American HistoryAmerican HistoryThe Progressive The Progressive

EraEra (1890–1920) (1890–1920)

All photographs courtesy of The Library of Congress & Lewis HineAll photographs courtesy of The Library of Congress & Lewis Hine

The Origins of The Origins of ProgressivismProgressivism

• Rapid Rapid industrializatiindustrialization, on, immigration, immigration, and and urbanization urbanization in the late in the late 1800s led to 1800s led to national national growth and growth and prosperity.prosperity.

•The rapid growth also The rapid growth also caused poverty, caused poverty, unemployment, horrible unemployment, horrible working conditions and working conditions and political corruption.political corruption.

•Many Progressives believed Many Progressives believed that political action and that political action and reform, not private charities, reform, not private charities, were the methods to bring were the methods to bring about progress in society.about progress in society.

• Historians call the period Historians call the period from about 1890–1920 the from about 1890–1920 the Progressive Era.Progressive Era.

Dakota Apartment Dakota Apartment House, ca. 1905-1915House, ca. 1905-1915

A Monday Afternoon A Monday Afternoon Washing, 107Washing, 107thth Street, Street,

19001900

Family in Attic Home, Family in Attic Home, Drying Their Laundry, ca. Drying Their Laundry, ca.

1900-19101900-1910

The Progressives: Their The Progressives: Their Goals and Goals and BeliefsBeliefs

Progressives were not a Progressives were not a single unified movement.single unified movement.

They fell into four They fell into four

categories: categories:

1.1.SocialSocial2.2.MoralMoral3.3.EconomicEconomic4.4.Political Political

Some common basic beliefs Some common basic beliefs were:were:

1.Government should be more accountable to its citizens.

2.Government should curb the power and influence of wealthy interests.

3.Government should be given expanded powers so that it could become more active in improving the lives of its citizens.

4.Governments should become more efficient and less corrupt so that they could

competently handle an expanded role.

Igniting Reform: Writers Igniting Reform: Writers and Their New Ideasand Their New Ideas

• The ideas of many writers and The ideas of many writers and journalists influenced public journalists influenced public opinion about how to reform opinion about how to reform society.society.

• Journalists investigated and Journalists investigated and publicized conditions in certain publicized conditions in certain industries, slums, tenement industries, slums, tenement houses, and sweat shops.houses, and sweat shops.

• Theodore Roosevelt called Theodore Roosevelt called the journalists the journalists

““muckrakersmuckrakers.” .” • Upton Sinclair, Upton Sinclair,

Lincoln Steffens, Lincoln Steffens,

and Ida Tarbell and Ida Tarbell

were respected were respected

writers and writers and

muckrakersmuckrakers..

Progressive Reform Progressive Reform OrganizationsOrganizations

Employers discouraged union membership.Courts often issued injunctions, court orders prohibiting a certain activity, preventing workers from going on strike.Unions continued to fight for better working conditions.

The Labor Movement

The Progressive Era saw a rise in socialism.American socialists hoped to use the ballot box, not revolution, to end the capitalist system and distribute wealth more equally.

Socialists

The National Consumers’ League (NCL) investigated how goods were made and sold. They discouraged people from buying from shops that employed child labor.All women’s groups agreed that women’s suffrage was an important cause.

Women’s Groups

An Expanded Role for An Expanded Role for GovernmentGovernment

• Progressives sought more Progressives sought more social social welfare programswelfare programs to help ensure a to help ensure a minimum standard of living.minimum standard of living.

• Many of the earliest Progressive Many of the earliest Progressive reforms were made at the reforms were made at the municipalmunicipal, or city, level., or city, level.

• Some municipal reformers worked Some municipal reformers worked for for home rulehome rule, a system that gives , a system that gives cities a limited degree of self-rule.cities a limited degree of self-rule.

• Municipal reformers opposed the Municipal reformers opposed the influence of political bosses.influence of political bosses.

• Reformers made efforts to take Reformers made efforts to take over city utilities such as water, over city utilities such as water, gas, and electricity.gas, and electricity.

• Some reform mayors led Some reform mayors led movements for city-supported movements for city-supported welfare services such as public welfare services such as public baths, parks, work-relief baths, parks, work-relief programs, playgrounds, programs, playgrounds, kindergartens, and lodging houses kindergartens, and lodging houses for the homeless.for the homeless.

