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Progressive Era Politics Ms. Jerome. Progressives in Politics Rejected laissez-faire capitalism Why...
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Transcript of Progressive Era Politics Ms. Jerome. Progressives in Politics Rejected laissez-faire capitalism Why...
Progressives in Politics
Rejected laissez-faire capitalism
Why did they reject laissez-faire?
Viewed government as a potentially positive force for change and reform—used to combat monopolies and corruption in government
Wanted to bring respectability back into politics
State Reforms: Improving DemocracySecret Ballot Privacy at the ballot box ensures that citizens can cast votes without party bosses knowing how they voted.
Initiative Allows voters to petition state legislatures in order to consider a bill desired by citizens. Voters create (Prop 8)
Referendum Allows voters to decide if a bill or proposed amendment should be passed. Lawmakers create
Recall Allows voters to petition to have an elected representative removed from office. Mayor Walter Jones
Direct Primary Ensures that voters select candidates to run for office, rather than party bosses.
Federal ReformsGovernment Intervention
I. Constitutional Amendments
II. Pendleton Act 1881/Civil Service Reform
III. Sherman Anti Trust Act 1890
IV. Interstate Commerce Act 1887
V. TEDDY ROOSEVELT:I. Elkins Act 1903
II. Hepburn Act 1906
III. Pure Food and Drug Act 1906
IV. Meat Inspection Act 1906
VI. Clayton Anti Trust Act 1914
I. Progressive Era Amendments
16th (1913) Granted Congress the power to tax income.
17th (1913) Provided for the direct election of U.S. Senators.
18th (1919) Prohibited making, selling, or transporting alcohol.
19th (1920) Provided women suffrage (voting).
II. Pendleton Act Background: Issue: Government Corruption
For over 80 years presidents and federal politicians had “rewarded” their supporters with government jobs.
Patronage or “Spoils System” *
This is what got Jim McGreevey into trouble
An end to political patronage
Date: 1881
Victim: President James Garfield
Villain: Charles Guiteau
Reason: Garfield refused to hire him for a government position
Aftermath: outcry to end *patronage
Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act
Passed under President Chester Alan Arthur
Pendleton Act was a “federal civil service”
appointing government employees on the basis of competitive examinations, rather than by political patronage
What did it say? Federal workers would now be hired based on competitive exams rather than political influence.
Interstate Commerce Act
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT STEPPING IN??? 1887
Particularly targeting railroad industry: Shipping rates had to be "reasonable and just"
Rates had to be published
Secret rebates were outlawed
Price discrimination against small markets was made illegal.
Gave the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) the power to set maximum railroad rates.
Led to the discontinuation of free passes to loyal shippers
In addition, the ICC could view the railroads' financial records
Sherman Anti-Trust Act • The President's weapon vs business.
• The Sherman Antitrust Act, passed by Congress in 1890.
• This law declared illegal all combinations "in restraint of trade” (i.e. a monopoly)
• Did little initially
• United States courts routinely sided with business when any enforcement of the Act was attempted.
• Teddy Roosevelt would use it to break up TRUSTS
Robert LaFoletteWisconsin Senator
“Fighting Bob”
One of the most notable politicians of the Progressive movement
Advocated Women's suffrage.
Father of the American Progressive Movement and he spoke passionately for the "common man."
Man who knew no fear.
La Follette
Robert M. La Follette -- governor of Wisconsin in 1900.
Helped Wisconsin establish a railroad regulation commission to set fair freight rates.
Advocated graduated state income tax
A pure food law was voted in Wisconsin.
A direct primary system was enacted
Teddy Roosevelt:
Believed a president should take an active role as an arbiter between the demands of laborers and profit-driven businesses
Square Deal—Corporate Control, Conservation, Consumerism
Hepburn Act:1906 under TR
The Hepburn Act is a 1906 US FEDERAL LAW
Gave the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) the power to set maximum railroad rates.
Led to the discontinuation of free passes to loyal shippers
In addition, the ICC could view the railroads' financial records
Good vs. Bad TrustsThis was the core of Theodore Roosevelt's leadership. He boiled everything down to a case of right versus wrong and good versus bad.
If a trust controlled an entire industry but provided good service at reasonable rates, it was a "good" trust to be left alone.
Only the "bad" trusts that jacked up rates and exploited consumers would come under attack.
Who would decide the difference between right and wrong?
Teddy himself
Notably –broke up Standard Oil
Roosevelt became known as a “trust
buster”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvZP93XqyTw
Objective was to break up bad trusts
Environment and the Industrial RevolutionForests throughout the country were depleted; some estimates indicated that only about 20 percent of the original woodlands remained in 1900
Establishes the National Parks System to preserve the land for future generations