The Progressive Era

Progressivism Not one single

unified movement A wide range of

economic, political, social, and moral reforms.

Progress to occur through human intervention to solve problems.

Origins

Populism-agrarian revolt that swept through the

Midwest in the late 19th C. Called for government intervention , free silver, and many

political reforms

Populist Party or People’s Party supported Democratic candidate William Jennings Bryan in

1896

Muckrakers- crusading journalists.

Reaction against Social Darwinism

Herbert Spencer promoted “Social Darwinism”.

• Spencer argued:

• unfit people would eventually disappear

• That any government aid to the poor interrupted the correct evolution of civilization.

“Each individual should be allowed to do as he or she wills as long as it doesn’t infringe on the rights of

another person.”

Social Darwinism

Gospel of Wealth

Andrew Carnegie believed in laissez-

faire and Social Darwinism, but...

also believed that those who profited

from society should help with social

progress.

“the man of wealth

thus becoming the …

trustee for his poorer

brethren”

Progressive Goals

7

Goals included (many Populist ideas)

Protecting Social Welfare

(Social Gospel Movement and Settlement House Movement)

Promoting Moral Improvement and Political Reform

(Prohibition and Voting Reform)

Creating Economic Reform

(American Socialist Party organized in 1901; anti-big business

policies)

Fostering Efficiency

(in society and in the workplace; led to lower worker days and

better management)

Political Reform

Political Change All states move to a secret ballot by 1890s

State reform

Initiative (citizens originate legislation)

Referendum (citizens vote on legislation)

Recall (vote to remove a public official)

17th Amendment (1913)-direct election of senators

Growth of socialism in America

(Eugene Debs receives 1 million votes in 1912)

19th Amendment (1920)-women's suffrage

Women’s Suffrage

Carrie Chapman Catt: 1859-1947

Lucy Burns

1879-1966

Alice Paul

1886-1977

Susan B. Anthony: 1820-1906

Economic Reform

Muckrakers Target Big Business

Monopolies

Ida Tarbell-The History of Standard Oil

Consumer protection laws

Upton Sinclair and The Jungle

The Pure Food and Drug Act (1906)

Meat Inspection Act (1906)

Labor Progress

The United Mine Workers strike in Pennsylvania (1902).

Roosevelt forces mine owners to arbitrate with the miners.

Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire (1911) will lead to labor

reform.

Department of Labor created (1913).

Keating-Owen Act (1916) first federal law restricting child

labor

Lewis Hine’s photographs were a driving force behind the fight for stricter child labor laws.

Other Economic Reform

The Federal Reserve Act (1913)

Set up Federal Reserve System as the central

banking authority of the United States

16th Amendment (1913)-federal income tax

Social Reform

Urban Poverty

Settlement Houses: provided services such as daycare, education, and healthcare.

designed to help the urban poor, especially immigrant families.

Jane Addams and Ellen Gates Starr were the co-

founders of Hull House, founded in 1889 in

Chicago.

JANE ADDAMS ELLEN GATES

STARR

INSIDE HULL HOUSE

Temperance

Women’s Christian Temperance Union

was founded in Cleveland, Ohio in 1874 and

concerned about the evils of alcohol

By 1916, 19 states had prohibition laws

18th Amendment (1919)-established Prohibition

Carrie Nation

African American Fight for Rights

Booker T. Washington- educator and reformer

argued that African Americans raise themselves economically, accommodate temporarily until they would win the respect of white society.

“The individual who can do something that the world wants done will, in the end, make his way regardless of his race.”

Others adopted a more activist stance, such as;

Ida B. Wells the anti-lynching

crusader

W.E.B. Du Bois, Co-founder of the

NAACP demanded an end to

caste distinctions based on race

"The Negro Race, like all races, is going to be saved by its exceptional men. The problem of education then, among Negroes, must first of all deal with the "Talented Tenth."

Progressive Presidents

Theodore Roosevelt

Square Deal

Trust busting Arbitration

RR regulation

Health 1906 Meat Inspection Act

1906 Pure Food and Drug

Act

Environment Conservation**

1916 National Park Service

William Howard Taft

Taft v. Roosevelt Progressives turn against Taft

and the Rep. Party Splits

The election of 1912 Wilson’s (D) New Freedom

Taft’s (R) Conservatism

Roosevelt’s Progressivism

“Bull Moose Party”

Eugene V. Debs’ Socialism

Woodrow Wilson Financial Reform

Clayton Antitrust Act 1914

Underwood Act 1913 to Lower

Tariffs

Federal Income Tax

Federal Reserve System

Suffrage for Women with

the19th Amendment in

1920

Affinity Mapping

On post-its, write as many responses to the

following questions in the time allowed.

What issues, events, and people define the

Progressive Era?