The Progressives Brinkley Chapter 20
The Progressives Progressivism was an optimistic vision of a utopian society l Society could be improved by government intervention l
The Progressives Continued growth and advancement were necessary l But it could not continue to occur “recklessly” as is had in the past l The natural laws of laissez faire and Social Darwinism could not create the stability, order and justice society needed l
The Progressives l Progressives did not always agree on what form their vision should take l They often disagreed with each other
“Antimonopoly” The fear of concentrating too much power in the hands of a few and the urge to limit and disperse authority and wealth l Appealed to Populists, workers, farmers, and middle-class Americans l It helped empower government to break up trusts at both the state and the national level l
Social Cohesion Individuals are not autonomous, but are part of a web of social relationships l The welfare of any single person is dependent on society as a whole l This leads to the idea that some people are “victims” of industrialization l
Social Cohesion And to initiatives and reforms designed to help women, children, industrial workers, immigrants l And to a lesser extent, African Americans l
Faith in Knowledge l The principles of the natural and social sciences could be applied to society as a means to organization and efficiency l The social order could be guided by knowledge
The Progressives This would make society more just and equitable and humane l Modern life was too complex to be left to party bosses and random chance l Leaders and experts should run things l
The Progressives The Muckrakers were crusading journalists who sought to direct public attention to social, economic and political injustices l They were committed to exposing scandal, corruption and injustice to public view l
The Progressives The term was a reference to a character in John Bunyan’s “Pilgrim’s Progress” l It was first applied to these journalists in a 1906 speech by Theodore Roosevelt l They exposed organizations they saw as dangerously corrupt l Ida Tarbell’s exposé of Standard Oil was an early example l
The Progressives Lincoln Steffens (“The Shame of the Cities”) exposed corrupt “boss rule” in the cities l The Muckrakers investigated governments, labor unions and corporations l They denounced prostitution, family disorganization, destruction of natural resources, subjugation of women, etc. l
The Progressives The Muckrakers reached their peak of influence 1900 -1910 l Many reformers committed to what has become known as “Social Justice” l Took root first in Protestantism, then Catholicism l The Salvation Army had over 20, 000 members by 1900 l
The Progressives Walter Rauschenbush was a Protestant theologian l He advocated salvation through Christian reform l The message of Darwinism was not “survival of the fittest” l Rather, it was humanitarian evolution of the social fabric l
The Progressives l l l Rerum Novarum (1893), Pope Leo XIII Catholic underpinning for social justice Father John A Ryan: “small number of very rich men have been able to lay upon the masses of the poor a yoke little better than slavery itself”
The Progressives The Settlement House Movement l They proposed that ignorance, poverty, even criminality were not inborn, but were the effects of an unhealthy environment l To elevate the distressed required an improvement in the conditions under which they lived l
The Progressives l l l Hull House (1899), the first Settlement House , in Chicago Staffed by educated members of the middle class Sought to help immigrant families adapt to the language and customs of their new country
The Progressives l l l The Allure of Expertise The expertise of scientists and engineers could be brought to bear on the problems of the economy and society Social Scientist Thorstein Veblen argued for an economic system in which highly trained engineers would wield power
The Professions Industries needed managers, technicians, accountants in addition to workers l These required institutions and instructors to train them l
No longer could a patent-medicine salesman claim to be a doctor l No longer could a frustrated politician claim to be a lawyer l No longer could someone who could merely read and write claim to be a teacher l
The Progressives l American Medical Association, 1901 l 2/3 of all doctors joined by 1920 l Strict scientific standards of admission l “Gatekeepers” l Medical schools emerged
The Progressives By 1916, all states has a Bar Association l Law schools expanded l Schools of Business Administration emerged l National association of Manufacturers, 1895 l National Association of Realtors, 1908 l Chamber of Commerce, 1912 l
Women and the Professions Women often found themselves excluded from the reform impulse l But a few did enter professional careers l 5% of all physicians were female by 1900 l (this remained unchanged until the 1960 s) l
The Progressives l l l Women dominated education 2/3 of all grammar school teachers were women 90% of “professional” women were teachers Segregated schools in the South created a substantial market for black teachers Nursing also became a woman’s field during and after the Civil War
