the progressive movement 1205256808149318 2

7/31/2019 The Progressive Movement 1205256808149318 2

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Progressives


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Progressives/Progressivism

Changes in America around 1900- Progressivesseek to control these changes. Changes causing:uncertainty; poverty; crime; immigration; raceissues; urban problems; changes in values

Some important issues:z

Industrialization/Monopolies/Trustsz Corruption in governmentz Urbanizationz Rich/Poor gapz Technology/Rise of Sciencez Immigration increased


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Optimism of the Progressivesz Progressives were very concerned about all of the problems described

above, but they were very optimistic about the possibility of solving them.

They believed in the potential of the people, the government, and thescientific method. By applying the scientific method to social problems(thus the origins of the "social sciences") problems could be solved.

z Shared valuesz Concern about effects of industrializationz Optimistic about human nature and potential for progressz Willing to intervene in others lives, either private charity or

governmentz Sense of evangelical Protestant duty and faith in the benefits of sciencez Commitment to improve all aspects of American life


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FrictionAll of these issues are sources of FRICTION.

Especially socio-economic class problems.Classes have very different experiences inAmerica.

z Upper class: Life of leisure. Opulence.z Lower class: Strugglez Middle class: Caught in the middle


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Upper Classesz Typical great mansion required: Staff of about 24

servants and cost $200-300K /year ($6.7M 2004) tomaintain.

z

JP Morgan- great library- exact value unknown. Likelyconsidered priceless when he died and now. (His madeit a public institution after the death of his father.)

z 1884, paid $24,750 for a 1459 Mainz Psalter (most everpaid for a book at the time and for years). ($500,000dollars in 2004 dollars)

z 1899, paid $200,000 for a collection of manuscripts,books from the early days of printing, works related toShakespeare. ($4.5M in 2004 dollars)

z JD Rockefeller: Total worth- $2 Billion (approx. $50today). [Bill Gates worth about $27 Billion.]


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Lower Classes

On the edge of survival: Low wages, lay offs, accidents, early death-constant threats

z Avoided changing jobs because even a loss of a day s pay couldhurt the family.

z Incomes:z Wage workers: $435/yr ($9000/yr, 2004)z Coal workers: $340/yr ($7,600/yr 2004)z Domestics: $240/yr ($5,368/yr 2004)z Agricultural laborers: $178/yr. + room and board. ($4000 2004)z Middle class clericals: $1,011 (for comparison) ($22,000 2004)z Cost of Living: In Buffalo, NY, cost approx $700 to support

family of 5, but laborers income was only approx. $300-$600/yr


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Lower Classesz People who went rags to riches less role

models than freaks of nature to lower

classes.z Working class children:

z Grew up fast- entered work world earlyz Grew up slow- did not have enough $ to

develop autonomy. Tended to live w/ parentslonger than middle and upper class.

z Farmers- felt loss of status in society.Economic pinch as well.


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Middle Classz Becomes the radical center- sought to halt

friction in society.z White collar jobs

z Lived in comfort w/ limitsz Women key to middle class progressivism

z The task of running a home became lessdemanding (w/ new inventions, electricity, etc.)and less fulfilling.

z By 1900, 85,000 women in higher education.


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Middle Classz Face up to what rich wanted to deny-

existence of potentially dangerous classconflict.

z Rich and poor were alien to each other, butmiddle class, in the middle, saw each, andhad concerns

z Self-IndulgenceRich: mansions and extravagancePoor: saloons, crime


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Middle Class

z Tension between old concept of

individualism and the new realities:z individualism is the characteristic of

simple barbarism, not republicancivilization.

z individualism means tyranny. z the community has become too often

the prey of individuals.


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Who are the Progressives?

z Answer usually centers on the middle class.z Broad based movement- virtually everyone

fighting for the progressive label eventually.z The way a whole generation of Americans

responded to the problems of Americaz Diverse movement- many groups w/ competing

objectives and who had little to do w/ each other.z women, blacks, protestant ministers, middle

class professionals.


