The Progressive Movement
1890 – 1919
Chapter 6
Learning Targets
• Students will be able to discuss the origins of Progressivism• Students will be able to explain the successes and failures of the
Progressive Movement• Students will be able to describe the administrations’ successes and
failures of the Progressive Presidents Roosevelt, Taft, and Wilson
Roots of Progressivism
• The Progressive Era In the period 1890-1920, many groups sought rights and reform in
both society and government Progressives were not a single group with a single goal – there
were many groups each seeking different things Progressives tended to be middle-class, educated, and urban Progressives were against laissez-faire, believed government
should do more for people
Roots of Progressivism
• Muckrakers Journalists who exposed social and
political problems like poverty and corruption
Magazines often the venue of muckraking articles
Ida Tarbell – published series of articles exposing the Standard Oil Trust
Lincoln Steffens – exposed vote stealing and other corrupt practices of urban political machines
Roots of Progressivism
Jacob Riis – former police reporter wrote and took pictures about poverty of immigrants; wrote book How the Other Half Lives
These muckraking stories caused the American public to call for change
Roots of Progressivism
• Progressive reforms took place first in cities and in government• They believed scientific
management would be more honest and efficient• After hurricane destroyed
Galveston, TX, progressives installed the commission plan – mayor replaced by city departments all reporting to a board of commissioners or a city manager
Roots of Progressivism
• The state leading in Progressive reform was Wisconsin (“Laboratory of Democracy”)
• Governor Robert M. LaFollette pressured legislature to make political parties choose candidates based on direct primaries – where all party members could vote for a candidate
• Other states voted in initiatives – where citizens could propose legislation; referendums – where proposed legislation could be voted on by public; and recall – where voters could demand a special election to remove an elected official
Roots of Progressivism
• Direct Election of Senators US Constitution allowed state
legislatures to choose the two state senators
Public believed this caused corruption
17th Amendment – people of the state now directly elected state senators
16th Amendment – income tax authorized
Roots of Progressivism
• Women’s Suffrage Movement 1848 Seneca Falls, NY – first
women’s rights convention Suffrage – right to vote Women worked hard for abolition
of slavery – felt betrayed when 14th and 15th Amendments gave rights to blacks but not women
1890 Two major women’s groups join into National American Woman Suffrage Association
Roots of Progressivism
• Suffrage movement grew – large middle-class support• Women gained right to
vote in several states but wanted a Constitutional amendment to make it a national right• 19th Amendment – passed
in 1920, gave all women right to vote
Roots of Progressivism
• Campaign Against Child Labor
Children had always worked in America but factory work unhealthy and exploitive
Muckraker articles exposed abuses in child labor
Many states began passing compulsory education laws
By early 1900’s child labor began to decline
Roots of Progressivism
• Condition sunder which laborers worked were often unhealthy and/or dangerous• 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Fire –
nearly 150 workers, mostly young girls, were killed in fire• Public outrage resulted in new
safety regulations and worker’s compensation laws• Building codes and restaurant
health codes also established
Roots of Progressivism
• Prohibition Movement Progressives believed alcohol
cause of many social problems Temperance Movement – wanted
to moderate or eliminate alcohol consumption
Women’s Christian Temperance Movement – established by women to end the consumption of alcohol
18th Amendment – prohibited sale and consumption of alcohol
Roots of Progressivism
• Progressives Against Big Business Some Progressives wanted to regulate
big business Some wanted to bust up trusts and
monopolies (Sherman Anti-Trust Act) Some wanted to regulate monopolies
(Interstate Commerce Commission) Some advocated Socialism – political
idea where government owns and operates industry for benefit of all
Eugene V. Debs – Socialist leader of railway union; Socialist Party nominee for president in several elections
Roosevelt in Office
• Youngest president at 42• Ascended to presidency upon
assassination William McKinley• Theodore Roosevelt (TR) wanted
US to become world power; TR also a Progressive• TR’s reform programs known as
the Square Deal• Known as a “Trust-Buster” he was
actually more of a Trust Regulator
Roosevelt in Office
