Progressive Era American History Rise of Progressive

Progressive Era American History

Rise of Progressive Reform n n n People need to combat the impact of industrialism, urbanization, and immigration. Reform begins in the middle class, especially with women. Government changes from being the oppressor to a protector.

Darwinism n n n Society is currently evolving, however survival of the fittest doesn’t apply to different groups of society. Idea changes from the bad in people to the potential for good. Society was still in bad shape though.

Behaviorism n n The environment shapes the individual. Causes of evil/sin – living conditions, working conditions, bad parents, etc…

Progressive Journalists n Many books and magazines tackled social reform and social decay. n n Mc. Clure’s Magazine exposed the Tweed Ring and Standard Oil Jack London wrote The Iron Heel – about a bloody revolution coming without changes to society Others like Jacob Riis, and Upton Sinclair Teddy Roosevelt calls these journalists Muckrakers

Birth of Social Work n Russell Sage Foundation – 1908 -1914 – six volume work on the urban cycle n n n Poor children were likely to grow up to be poor themselves, not because of heredity but because of deprivation. Jane Adams – Hull House – Chicago – kids Margaret Sanger – N. Y. – chronic pregnancy – birth control

Progressive Demands n n Better working conditions for children Better hours and pay for everyone else Workplace safety After the Shirtwaist tragedy the courts had to respond.

Courts Response n At first the courts were not willing to change. n n n Freedom contracts – can’t limit work hours Life, liberty, … social change would limit this for business. Changes with the “Brandies Brief” a 102 page legal document with facts about the workplace. Brings about the 10 hour workday.

City Reform n n Clean-up of the city is job one = city sanitation. Lawrence Veiller – housing reform n n New buildings need a courtyard for light and air One bathroom per apartment or per three rooms Jane Adams – playgrounds, parks, hospitals Daniel Burnham – city planning (like D. C. )

Urban Moral Reform n n Two chief outcomes of unemployment = crime, break-up of families Theory – prohibit alcohol those things decrease. Alcohol is the downfall of society. n n By 1900 avg. person consumed over 2 gallons of alcohol a year. +50% of Chicago and Boston visited a bar at least once a day.

n n Anti-Saloon League and the Women’s Christian Temperance Union pushed for reform. (This is a male vs. female thing) By 1917 ¾ of the population live in dry counties and 2/3 of states prohibited the manufacture and sale of alcohol.

18 th Amendment - Prohibition n Passes in 1917 ratified by states in 1919 Saloons were the social center of town, this didn’t change. n Why? n

Why? Answered. n n Bootlegging, gambling, prostitution, and organized crime all increased due to prohibition. Prostitution – social evil of the cities n n n Chicago had almost 15, 000 Birth of the “red-light” district Poverty causes prostitution

Movies n n Movies were forced to clean up their act. No kissing on TV till the 50’s, twin beds etc…

Women’s Suffrage n n n Suffrage = voting rights Began in the west where women were seen as equals. 19 th Amendment proposed in 1919, ratified in 1920.

Limits of Progressivism n n n The U. S. is still extremely racist. Help the poor usually only applied to help the white poor. Eugenics – immigrants were biologically inferior. Nativism – a preference for native born citizens. Madison Grant wrote and popularized the idea of the “lesser breeds” are threatening to “mongolize” America. Very popular idea, convinced Margaret Sanger. Jane Adams wasn’t quite convinced = Melting Pot = America. Education the only key to helping people.

Native Americans n n n Progressives supported the Dawes Act of 1887. This act was to help Native Americans become private land owners and end reservation life. The act was a failure for Native Americans. The next step was just as bad…assimilation – try to mold into a different culture.

Immigration n n Split the progressives…to help or not. After all the immigrants were the ones causing the social problems. (drinking, gambling, gangs, political machines) Americanization was the answer – viewed as similar to breaking a horse…painful but necessary

Progressivism in the States n n Rural states felt like they couldn’t help reform. Robert Lafollette Gov. of WI comes up with the “Wisconsin Idea” – regulate RR’s, control corruption, expand civil service, and a direct primary. This leads to state income tax, a commission of safety and sanitation. Also leads to the 17 th Amendment – the direct election of Senators.

Progressivism goes to Washington n n 9/6/1901 – President Mc. Kinley was assassinated by Leon Czolgosz who was unemployed and upset. The two bullets took 8 days to kill the President. Teddy Roosevelt takes over, although a conservative he supports reform. FYI – Lincoln 1865, Garfield 1881, Mc. Kinley 1901, TR 1912 – but he finished his speech.

Teddy Roosevelt n n Wealthy family in NY. Born very sick = became physically fit n n n Rodeo, judo, Mt. climber, hunter, explorer etc. . Rough Rider hero of the Spanish-American War Named the White House, the first Prez. to ride in a car, fly, and be in a submarine. Environmentalist Trustbuster – “Speak softly and carry a big stick” Teddy Bear

Square Deal n n n Regulate Big Business – not destroy it, just clean it up. Government job is to mediate and find solutions Anthracite Coal Strike – workers agreed with owners, owners change mind. TR leaks info to Wall St. that he’d have the army take over…owners caved right away.

Conservation n TR sets up National Parks – Yellowstone and many others. This is mainly because of his love of nature and because of John Muir- Sierra Club – Yosemite National Park