Taft’s PresidencyTaft’s Presidency• Taft was endorsed by Taft was endorsed by

Roosevelt and pledged to Roosevelt and pledged to carry on the progressive carry on the progressive program.program.

• However, he did not even However, he did not even appoint any Progressives appoint any Progressives to his Cabinet.to his Cabinet.

• He campaigned on a He campaigned on a platform to lower tariffs, platform to lower tariffs, but ended up signing a but ended up signing a bill that added some bill that added some highly protective tariff highly protective tariff increases.increases.

• Taft also angered Taft also angered conservationistsconservationists on the issue of on the issue of public land management. public land management.

• Taft chose Richard A. Ballinger Taft chose Richard A. Ballinger for Secretary of the Interior. for Secretary of the Interior.

• Ballinger opposed conservation Ballinger opposed conservation of public lands. of public lands.

• Instead, he sided with business Instead, he sided with business interests who sought interests who sought unrestricted development of unrestricted development of public lands.public lands.

• Taft angered Taft angered

many people many people

and his and his

presidency presidency

suffered.suffered.

Turmoil in the Turmoil in the Republican PartyRepublican Party

• Angry Republican Progressives Angry Republican Progressives teamed up with Democrats teamed up with Democrats against the opponents of reform against the opponents of reform in the Republican Party. in the Republican Party.

• Roosevelt criticized Taft and Roosevelt criticized Taft and campaigned for Progressive campaigned for Progressive candidates in the 1910 midterm candidates in the 1910 midterm elections.elections.

• Roosevelt called for:Roosevelt called for:1.1.business regulationbusiness regulation

2.2.welfare lawswelfare laws

3.3.workplace protection for workplace protection for womenwomen

4.4.Child labor lawsChild labor laws

5.5.Income minimumsIncome minimums

6.6.inheritance taxesinheritance taxes

7.7.voting reform.voting reform.

•He called this plan: the He called this plan: the New NationalismNew Nationalism..

• Progressive Republicans left the Progressive Republicans left the Republican Party and formed the Republican Party and formed the Progressive Party, nicknamed the Progressive Party, nicknamed the Bull Moose PartyBull Moose Party. .

• The Bull Moose platform included The Bull Moose platform included tariff reduction, woman’s suffrage, tariff reduction, woman’s suffrage, more regulation of more regulation of

business, a child business, a child

labor ban, an labor ban, an

eight-hour workday, eight-hour workday,

and direct election and direct election

of senators.of senators.

The Election of 1912The Election of 1912

A Four-Way Election

Fought to keep the Presidency for the Republican Party

William Howard Taft

Represented the Progressive Bull Moose Party

Theodore Roosevelt

Made his third of five presidential runs for the Socialist Party

Eugene V. Debs

Headed the Democratic ticket; with the Republican Party split between Taft and Roosevelt, Wilson won the election.

Woodrow Wilson

Wilson’s Policies as Wilson’s Policies as PresidentPresident

•Wilson’s Wilson’s first first major major victory victory was tariff was tariff reductionreduction..

•He attacked the trusts by He attacked the trusts by helping Congress pass the helping Congress pass the Clayton Antitrust ActClayton Antitrust Act in 1914. in 1914.

•This act strengthened the This act strengthened the Sherman Antitrust Act of Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890.1890.

•Wilson and Congress created Wilson and Congress created the the Federal Trade Federal Trade CommissionCommission to enforce the to enforce the Clayton Antitrust Act.Clayton Antitrust Act.

• In 1913 Congress passed the In 1913 Congress passed the Federal Reserve Act and created Federal Reserve Act and created the the Federal Reserve SystemFederal Reserve System to to overhaul the American banking overhaul the American banking system. system.

• In 1916 Wilson tried to attract In 1916 Wilson tried to attract Progressive voters. Progressive voters.

• To this aim he nominated To this aim he nominated Progressive lawyer Louis D. Progressive lawyer Louis D. Brandeis to the Supreme Court.Brandeis to the Supreme Court.

• In 1916 Wilson won a second term.In 1916 Wilson won a second term.

The Limits of The Limits of ProgressivismProgressivism

• The changes made by Progressives The changes made by Progressives were limited to certain groups in were limited to certain groups in the United States. the United States.

• Progressives championed Progressives championed municipal reforms, but did little municipal reforms, but did little for tenant or migrant farmers.for tenant or migrant farmers.