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Ideals of the Progressives

Application of natural sciences to societyz Social Sciences created in this time

z Ethical concerns high on the agenda of early social sciences- this a sign of

influence of progressivesz Scientific method to study, analyze

and solve problems


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Social sciences- role of environmentz People are creatures of their environment

z Change environment, change the personz Study and cause change in environment

and people will be improvedz

This is a challenge to conventionalwisdom of individualism.



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Ideals of the ProgressivesNew definition of Individualismz In modern America the individual could not

hope to compete. Slowly realized that theywere no longer free.

z Did not accept common notion of liberty thathad been held up to that point, which equatedliberty w/ contract. Free to make contract

free to Progressives- individuals could notfreely contract w/ big business.

z

Wage Slavery a term which began to beused.


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Ideals of the ProgressivesNew definition of Individualismz Individual liberty needed to include

social and moral considerations, not just supply and demand. Issue of

fair living wage came to dominateProgressive thinkingz An American Standard of Living

z Can workers afford the productsthey make at work?


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New definition of Individualismz Find an alternative vision-

z ideal is not accumulation of wealthand property

z more communitarian-

COMMUNITY IS KEY


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Faith in progressz Optimismz Faith that people s abilities, through

purposeful action, can improve conditions of life and society.

z Can reform capitalism to make it more humanz don t have to get rid of capitalism

z not socialist or communistz Intervene in economic and social affairs to

control forces (i.e. supply and demand) andimpose a measure of control on those forces.


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Ideals of the ProgressivesRestrain big businessz Scale: so large that big businesses were

threats to competition and efficiency. End

monopoly power.z Compel business to care for employees.

z Compel business to consider safety of work environment and products.z Recognize that big business here to stay, so

need to regulate since individual cannotcompete w/ it.


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Ideals of the ProgressivesUse govt. as a tool for improving societyz Nation/State becomes a moral agent which

should set rules of conduct for a just societyz Not anti-govt. (that govt. which governs best

governs least)z

Laissez faire anathema to liberty andprogressivism- just a means of oppression of themany by the few.

z Government a necessity to set the socialconditions for freedom.


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Use govt. as a tool for improving societyz Nation-state a moral actor (contd.)

z Big government is a counterbalance to bigbusinessz Who else can control Standard Oil? J.P.

Morgan?z More faith in executive power than

legislativez legislatures a long history of corruptionz executive commissions and agencies w/

experts



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Humanize Capitalismz more egalitarianz more power to ordinary people in

citizenryz civic harmony to replace frictionz reject concepts of Social Darwinism


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Efficiencyz Apply Taylorism to society in general

z Eliminate waste in govt.z Study to see what works

z

Dont waste human resources


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Social Gospelz Concern about the impact of urbanization

and industrialization on moralityz Destruction of family life in cities and w/

children working, for examplez The conditions of life [in the city] are not

favorable to purity according to one RCBishop. Red light districts, etc.


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Social Gospelz Humanitarianism

z seek salvation by reaching out to others in

industrial America- in the communityz Contrast w/ indifference of employers to

their employees


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Social Gospelz Washington Gladden, Applied Christianity:

Moral Aspects of Social Questions : set a newstyle of Christianity- take on social ills.z

Get involved in politics- dont leave it to thecorrupt.


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Social Gospelz Charles M. Sheldon, In His Steps (novel),

encouraged Christians to ask repeatedly Whatwould Jesus do? z Not enough to preach at the poor- need to

help themz Religious folk must confront the problems of

society


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Ideals of the ProgressivesSocial Gospel

Walter Rauschenbush (Baptist Minister)z Advocate for working people and unions

z Embrace the social aims of Jesus and create the Kingdom of God on Earth.

z Economic justice is the proper work of all Christians. z Jesus asked, Is not a man more than a sheep? Our industry

says, No. It is careful of its live stock and machinery, andcareless of its human working force.

z Why should we demand of one of the lowest classes anunselfish devotion to all society which the upper classes havenever shown?

z It is the function of religion to teach the individual to value his moral integrity more than his income.

z To teach society to value human life more than property, andto value property only insofar as it forms the material basis forhigher development of human life.