The Progressives l l l In most states in the early 20 th century, women could not vote and seldom held public office But the “New Woman” emerged By this time, most economic activity had moved outside the home Children were beginning school and spent more time there The home no longer kept women busy
The Progressives Some women chose to remain single to assume the public role they wanted l Jane Addams and Lillian Ward (Settlement House), Anna Howard Shaw (suffrage movement) were single women l The divorce rate also rose rapidly, from 1 in 21 in 1880 to 1 in 9 by 1916 l
The Clubwomen Women’s clubs proliferated during this period l Clubs focused on self-improvement, philanthropy, and community advocacy l There were hundreds of Women’s Clubs with thousands of members across the country l
The Progressives Many club members came from wealthy families, and substantial funding was often available l Women could not vote, so the clubs took a nonpartisan position that politicians found it difficult to ignore l
The Progressives Although black women occasionally joined white-dominated clubs, many clubs excluded black women l So black women organized clubs of their own l National Association of Colored Women l Their clubs often took political positions, e. g. , anti-lynching, anti-segregation l
The right to vote for women l Women’s suffrage spawned probably the largest single reform movement of the Progressive Era l It was asserted as a “natural right, ” something that men and women alike were entitled to
The Progressives Elizabeth Cady Stanton l Anna Howard Shaw l Carrie Chapman Catt (Founder of the League of Women Voters) l The National Woman Suffrage Association went from about 13, 000 in 1893 to over 2, 000 by 1917 l
The Progressives Suffragists argued that enfranchising women would strengthen the voice of the temperance movement l Some argued that suffrage was just a part of the problem, and discrimination against women in all areas should be prohibited by a constitutional amendment l
The Progressives Eventually, most Progressive goals required the involvement of government l Only government could counter the many powerful private interests that threatened the nation l But government was hardly less corrupt l The first step would be to reform government l
The Progressives To reform government, they had to reform the political parties l Greenbackism and Populism were examples of movements that challenged the two-party system l The Independent Republicans (“Mugwumps”) also attempted to challenge the grip of partisanship l
The Progressives l l Municipal government became the first targets of the reformers This struck a responsive chord among urban, middle-class Progressives But the bosses and the political machines were powerful The reformers gradually gained strength
New forms of governance for cities The Commission Plan l The City-Manager Plan l The Mayor-Council Plan l Next, many Progressives turned their attention to state government reform l
Initiative and Referendum Legislation could be submitted directly to the voters, bypassing state legislatures l Actions taken by state governments could be reviewed and approved or denied by local voters l
The Progressives The primary election was another innovation to limit the power of the party machine and give it to the people l Recall was a way to remove public officials through a special election, which could be called after a certain number of citizens signed a petition l
The Progressives l Lobbying and campaign finance reform were also targets of Progressives l Regulating public utilities was also addressed
The Progressives l l Robert “Fightin’ Bob” La Follette was an important state-level Progressive reformer Elected governor of Wisconsin in 1900 Helped turn his state into a “laboratory of progressivism” Primaries, initiatives, referendums, workman’s compensation, graduated inheritance taxes, corporate taxes
The Progressives l La Follette called on newspapers, citizen’s groups, educational institutions, business and professional organizations, to help take responsibility for reform
The Progressives l l Political parties did not disappear, but their influence lessened Voter turnout declined from 81% in the late 1800 s Today, it fluctuates around 50% In Malta, Chile, Austria, Belgium, Italy and Luxembourg, it tops 90% today
The Progressives The secret ballot may account in part for the decline in voter turnout l Party bosses had less control over the voters l Illiteracy may also have been a factor l Other power centers emerged to supplant the power bosses l Interest groups, trade associations, labor organizations l
The Progressives Initially, labor unions stayed out of the fray l But some played important roles in reform efforts l Child labor, workman’s compensation, limiting work hours for women l
The Progressives The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire, 1911 l Triangle Shirtwaist Company factory, New York City l 146 people died, mostly women l Management had locked the emergency exits to discourage malingering l
The Progressives l The fire renewed interest in safety in the workplace l This led to pioneering labor laws that imposed strict regulations on factory owners and established effective mechanisms for enforcement