• Progressive Presidents took little Progressive Presidents took little action to pursue social justice action to pursue social justice reforms.reforms.

• Wilson continued the Jim Crow Wilson continued the Jim Crow practice, begun under Taft, of practice, begun under Taft, of separating the races in federal separating the races in federal offices.offices.

• At the 1912 Progressive Party At the 1912 Progressive Party convention, Roosevelt declined to convention, Roosevelt declined to seat black delegates from the seat black delegates from the South for fear of alienating white South for fear of alienating white Southern Progressives.Southern Progressives.

• By 1916, the reform spirit had By 1916, the reform spirit had nearly died. nearly died.

• It was replaced by American It was replaced by American concerns about World War I.concerns about World War I.

Suffrage at Last!Suffrage at Last!

• American women American women activists first activists first demanded the rightdemanded the rightto vote in 1848 at to vote in 1848 at the Seneca Falls the Seneca Falls Convention in Convention in New York.New York.

• The movement eventually The movement eventually split into two groups:split into two groups:– The National Woman Suffrage The National Woman Suffrage

Association fought for a Association fought for a constitutional amendment for constitutional amendment for suffrage.suffrage.

– The American Woman The American Woman Suffrage Association worked Suffrage Association worked to win voting rights on the to win voting rights on the state level.state level.

Preparing the Way for Preparing the Way for SuffrageSuffrage

• In 1890, Wyoming In 1890, Wyoming entered the union and entered the union and became the first state to became the first state to grant women the right to grant women the right to vote.vote.

• In 1872, in an act of In 1872, in an act of civil civil disobediencedisobedience, a suffrage , a suffrage leader, Susan B. leader, Susan B. Anthony, insisted on Anthony, insisted on voting in Rochester, New voting in Rochester, New York. York.

• She was arrested for this She was arrested for this act.act.

Suffragist StrategiesSuffragist Strategies

Constitutional AmendmentConstitutional Amendment• Winning suffrage by a constitutional Winning suffrage by a constitutional

amendmentamendment• The first federal amendment was introduced The first federal amendment was introduced

in Congress in 1868 and stalled.in Congress in 1868 and stalled.• In 1878, suffragists introduced a new In 1878, suffragists introduced a new

amendment.amendment.• Stalled again, the bill was not debated again Stalled again, the bill was not debated again

until 1887. until 1887. • It was defeated by the Senate.It was defeated by the Senate.• The bill was not debated again until 1913.The bill was not debated again until 1913.

Suffragist StrategiesSuffragist StrategiesIndividual State SuffrageIndividual State Suffrage• Winning suffrage state by state.Winning suffrage state by state.• State suffrage seemed more successful State suffrage seemed more successful

than a constitutional amendment.than a constitutional amendment.• Survival on the frontier required the Survival on the frontier required the

combined efforts of men and women combined efforts of men and women and encouraged a greater sense of and encouraged a greater sense of equality.equality.

• Western states were more likely to Western states were more likely to allow women the right to vote.allow women the right to vote.

A New GenerationA New Generation

• Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, leaders of the suffrage Stanton, leaders of the suffrage movement, died without seeing the movement, died without seeing the victory of women’s suffrage.victory of women’s suffrage.

• At the turn of the century, Carrie At the turn of the century, Carrie Chapman Catt became the leader of the Chapman Catt became the leader of the National American Woman Suffrage National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA)Association (NAWSA). .

• She led the movement from 1900 to She led the movement from 1900 to 1904 and again after 1915.1904 and again after 1915.

• In March 1913 Alice Paul and In March 1913 Alice Paul and Lucy Barns organized a parade of Lucy Barns organized a parade of 5,000 women in Washington, D.C.5,000 women in Washington, D.C.

• After the success of the rally, After the success of the rally, Paul transformed her committee Paul transformed her committee into a new organization called into a new organization called the the Congressional Union.Congressional Union.

A Split in the MovementA Split in the Movement

The Congressional Union (CU)The Congressional Union (CU)• Called for an aggressive militant campaign for

the constitutional amendment.

• Planned to bypass existing state suffrage organizations and set up new ones in each state.

• They staged militant protests where they burned a life-size dummy of President Wilson and copies of his speeches.• They were arrested and went on hunger strikes in

prison.

A Split in the MovementA Split in the Movement

NAWSANAWSA• Opposed the plan of the CU believing it would

alienate moderate supporters.

• Expelled the CU from their organization.

