Women’sSuffrage:

The Militant Recruit

TR&

Women’sSuffrage:

The Militant Recruit“The Progressive Party,

believing that no people can justly claim to be a true democracy which denies political rights on account of sex, pledges itself to the task of securing equal suffrage to men and women alike.”

Woman Suffrage Before 1920

Woman Suffrage Before 1920

Songs of the Sunny South

Songs of the Sunny South

Segregation• 1896 – Plessy v. Ferguson

• Invalidated Civil Rights Act of 1875 that outlawed racial segregation in public places.

• LA RR upheld in wanting to maintain separate rail cars for blacks and whites.

• Ct.’s decision in favor of the RR institutionalizes the doctrine of “separate but equal.”

• Separate but equal laws become “Jim Crow laws,” ALWAYS leading to INFERIORITY.

• Ex In 1900 the South DID NOT HAVE a public high school for blacks.

• Southern social code develops to restrict & suppress blacks

• Segregation was an oddity that depended on the community.

Lynching

& theRaceIssue

Lynching

& theRaceIssue

Trying to Catch the Colored Vote

Trying to Catch the Colored Vote

Politicians reluctant to support anti-lynching legislation for fear of alienating the “Solid South.”

An Actual 1912 BallotAn Actual 1912 Ballot

Election ResultsElection Results

By 1912, 100,000 fewer people had voted By 1912, 100,000 fewer people had voted for Wilson than had voted for Bryan in for Wilson than had voted for Bryan in 1908.1908.

The 1912 election marked the apogee of The 1912 election marked the apogee of the Socialist movement in America.the Socialist movement in America.

GOP Divided by Bull Moose

Equals Democratic Victory!

GOP Divided by Bull Moose

Equals Democratic Victory!

TheGOP:

AnExtinctAnimal

?

TheGOP:

AnExtinctAnimal

?

Wilson’s Presidential Policies• Progressive despite party’s history (laissez faire /

states’ rights)• Restore competition to rescue democracy.• Different than TR’s “big gov’t. for big business”• Collaboration w/ Congress Office & SOU• Underwood Tariff – Reduced import duties• Need Income Graduated income tax on richest

5%• New Freedom:

– Anti-Trust– Protecting unionization– Encourage small business

Wilson’s Presidential Policies• Clayton Act (1914) – Unions exempt

from anti-trust laws / bars injunctions• Keating-Owen Act (1916) – Outlaws

child labor• Adamson Act – 8-hour workday on RR’s.• Federal Trade Commission – unfair

business practices.• Federal Reserve System – Regional

banks w/ central board– Issue currency & aid failing banks– Reaction to Panic of 1907 JP Morgan

Progressive Imperialism

Progressivism and War