The Progressives “Niagara Movement” led to a joining with white progressives to found the NAACP l Court victories followed l Guinn v. United States (1915): grandfather clause struck down l Buchanan v. Worley (1917): residential segregation illegal l
The Temperance Crusade Many Progressives considered elimination of alcohol from American life a necessary step in restoring order to society l Workers spent their wages in saloons l Drunkenness spawned violence, and sometimes murder, in urban families l
The Progressives Workers missed time at work due to drinking, or came to work intoxicated l Some saw the liquor industry as a “sinister” trust l Some saw the saloon as one of the central institutions of the urban machine and “boss rule” l
The Progressives l l Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU), 1873 Crusade grew to a demand for complete prohibition of alcoholic beverages By 1916, nineteen states had passed prohibition laws Eighteenth Amendment (1919) banned beverage alcohol throughout the US
Immigration restrictions The introduction of immigrants from “inferior races” was “polluting” the nation’s “racial stock” l The scientific theory of eugenics was applied to human reproduction l Forced sterilization of the mentally retarded, criminals, etc. l
The Progressives Eugenics and Nativism (“to assist the race toward the elimination of the unfit”) l “The Passing of the Great Race” l The dangers of racial “mongrelization” l The importance of protecting the purity of Anglo-Saxon and other Nordic stock from pollution by eastern Europeans, Latin Americans, and Asians l
Challenging the Capitalist order Some Progressives saw the growing modern industrial economy as the source of the problems of growing power and influence and corruption of corporate America l The solution was reshaping or reforming the behavior of the capitalist world l
The Dream of Socialism Radical critiques of the capitalist system in the US were strongest from about 1900 -1914 l The Socialist Party gained considerable strength l In 1912, Socialist presidential candidate Eugene V. Debs garnered over a million votes l
The Progressives Socialists agreed that the economy should be reformed l Some favored the goals of the European Marxists l Some favored more moderate reforms which would nationalize major industries but allow small-scale private enterprise to survive l
The Progressives The International Workers of the World (IWW) l The “Wobblies” l Favored a single union for all workers and abolition of the “wage slave” system l Rejected political action in favor of strikes l May have been responsible for bombings, etc. l
The Progressives l l Such direct action led to imprisonment of IWW leaders and effectively outlawing the union in 1919 The IWW never recovered World War I dramatically weakened the socialists Most Progressives favored reform within the capitalist system
Challenging the Capitalist Order – Decentralization and Regulation l l l The Problem of Corporate Centralization “Good Trusts” and “Bad Trusts” Trust-busting
The Progressives l Theodore Roosevelt is the American president first – and most closely – identified with Progressivism in America.
“T. R. ” l l At 42, TR was the youngest man ever to serve as President. Succeeded to office upon the assassination of Mc. Kinley in September 1901
Mark Hanna, party boss “I told William Mc. Kinley that it was a mistake to nominate that wild man at Philadelphia. I asked him if he realized what would happen if he should die. Now look, that damned cowboy is President of the United States. ”
Theodore Roosevelt: Basics l l l TR had already published several respected books on history. TR owned a ranch in the Badlands of South Dakota and lived there for several years after the death of his first wife. Served as New York Police Commissioner, Assistant Secretary of the Navy Army Colonel, Spanish-American War Governor, Vice-President, President.
The Progressives l l l Roosevelt’s good humor and political skill did much to create bi-partisan cooperation in government. More liberal than his Republican predecessors Worked with other “reformers” to curb corporate monopoly, promote competition in business, and work toward a “Square Deal” for all.
The Progressives l l l Saw the government not as advocate for one side or the other, but as mediator of the public good. TR pledged strict enforcement of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act of 1890 As a practical matter he only sought to break up what he saw as the “bad” trusts – those that acted with total disregard for the public good.
The Progressives l l Generally, Progressives wanted to get more involved in the process of governing. They also enabled many large American cities to root out political machines run by corrupt bosses.
Department of Commerce and Labor, 1903 l l l Later divided into Department of Commerce and Department of Labor Sought to address the concerns of business and unions “Bureau of Corporations” empowered to investigate potentially illegal corporate activity.
The Progressives l l After serving the remainder of Mc. Kinley’s term, TR ran for president in his own right in 1904 Pledged to the Republican party that his interest lay in reforming corporate monopolies and the railroads, not in interfering with money policy or with protective tariffs in place.