• Backed the state suffrage campaigns.

• By 1917, NAWSA was the largest volunteer organization in the country.

• In 1917, NAWSA saw an important victory when New York voted for women’s suffrage.

Victory for SuffrageVictory for Suffrage

• In 1918, Congress formally proposed the In 1918, Congress formally proposed the suffrage amendment.suffrage amendment.

• After the amendment was proposed the After the amendment was proposed the ratification battle began.ratification battle began.

• In August 1920, Tennessee became the In August 1920, Tennessee became the 36th state necessary to ratify the suffrage 36th state necessary to ratify the suffrage amendment.amendment.

• The Nineteenth Amendment, granting The Nineteenth Amendment, granting women the right to vote, was the last women the right to vote, was the last major reform of the Progressive Era.major reform of the Progressive Era.

Why the Progressive Era Was Why the Progressive Era Was So Important:So Important:

Because Child Labor Because Child Labor was banned!was banned!

Lewis Hine, the celebrated photographer & Lewis Hine, the celebrated photographer & dedicated social reformer, captured the sad dedicated social reformer, captured the sad faces of the children in the following photos. faces of the children in the following photos.

Captions and quotes are from Hine’s published Captions and quotes are from Hine’s published works.works.

Faces of Lost YouthFaces of Lost Youth

A moment’s glimpse of the outer world. 11 year-A moment’s glimpse of the outer world. 11 year-old girl. Said she has been working for over a old girl. Said she has been working for over a

year.year.

Some boys and girls were so small they had to climb up on to the Some boys and girls were so small they had to climb up on to the spinning frame to mend broken threads and to put back the empty spinning frame to mend broken threads and to put back the empty

bobbins.bobbins.

One of the spinners in Whitnel Cotton Mill. She was 51 inches One of the spinners in Whitnel Cotton Mill. She was 51 inches high. Has been in the mill one year. Sometimes works at night. high. Has been in the mill one year. Sometimes works at night.

Runs 4 sides - 48 cents a day. When asked how old she was, she Runs 4 sides - 48 cents a day. When asked how old she was, she hesitated, then said, "I don't remember," then added hesitated, then said, "I don't remember," then added

confidentially, "I'm not old enough to work, but do just the same."confidentially, "I'm not old enough to work, but do just the same."

Jo Bodeon, a back-roper in the mule room at Jo Bodeon, a back-roper in the mule room at

Chace Cotton Mill. Burlington, Vt.Chace Cotton Mill. Burlington, Vt.

Furman Owens, 12 years old. Can’t read, doesn’t know his Furman Owens, 12 years old. Can’t read, doesn’t know his

ABC’s.ABC’s. Said, “Yes, I want to learn, but can’t when I work all Said, “Yes, I want to learn, but can’t when I work all the time.”the time.”

The NewsiesThe Newsies

Tony Casale, age 11, been selling 4 years. Sells sometimes Tony Casale, age 11, been selling 4 years. Sells sometimes until 10 p.m. Saw the marks on his arm where his father had until 10 p.m. Saw the marks on his arm where his father had

bitten him for not selling more papers. He (the boy) said, bitten him for not selling more papers. He (the boy) said,

"Drunken men say bad words to us." Hartford, Conn."Drunken men say bad words to us." Hartford, Conn.

Out after midnight selling extras. There were many young boys Out after midnight selling extras. There were many young boys selling very late. Youngest boy in the group is 9 years old. Harry, selling very late. Youngest boy in the group is 9 years old. Harry,

age 11, Eugene and the rest were a little older.age 11, Eugene and the rest were a little older.

The dust was so dense at times as to obscure the view. The dust was so dense at times as to obscure the view. This dust penetrated the utmost recesses of the boys' This dust penetrated the utmost recesses of the boys'

lungs. A kind of slave-driver sometimes stands over the lungs. A kind of slave-driver sometimes stands over the

boys, prodding or kicking them into obedience.boys, prodding or kicking them into obedience.

Breaker BoysBreaker Boys

Oyster shuckers working in a canning factory. All but the Oyster shuckers working in a canning factory. All but the very smallest babies work. Began work at 3:30 a.m. and very smallest babies work. Began work at 3:30 a.m. and

expected to work until 5 p.m. The little girl in the center was expected to work until 5 p.m. The little girl in the center was

working. Her mother said she is "a real help to me."working. Her mother said she is "a real help to me."