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Ideals of the ProgressivesSocial Gospelz Evangelical Protestantismz

Help purge America from it sinsz Temperancez Not just moral suasion- compel if necessary.

z Use govt.z Many churches/church organizations

began to see themselves as supply depotsto those in need

z Knights of Columbus, YMCA


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The idea that social and moral

considerations, not simply the law of supply and demand, should determine the

level of wages, became a staple of Progressive thought.

Eric Foner, The Story of American Freedom , p. 144



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Progressive Agendaz Sought a wide host of reforms- a bold effort to

reawaken Americans to create a new peopleliving by a new code of conduct.

z Political, Social, Economic Reformsz Muckrakers key in all areas: expose injustice

where it exists to create public pressure forreform

Jacob Riis


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Ida Tarbell Jacob Riis

Upton Sinclair

MUCKRAKERS


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Progressive Agenda: Political Reformz Progressives wanted government to follow the

public willz Reform government

z Reorganize for efficiency, effectivenessz New agencies address particular social illsz Posts staffed with experts


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Interest Groups and the Decline of PopularPolitics

z Decline in voter participationz

77% from 18761900z 65% from 19001916z 52% in the 1920sz remained near 52% through 20 th century

z Interest groups got favorable legislation throughlobbying


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Interest Groups and the Decline of PopularPolitics


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Progressive Agenda: Political Reform

z Australian (Secret) ballotz Direct primariesz Direct election of senatorsz Initiative, referendum, recall

z more direct democracyz City managers/commissions

z heads of city departments elected by thepeople

z

Manager- an expert hired by the commissionto direct the work of various departments


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Progressive Agenda: Political Reform

z Professionalism civil service (as opposed tospoils system)

z Regulatory agencies (Interstate CommerceCommission, for example)

z Govt. control of public utilitiesz Anti-corruption legislationz Restrictions on lobbyistsz Women s suffrage

W S ff B f 1900


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Womens Suffrage Before 1900


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Progressive Agenda: Social Reform

z Prohibitionz Settlement Houses- Jane Addams

z part of changing environment=changing personz School reforms- Dewey

z Methodologies- more authenticz Education should stress personal growth, free inquiry,

creativity

z Get kids out of factory and into school- laws eliminatingchild labor part of education reformsz had to fight resistance of both families and employers

on thisz This a key method of changing the environment


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Progressive Agenda: Economic Reform

Main goal: control excesses of the rich and of big businesses; govt. restrains big businessto prevent it from doing just anything it

wishesz Anti-Trust legislationz

Progressive income taxz Excessive wealth causing bad behavioramong rich- so give some to the poor.

z Environmental protectionz Regulate industries to protect public

z

Food safetyz Drug safety


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The Republican Roosevelt

z Often defied conventionz Brought an exuberance to the presidencyz Surrounded himself with able associates


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Busting the Trusts

z 1902: Wave of trust-busting led by suit againstNorthern Securities Company

z 1904: Northern Securities dissolvedz Roosevelt reputed a "trust-buster"z Comparatively few antitrust cases under Roosevelt,

Taft did almost twice as many in half the time


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"Square Deal" in the Coalfields

z 1902: United Mine Workers strike in Pennsylvaniathreatened U.S. economy

z U.M.W., companies to White Housez Roosevelt won company concessions by threatening

military seizure of minesz Roosevelt acted as broker of interests

Roosevelt Progressivism at Its


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Roosevelt Progressivism at ItsHeight

z 1904A four-way electionz RepublicanTheodore Rooseveltz DemocratAlton B. Parkerz SocialistEugene V. Debsz ProhibitionSilas C. Swallow

z Roosevelt won 57% of popular vote, 336 electoral

votes


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The Election of 1904


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Regulating the Railroads

z 1903: Elkins Act prohibited railroad rebates,strengthened Interstate Commerce Commission

z Widespread popular demand for further railroadregulation after Roosevelts reelection

z 1906: Hepburn Act further strengthened InterstateCommerce Commissionz

Membership from five to sevenz May fix reasonable maximum ratesz Jurisdiction broadened to include oil pipeline, express,