The Progressives l l l Democrat opposition found little for which they could run against TR Democrats endorsed his trust-busting stand, accepted the gold standard, and differed from Republicans only in calling for a stronger Interstate Commerce Commission to regulate railroads TR, with charming personality and name recognition, won easily.
The Progressives l l l Avid outdoorsman and hunter Four-day camping trip with John Muir TR proposed and signed a series of laws (1902 -1908) dealing with conservation Helped set up national parks Established a National Conservation Commission to oversee natural resources
The Progressives l l TR then set about enacting both the Republican AND the Democrat platforms He signed the Hepburn Act, expanding the ICC Membership was increased to 7 members The ICC was abolished in 1995 and its functions transferred to the Surface Transportation Board
The Progressives l l The ICC had not been allowed to set railroad rates TR asked Congress to expand its powers Railroads required to use the same set of bookkeeping practices and to open their records to government inspection But not everyone was satisfied
The Progressives l l • • Pure Food and Drug Act Proposals: limit working hours workman’s compensation income taxes regulation of stock market
The Progressives l l Prompted by his personal revulsion on reading Upton Sinclair’s muckraking novel The Jungle, TR pushed the Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Act in 1906. The Meat Inspection Act won TR’s support also based on his experiences with soldiers made sick during the 1898 war, from being fed spoiled canned meat.
The Progressives l l In a trial reform act, TR pushed the Immunity of Witness Act in 1906 Ended the practice of allowing corporate officials to take the 5 th amendment and refuse to testify in trials when their corporations were being investigated for illegal activities.
The Progressives l l l TR promoted and signed the Elkins Act in 1903 Made it illegal for railroads to rebate part or all of freight rates to favored customers. Together, the Hepburn and Elkins Acts gave the first real strength to the ICC, which had been in existence since 1887.
The Progressives l l l Overall the economy did well during TR’s presidency Generally the climate favored consumers and working people more than corporate executives. A mild economic panic in 1907 caused his administration to ease federal requirements somewhat
The Progressives l l A short recession in 1907 focused public attention on the need for bank regulation, and of more government control over a flexible money supply that met the needs of businessmen and consumers Discussions among Progressive legislators about these problems eventually led to the creation of the Federal Reserve Banking System.
The Progressives l l Though he characterized himself as a “trust buster, ” TR was careful about choosing targets for his anti-trust activities. He ordered suit against the Northern Securities Company, a railroad “holding corporation” put together by financier J. Pierpont Morgan.
The Progressives l l l Roosevelt also ordered prosecution of John D. Rockefeller’s powerful Standard Oil Company. By the time he left office in early 1909, TR had brought indictments against 25 monopolies By then, he was seen by some as a “radical”
The Progressives l l TR intervened directly in government mediation to end a strike between the United Mine Workers and coal mine owners in a bitter 1902 strike First time in history that such intervention had not come automatically to the assistance of owners.
The Progressives l Though TR relaxed business regulation somewhat during the recession, he made it clear that his ongoing drive to restore truly free competition to the American marketplace would continue.
The Progressives l l Progressivism and its successes brought new optimism to the country, and renewed citizen faith in government. The Worlds Fair in St. Louis in 1904 celebrated the centennial of the Louisiana Purchase, and stressed the cooperation of all nations in global trade.
The Progressives l l During TR’s administration, the Wright Brothers pioneered American flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina News of the achievement was slow to be reported, and many Americans doubted that it had really happened
The Progressives
The Progressives: Foreign Policy l l The “Big Stick” TR – “Speak softly, but carry a big stick” “Civilized” nations: white, Anglo-Saxon, Teutonic “Uncivilized” nations: non-white, Latin, Slavic
The Progressives l l But economics mattered as much as race Japan was rapidly industrializing and was therefore “civilized” “Civilized” nations: producers of industrial (manufactured) goods “Uncivilized” nations: suppliers of raw materials and markets
The Progressives l l By implication, “civilized” nations had the right and the duty to intervene in the affairs of backward nations Order and stability was good for both nations Sea power was a key to enforcing this view By 1906, the US Navy was almost as large as Great Britain’s
“Open Door” in Asia l l l Russo-Japanese War over Manchuria, 1904 Roosevelt mediated, to prevent either nation from becoming dominant in the region Both parties recognized Japan’s territorial gains
The Progressives l l Also a “secret agreement” between Japan and the US The US could continue to trade freely in the region TR won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1906 for his work But US-Japanese relations deteriorated
The Progressives l l Japan emerged as the dominant power in the region Began to exclude US from trade US took no direct action, but. . . Sent the “Great White Fleet” on a roundthe-world tour as a show of US naval power
The Iron-Fisted Neighbor l l l Latin America regarded as US sphere of interest TR unwilling to share trading rights with European nations Began an enduring pattern of US intervention in the region
The Progressives l l l 1902: Britain, Italy and Germany blockaded Venezuela over non-payment of debts “Roosevelt Corollary” to the Monroe Doctrine The US had the right to oppose European intervention in the Western Hemisphere, and. . .
