The ProgressivesThe ProgressivesGood Politics or Meddlesome Control?

Origins of the ProgressivesOrigins of the ProgressivesProblems associated with industrialization,

immigration and urbanizationBelief that these problems can be

addressed and solvedBelief that government is the agency to

address these illsIncreased use of scientific theory, formal

education, expertise, and use of data

Who were progressives?Who were progressives?

Middle Class◦Civic Involvement, $, and Time◦Sympathy for the lower classes but not among

themEducatedAcross geopolitical boundariesAcross political partiesGrassroots orientedExposure of issues needing reform

Silly purple turkeys chase very white Silly purple turkeys chase very white chickens while fighting pink iguanaschickens while fighting pink iguanas

Silly Socialism = againstPurple political machines = againstTurkeys Trusts = againstChase Consumers protectionsVery voting reformsWhite working conditions (+child labor and living Chickens ConservationWhile women’s rightsFighting Federal Reserve SystemPink ProhibitionIguanas Income tax

MuckrakersMuckrakers

Magazines◦McClure’s◦Collier’s

NewspapersBooks

(Newspaper series collected into Books)

MuckrakersMuckrakersIda Tarbell (Standard Oil)Lincoln Steffens, The Shame of CitiesJacob Riis, How the Other Half LivesThorstein Veblen, (Conspicuous

ConsumptionUpton Sinclair (The Jungle)

◦"I aimed at the public’s heart and by accident hit its stomach."

*emotive, empathetic, short on policy*

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/0374523738/ref=dp_image_0/103-3076214-7469445?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books

Prominent Local ProgressivesProminent Local Progressives

Hazen Pingree, Mayor of DetroitHiram Johnson, Governor of CaliforniaWoodrow Wilson, Governor of New JerseyRobert LaFollette, Governor of Wisconsin

◦Laboratory of Democracy◦The Wisconsin Idea

Political Progressive ReformsPolitical Progressive Reforms

City ManagersUse of university “think tanks”/

“braintrusts”Direct Election of SenatorsInitiativeReferendum (Binding vs. Non-Binding)RecallAustralian Ballot/ Secret BallotWomen’s Suffrage

Political Reforms start at state Political Reforms start at state level move to federal level move to federal

17th Amendment – election of senators 1913

Direct Primary – La Follette (Wis) – give voters more voice in government and limit the political bosses power. By 1916 only 4 states did not have a direct primary

Social Progressive ReformsSocial Progressive Reforms

Local codes, state regulationsTemperance (eventually national WCTU)Poverty, DiseaseProstitution

Economic Progressive Reforms Economic Progressive Reforms

Increased regulation of big businessStronger Anti-Trust Legislation Maximum Hours and Minimum WageWorker’s Compensation (Job Injury)Worker SafetySAFETY, SAFETY, SAFETY

◦Food, drugs, city streets, playgrounds,◦Emergence of more modern notion of

childhood

Progressivism Goes NationalProgressivism Goes National

Cross Political PartiesTR (Republican)Taft (Republican)Wilson (Democrat)

TR and the Square DealTR and the Square DealConsumersMeat Inspection ActPure Food and Drug

ActAldrich-Vreeland Act

LaborAnthracite Coal Miner

Strike

Big BusinessElkins and Heburn

ActsNorthern SecuritiesGood Trust/Bad Trust

EnvironmentNational Park LandMURMHetch Hetchy Valley

Taft Presidency Taft Presidency Consumers – Society Payne – Aldrich Tariff Act Children’s Bureau 16th Amendment – (income

tax) 17th Amendment – (senate

elections)

Labor Created 35,000 postmasters

and 20,00 skilled workers in the Navy under civil service protection

Department of Commerce and Labor was divided into 2 departments

8-Hour workday for government employees

Big Business Mann – Elkins Act 99 trust busts –

prosecutions – including the sugar trust

Environment Put more land into

conservation than TR

Wilson – “New Freedom”Wilson – “New Freedom”Consumers Federal Reserve Bank Federal Trade Commission

Labor Federal Farm Loan Board Clayton Anti-Trust Act Adamson Act – 8-Hour

workday for RR workers

Big BusinessUnderwood Simmons

Act (lowering tariffs to stop monopolies)

Civil Liberties War Industries Board Committee on Public

Information Espionage & Sedition Acts

Evaluation of ProgressivesEvaluation of Progressives

Weaknesses of Reform Material progress of

Americans weakened zeal of reformers

Myriad of Progressive goals were often confusing and contradictory

Opposition to Progressivism apparent as initiatives failed and courts struck down legislation

Government remained mainly under the influence of business and industry

WWI – use of government to create a just society lessens

Accomplishments Trust-busting forced

industrialists to notice public opinion

Legislation gave federal and state government the tools to protect consumers

Income tax helped build government revenues and redistribute wealth

Challenged traditional institutions and approaches to domestic problems

Those not helpedThose not helpedLittle was done to help migrant farmers or renter farmers or nonunion workers

Support of women’s suffrage

African Americans and Jim Crow segregation situations

Imperialism policies to “civilize” underdeveloped nations

Immigration restriction or literacy tests