TheThe Progressive Progressive EraEra

1900-19171900-1917

The Americans, The Americans, Chapter 9Chapter 9

The Roots of The Roots of ProgressivismProgressivism

Throughout the 1800s there were organized Throughout the 1800s there were organized efforts to reform specific problems in societyefforts to reform specific problems in society

The abolitionist movement worked to end slavery.The abolitionist movement worked to end slavery. Temperance activists sought to ban alcoholTemperance activists sought to ban alcohol The suffrage movement championed women’s The suffrage movement championed women’s

right to vote.right to vote. Individuals worked to improve conditions in our Individuals worked to improve conditions in our

prisons and mental health facilities.prisons and mental health facilities. Volunteers established “settlement houses” in Volunteers established “settlement houses” in

cities to provide services to poor immigrants.cities to provide services to poor immigrants.

During the Gilded Age in the late 1800s, During the Gilded Age in the late 1800s, “muckraking” journalists called attention to “muckraking” journalists called attention to corruption in government, poor working corruption in government, poor working conditions, and poverty in our cities.conditions, and poverty in our cities.

By the turn of the century, the growing By the turn of the century, the growing middle class had come to believe that the middle class had come to believe that the government could play an active role in government could play an active role in improving our society. improving our society.

Under the umbrella of the Progressive Under the umbrella of the Progressive Movement, they pursued a variety of Movement, they pursued a variety of reforms.reforms.

The Progressive UmbrellaThe Progressive Umbrella

Economic Ending Expansion of Moral ProtectingEconomic Ending Expansion of Moral Protecting

Reform Corruption Democracy Issues WorkersReform Corruption Democracy Issues Workers ↓ ↓ in State ↓in State ↓ ↓ ↓↓ ↓ Anti-Trust and Local Women’s Temperance ChildAnti-Trust and Local Women’s Temperance ChildLegislation Governments Suffrage ↓ Labor Laws Legislation Governments Suffrage ↓ Labor Laws

↓ ↓ Prohibition Prohibition Direct Election Direct Election of Senatorsof Senators

The Issue of TrustsThe Issue of TrustsTheodore Roosevelt, Theodore Roosevelt, the first President of the first President of the Progressive Era, the Progressive Era, liked to be known liked to be known as a “trust-buster.” as a “trust-buster.” The Sherman Anti-The Sherman Anti-Trust Act of 1890 was Trust Act of 1890 was later reinforced by the later reinforced by the Clayton Anti-Trust Clayton Anti-Trust Act of 1914, which Act of 1914, which outlawed specific outlawed specific types of trusts.types of trusts.

The 16The 16thth and 17 and 17thth AmendmentsAmendments

The SiThe Sixxteenth Amendment teenth Amendment made it legal for the made it legal for the national government to national government to collect income tacollect income taxxes.es.The The SeSeventeenth Amendment changed venteenth Amendment changed the way our U.S. the way our U.S. SeSenators are chosen. nators are chosen. They are now directly elected by the They are now directly elected by the citizens of their states, not by their state citizens of their states, not by their state legislatures, as they had been before.legislatures, as they had been before.(See underlined memory hints above.)(See underlined memory hints above.)

The TemperanceThe Temperance Movement MovementThroughout the late 1800s and Throughout the late 1800s and early 1900s, reformers worked early 1900s, reformers worked to ban the sale of alcohol to ban the sale of alcohol (pictured in the banner as a (pictured in the banner as a snake). They believed that most snake). They believed that most social problems were caused or social problems were caused or compounded by alcohol use.compounded by alcohol use.

The 18The 18thth Amendment was Amendment was passed in 1919 and the passed in 1919 and the Prohibition Era began.Prohibition Era began.

The Women’s Suffrage The Women’s Suffrage IssueIssue

Susan B. Anthony was Susan B. Anthony was one of many famous one of many famous “suffragists” who worked “suffragists” who worked throughout the second throughout the second half of the 19half of the 19thth Century Century and the Progressive Era and the Progressive Era to win women the right to win women the right to vote.to vote.The 19The 19thth Amendment Amendment finally gave women the finally gave women the right to vote in national right to vote in national elections in 1920.elections in 1920.

The Issue of Child LaborThe Issue of Child LaborChild labor laws varied from state-to-state.Child labor laws varied from state-to-state.

Some states continued to allow children as Some states continued to allow children as young as 5 or 6 years old to work long days in young as 5 or 6 years old to work long days in the factories. Many poor families chose to send the factories. Many poor families chose to send their kids to work instead of school.their kids to work instead of school.

At this time, the U.S. At this time, the U.S. Constitution was Constitution was interpreted to mean that interpreted to mean that only state governments, only state governments, not the national not the national government, could pass ↓ government, could pass ↓ laws related to child labor.laws related to child labor.

Many progressive state Many progressive state governments set minimum governments set minimum age laws or mandatory age laws or mandatory school attendance laws school attendance laws during the Progressive Era.during the Progressive Era.

Conservation IssuesConservation IssuesThe conservation movement The conservation movement began during Progressive Erabegan during Progressive Era1903- First national wildlife 1903- First national wildlife refuge (in Florida)refuge (in Florida)1905- U.S. Forest Service 1905- U.S. Forest Service created created Altogether, Roosevelt set Altogether, Roosevelt set aside 16 national monuments, aside 16 national monuments, 51 wildlife refuges and 5 new 51 wildlife refuges and 5 new national parks (including the national parks (including the Grand Canyon, Mesa Verde, Grand Canyon, Mesa Verde, and Yosemite National Park)and Yosemite National Park)

The Issue of Civil RightsThe Issue of Civil Rights

Despite the serious problems with racial Despite the serious problems with racial discrimination during this time period, discrimination during this time period, race relations and the rights of minorities race relations and the rights of minorities were not considered major issues by the were not considered major issues by the typical progressive reformer. This issue typical progressive reformer. This issue was not under the Progressive umbrella.was not under the Progressive umbrella.However, a major accomplishment during However, a major accomplishment during this period was the establishment of the this period was the establishment of the NAACP by W.E.B. DuBois and others.NAACP by W.E.B. DuBois and others.

The Progressive Era and The Progressive Era and WWIWWI

Americans went off to war in 1917 with a Americans went off to war in 1917 with a progressive zeal, believing that they would progressive zeal, believing that they would “make the world safe for democracy” and “make the world safe for democracy” and that this might be the last war of all time.that this might be the last war of all time.

Despite the Allied victory in 1918, the Despite the Allied victory in 1918, the brutality of the war and the harsh terms of brutality of the war and the harsh terms of the Treaty of Versailles, damaged the the Treaty of Versailles, damaged the progressive spirit in America and turned progressive spirit in America and turned public attention away from reform.public attention away from reform.