The Progressives l l l The US had the right to intervene in Latin American nations to protect its interests Dominican Republic, 1903: US establishes a “receivership” that lasted into the 1930 s Cuba, 1902: US grants independence, but not really
Platt Amendment l US could intervene in Cuban domestic affairs as necessary
Panama Canal l Preferred route was a sea-level canal through Nicaragua (no locks would be needed) But a route through the Isthmus of Panama would be shorter, though it would require locks Plus, a French company had already done about 40% of the work
The Progressives l l l Isthmus was then part of Colombia Original treaty with Colombia rejected by Colombian Senate Revolution fomented in Panama Troop from USS Nashville sent to “maintain order” New Panamanian government recognized three days later Canal completed in 1914
The Progressives l l “The Troubled Succession” William Howard Taft easily won election in 1908 Succeeded to the Presidency in 1909 By the time he left office in 1912 -1913, he had been thoroughly defeated
William Howard Taft was the last President with facial hair*
The Progressives l l Taft asked Congress to lower the protective tariff But the “Old Guard” Republicans opposed it Thought the Executive was interfering in legislative matters Passed a weak version of tariff reform
Department of the Interior Controversy l l l Ballinger, Secretary of the Interior Accused of financial improprieties by staffer Louis Glavis Reported the matter to Gifford Pinchot, head of the forest service Pinchot investigated and went to the President Taft investigated, decided the charges were unfounded
Department of the Interior Controversy l Ballinger fired Glavis Pinchot leaked it to the press. . . l “The squeaky wheel gets the grease” l But sometimes, the squeaky wheel gets replaced by a quieter wheel l
The Progressives l l Roosevelt was away on safari during this period When he returned, he initially disavowed any intention to return to politics. But he was furious with Taft Believed Taft had betrayed what TR had accomplished
The Progressives l l TR was convinced that only he could reunite the Republican Party Launched a nationwide speaking tour Presented a platform of “New Nationalism” Argued that only the vigorous efforts of a strong federal government could bring social justice
The Progressives l l l Argued that the federal executive should be the “steward of the public welfare” Suggested that private profit and personal gain must give way to the welfare of all Supported income taxes, inheritance taxes, workman’s compensation
The Progressives l l TR supported regulation of the labor of women and child labor, tariff revision, and firmer regulation of corporations But TR still insisted that he was not running for re-election to the Presidency
The Progressives l l Taft and “Dollar Diplomacy” Taft not interested in TR’s larger vision of world stability Sought to advance American economic interests overseas through US investment American interests in the Caribbean
The Progressives l l Meanwhile, a Republican insurgency was spreading A pattern was emerging in local elections Conservative Republicans were losing Progressive Republicans were winning
The Progressives l l Some Democrats began moving in the direction of progressivism Democrats won control of the House of Representatives and gained ground in the Senate Roosevelt still denied that he was running for President Sought only to pressure Taft to return to the progressive fold
The Progressives l l But two things changed his mind First, the Taft administration filed suit against US Steel Charged that its acquisition of the Tennessee Coal & Iron Company had been illegal Roosevelt had approved the acquisition during his presidency, and took this as a personal affront
The Progressives l l l Second, Senator Robert La. Follette suffered an apparent nervous breakdown during a campaign speech La. Follette was a leading progressive Roosevelt had been reluctant to challenge him But now La. Follette is out of the race TR announced his candidacy
The Progressives l l TR easily won all thirteen Republican primaries But still did not have enough delegates to secure the nomination The “Old Guard” sided with Taft, and Taft secured the Republican nomination TR launched the Progressive Party, AKA the “Bull Moose” party
The Progressives l l l TR led his followers out of the Republican Party badly split into factions The Democrats nominated Woodrow Wilson This exacerbated the split The split was also between two versions of progressivism
