Progressivism-started by Robert LaFollette
Goal was to correct and expose social problems
Had support from farmers and from labor
Issues they dealt with:
-poverty
-regulate corporations
-waste in government
Rejected Laissez-faire attitude in government
-wanted government to prevent and stop misuse of power
Muckrakers-investigative journalists
exposed corruption in government and industry
ex: McClure’s Magazine
The Jungle-novel written by Upton Sinclair; exposed Chicago’s meat packing industry
Socialist movement- goal of working class is to end capitalism
before 1917 movement did not create suspicion or fear
Socialist Party of America—led by Eugene V. Debs
As a Presidential candidate in 1912 received 6% of total vote
Women work for equality Griswold vs. Baltimore
Progressives advocated birth control to give women more opportunities
Info on birth control was illegal to distribute
Margaret Sanger and Mary Bennett worked against laws
Sanger formed group which became Planned Parenthood
Muller vs. Oregon Progressive victory
Supreme Court upheld an Oregon law that said women can’t work longer than 10 hours a day
NAWSA – merger of NWSA & AWSA – led by Carrie Chapman Catt – still worked for Constitutional Amendment for women’s suffrage – finally got it in 1970
African-Americans fought segregation
W.F.B. DuBois – argued against Booker T. Washington
Headed Niagara Falls Convention – demanded an end to segregation
Formed National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
Progressives take over politics
Goal was to modernize and expand government
First victories were in cities
Detroit, Toledo, Cleveland, New York
Formed new types of governments
Commission system – people elected experts to run departments in city – not by party, but by expertise.
No definite leader
City Manager Plan – City Council is elected, they hire a manager to run city (like a business)
Mayor & Council – traditional type of government, both are elected by people
Progressives in States
Robert LaFollette – governor of Wisconsin
Instituted directed primary
Voters choose candidates – not done at a convention
Voters were given more power
Initiative – voter can introduce laws by petition followed by popular vote
Referendum – allows people to vote ion a proposed law
Recall – allows voters to remove officials
Progressives in Federal Government
1906 passed Pure Food and Drug Act – response to The Jungle
Meat Inspection Act
Teddy Roosevelt wields a big stick
Takes office in 1901 – 1st Progressive President
Very energetic – wants to be a popular leader
Political power is a way to get a moral, ordered society
He used his popularity to work around a conservative Congress
Roosevelt takes on the Trusts – Trustbusting
Tried to break up monopolies
Roosevelt thought there were good and bad large companies
Wanted to regulate the bad ones – they would face Roosevelt’s “Big Stick”
Railroads faced increased regulation from the Hepburn Act – set maximum rates
Roosevelt and the 1902 Coal Strike
Strikers wanted 8 hour day, higher wages, and recognition of Union
John Mitchell led United Mine Workers
Roosevelt suggested arbitration
A neutral party examines the issue, and gives a decision both sides must obey
Mine owners refuse
Roosevelt tells owners arbitration or troops
Arbitrators decide – 9 hour day, pay raise, no Union recognition
1st intervention of behalf of strikers
Politics in the West
Nature rules the West
Water rights determine what land can be occupied
Conservation – word was first used to discuss conserving water for the summer
Roosevelt endorsed irrigating and reclaiming land – making dry land productive through irrigation
Taft becomes President
Roosevelt decided not to run in 1908 (2 term tradition)
Chose Taft to follow him
Taft runs as Progressive against Democrat William Jennings Bryan also a Progressive – Taft wins 321 to 162 electoral votes because of Roosevelt’s support
Roosevelt went to Africa to hunt
Taft is more conservative that Roosevelt
Raised tariffs
Removed much federal control from Western land
Wasn’t well liked – Republicans lose control of congress in 1910
2 New Amendments to constitution passed by Progressives
16th Amendment – permits Federal government to collect income tax
17th Amendment – allows people of each state to elect Senators
Election of 1912
Four Political Parties
1) Republican – Conservative Republicans re-nominate Taft
2) Progressives (Bull Moose) – Progressive Republicans go with Teddy Roosevelt who is disappointed with Taft
3) Democrats – choose Woodrow Wilson also a Progressive ran under a platform called New Freedom fought all big business
4) Socialist – chose Eugene V. Debs most Progressive of all candidates fought for labor and against capitalism
Roosevelt and Taft split Republicans vote
Wilson and Debs split Democratic vote
Final Tally
Wilson 41%
Roosevelt 27%
Taft 23%
Debs 6%
Democrats kept control of Congress
Wilson’s Presidency
Wilson reformed much of American life
As Governor introduced the idea of workmen’s compensation (New Jersey)
As President he had support of Congress
Reduced tariffs with the Underwood Tariff Bill
Wilson regulated the banking industry and big business
Established the Federal Reserve Act
Divided country into 12 districts – each headed by a Federal Reserve Act
Controlled the supply of money in the country
Federal Trade Commission Act – ended unfair business practices in interstate commerce
Clayton Antitrust Act – freed unions to organize workers
Wilson is re-elected in 1916