• Coal Strike of 1902 United Mine Workers (UMW), a
mining union, called a strike seeking better pay and fewer hours of work
Stoppage of coal production impacted US economy causing TR to intervene
TR wanted to arbitrate the disagreement – management refused
TR’s threat to use US Army to run mines caused mine owners to cave – strike ended
Roosevelt in Office
• TR believed corporations actually provide a public good but wanted to regulate them• Congress established Department of
Commerce and Labor and a division called Bureau of Corporations• Bureau investigated complaints
against corporations and allowed corporations to fix problems – called Gentlemen’s Agreement by TR
Roosevelt in Office
• 1906 Hepburn Act – strengthened powers of the ICC
ICC given power to set railroad rates
• Upton Sinclair – wrote book, The Jungle, exposing unsanitary meat packing industry
Caused TR to seek Meat Inspection Act
Also passed was Pure Food and Drug Act
Roosevelt in Office
• Conservation TR was avid hunter and
outdoorsman – wanted to preserve pristine American wilderness areas
Gifford Pinchot – friend of TR; appointed head of US Forest Service; added over 100 million acres to parks, created 5 new national parks, and 51 wildlife reservations
Taft Administration
• William Howard Taft hand-picked by TR to succeed him as president• Had no desire to be president –
wanted to be Chief Justice on Supreme Court• Taft honest, competent but not
energetic and aggressive like TR
Taft Administration
• Ballinger – Pinchot Controversy Taft angered many Progressives with his
stance on the tariff Taft replaced Sec of Interior Garfield
with lawyer Ballinger Ballinger opened up some wilderness
lands to development Pinchot charged him with corruption -
Taft’s investigation showed Ballinger innocent
Pinchot leaked story to press – Taft fired him for insubordination
Many now believed Taft was traitor to the Progressive cause
Taft Administration
• TR was nicknamed “Trustbuster” but Taft busted more than TR• Under Taft child labor was
investigated and regulated• Congress passed Mann-Elkins Act
which increased powers of ICC• Taft initiated anti-trust lawsuit
against US Steel – TR turned against him as TR had approved US Steel deal• TR broke with Taft publicly and
criticized/insulted him constantly
The Wilson Years
• Election of 1912 TR not happy with Taft – sought
Republican nomination for president
Taft did not want to be bullied by TR – got Republican nomination
TR became nominee for the Progressive Party aka Bull Moose Party
NJ governor, Woodrow Wilson received nomination for Democratic Party
The Wilson Years
• TR campaigned on program called New Nationalism – more powerful federal government; regulation of monopolies, and other progressive policies• Wilson campaigned on program
called New Freedom – against all monopolies and too much federal power• Wilson won election – less votes
than Taft and Roosevelt combined
The Wilson Years
• Wilson’s Administration Signed Underwood Tariff into law –
reduced tariff to about half of 1890’s tariff
Income Tax – allowed by 16th Amendment
US had not had central bank since 1830’s.
Wilson signed Federal Reserve Act establishing Federal Reserve System – central bank
Federal Reserve controlled interest rates and amount of money in circulation
The Wilson Years
• Anti-Trust Action Congress established Federal
Trade Commission (FTC) – could control competition through courts; acted against unfair trade practices
Clayton Anti-Trust Act – banned tying agreements and price discrimination
Act exempted unions
The Wilson Years
• Federal Aid and Social Welfare Wilson retreated from
Progressivism after completion of New Freedom
By end of Progressive Era, public expected government to protect workers, regulate the economy, and solve social problems
Progressives failed to help minorities – W. E. B. DuBois helped found National Association for Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
ASSIGNMENT – Rate the Presidents• Students will research the following presidents:
James Garfield Chester Arthur Grover Cleveland (first term) Benjamin Harrison Grover Cleveland (second term) William McKinley Theodore Roosevelt William Taft
ASSIGNMENT – Rate the Presidents• Students will identify specific positives and negatives about each president• Using this information, students will rate the presidents using whatever
rating system the student wishes such as stars, numbers, thumbs-up/thumbs-down, etc. The students must have specific facts to support their conclusions• The ratings can be presented in whatever format the student wishes such
as video, PowerPoint, poster, etc.• The assignment can be presented to the class if desired• Grades will be based on depth of research/supporting facts, effort, and
quality of the product
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