The Progressives l l Democrats began embracing “reform” as well Wilson was nominated in a contentious convention fight in 1912 Wilson had been a college professor, a college president, and governor of New Jersey Seen as a progressive
Wilson’s “New Freedom” challenged TR’s “New Nationalism” l l TR’s “New Nationalism: ” economic concentration was acceptable, subject to some level of government regulation and control Wilson’s “New Freedom: ” bigness itself was unjust and inefficient, and the way to deal with monopolies was not to regulate them but to destroy them
The Progressives l ü ü 1912 Election: Taft, resigned to defeat, hardly campaigned at all Roosevelt shot and wounded in an assassination attempt, sidelined for the last weeks of the campaign TR and Taft split the Republican vote TR failed to attract Democratic Progressives
The Progressives l l l Wilson won a plurality (42%) of the popular vote But won handily on electoral votes Democrats also won majorities in both houses of Congress
The Progressives l l Wilson was a bold and forceful President Concentrated executive power, exerted personal control over his cabinet “Colonel” Edward M. House had no title and held no official office But House wielded authority because of his personal association with Wilson
Wilson & House
The Progressives l l l Wilson called a special session of Congress Pushed the Underwood-Simmons Tariff – substantial reductions in tariff Pushed passage and ratification of the 16 th Amendment, permitting federal income taxes
The Progressives l l Income taxes had been levied in the past, but on a temporary basis But Pollock v. Farmers’ Loan & Trust Company, 157 US 429 (1895) declared an income tax unconstitutional Wilson pushed for a constitutional amendment which would permit an income tax The 16 th Amendment (1913) nullified Pollock
The Progressives l l l Federal income tax began with a 1% rate, on individuals and corporations earning over $4, 000 a year The top rate was 7%, on incomes over $500, 000 The top rate was raised to 77% during World War I Later lowered, raised, lowered, etc. Raised to 94% in 1944 Top rate is now approx. 40%
The Progressives l l Federal Reserve Act Regional banks kept a portion of their member banks’ deposits “in reserve” New currency – “Federal Reserve Notes” Could shift resources around to meet needs
The Progressives l l l In 1914, Wilson turned to monopolies Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Clayton Antitrust Act – not as strong and effective as it might have been “Unfair trade practices” By 1914, Wilson felt that he had accomplished much of what he set out to do – “New Freedom” was complete
The Progressives l l l Louis Brandeis (1856 -1941) Brilliant jurist Highest academic average ever achieved at Harvard Law (1877) First Jew appointed to US Supreme Court Advanced progressive thinker
The Progressives l l l Wilson sought to expand the role of the national government Keating-Owen Act, 1916 Regulated child labor through the “Interstate Commerce” clause Keating-Owen was struck down by the Supreme Court in 1918 But the “Interstate Commerce” clause would later be used to do many things
The Progressives l l l Wilson supported the idea of using the federal taxing authority as a vehicle for social change After Keating-Owen was struck down, sought to achieve same goal through taxation (that was later struck down too) Smith-Lever act – federal matching grants to states that agreed to support agricultural extension education
The Progressives l l Revolution in Nicaragua, 1909 Encouraged by American mining interests US sided with insurgents Advanced American interests through investment, loans, military protection for existing government
Diplomacy and Morality l l l US had a recent history of seizure and intervention when it seemed to be in the national interest Wilson took a different approach Refused to recognize Mexican president Huerta and his “government of butchers”
The Progressives l l l Conflict with Mexico dragged on Carranza and the coup Border incident Raid on Columbus, NM by Pancho Villa, 1916 US and Mexican troops clash
The Progressives l l General Pershing was dispatched to the border area Chased Villa around for about nine months, until US entry into World War I
The Progressives l “Don’t let it end like this. Tell them I said something. ” § Alleged dying words of Pancho Villa
Скачать презентацию The Progressives Brinkley Chapter 20 The Progressives
890c0c526a4fe88e7af37a7a7eab75ff.ppt