sleeping car companies


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Cleaning Up Food and Drugsz Upton Sinclairs The Jungle (1906) prompted

federal investigation of meatpacking industryz 1906: Meat Inspection Act

z Sets rules for sanitary meatpackingz

Requires government inspection of meat productsz Samuel Hopkins Adams exposed dangers of

patent medicinesz 1906: Pure Food and Drug Act

z Required manufacturers to list certain ingredientsz

Banned manufacture and sale of adulterated drugs


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Conserving the Landz First comprehensive national conservation policy

z Roosevelt worked with Gifford Pinchot, chief of ForestService

z Policy defined conservation as wise use of naturalresources

z Quadrupled acreage under federal protection


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National Parks and Forests


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Conserving the Land (2)z Roosevelts challenge

z Attacked malefactors of great wealthz Criticized conservatism of federal courtsz Agitated for pro-labor legislation

z Popular responsez Business leaders blamed for financial panicz Overwhelming majority support

The Ordeal of


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The Ordeal of William Howard Taft

z Taft: Abled administrator, poor presidentz Conservative Republicans resurgedz Taft lost support of Progressives


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The Election of 1908


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Party Insurgency

z Tariff split Republicansz Progressives: high tariff favored trustsz Conservatives: high tariff protected business

z 1909 Payne-Aldrich Act provoked Progressivesto break with Taft


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The Ballinger-Pinchot Affair

z Gifford Pinchot leading conservationist,

Roosevelt appointeez Pinchot accused Interior Secretary Richard

Ballinger of selling public lands to friendsz Taft fired Pinchot

z Progressives antagonized


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Taft Alienates the Progressives

z 1910: Taft successfully pushed Mann-ElkinsAct to strengthen ICCz Empowers ICC to fix railroad ratesz Progressive Republicans attacked Tafts plan

of a Commerce Court to hear ICC appealsz Progressives obstructed Tafts negotiations

z

1910: Taft attacked Progressive Republicans,Democrats gained Congress


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Taft Alienates the Progressives

z Legislation protecting laborersz

Sixteenth Amendment created income taxz Taft a greater trustbuster than Rooseveltz Taft, Roosevelt attackd one another publiclyz 1912: Taft renominated by Republicans, little

chance for victory

Differing Philosophies in the


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Differing Philosophies in theElection of 1912

z Roosevelt: Progressive ("Bull Moose")z New Nationalismz Federal regulation of economyz Wasteful competition replaced by efficiency

z Woodrow Wilson: Democratz "New Freedom" for individualz Restrain big business, government

z Democrats won White House, Congress


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Woodrow Wilson's


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Woodrow Wilson sNew Freedom

z Woodrow Wilson: Former president of Princeton, governor of New Jersey

z Progressive, intellectual, inspiring oratorz One of America's most effective presidents


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The New Freedom in Action

z 1913: Underwood Tariff cut dutiesz 1913: Federal Reserve Act reformed banks,

established stable currencyz

1914: Clayton Antitrust Act outlawed unfair tradepractices, protected unionsz 1914: Federal Trade Commission

New Freedom in Action:


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New Freedom in Action:Retreating from Reform

z November, 1914: Wilson announces "New Freedom"has been achieved

z It was a time of healing because a time of justdealing

z Statement stunned many progressives

Wilson Moves Toward the


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Wilson Moves Toward theNew Nationalism

z Reasons for the movez Distracted by the outbreak of war in Europez Needed conservative Southern supportz Republicans seemed to gain by attacking his

programsz 1916: Presidential election

Wilson Moves Toward the


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Wilson Moves Toward theNew Nationalism

z Wilson renewed reform in reelection bidz Federal Farm Loan Actz Intervened in strikes on behalf of workersz Attempted to ban child laborz Increased income taxes on the richz Supported womens suffrage

z Program won Wilson a close election


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The Fruits of the Progressivism

z Reform of government at all levelsz

Intelligent planning of reformz World War I ends Progressive optimism

the progressive movement 1205256808149318 2

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