Download - The Origins of the Progressive Movement
The Origins of the Progressive Movement
APUSH Spring 2012
Origins of the Progressive Movement
1893-1897 Depression• Motivated a national self-
examination• 20% unemployment rate• Coxey’s Army• 1,394 labor strikes (1894)• Growing unrest, suffering,
dissatisfaction among working class made many fear for democracy.
• Backlash against big business.
Origins of the Progressive Movement
Growing concerns about thefuture of Democracy• Political influence of big
business• Excessive partisanship• Impact on
entrepreneurship• Dangers of an unrestricted
business sector
Origins of the Progressive Movement
Growing demands for govtto address:• Poor public facilities &
services• Gridlock created by
political machines• Widespread corruption• Privileges for the elite
*Many reform mvts begin at thegrassroots level (municipal/local)
Origins of the Progressive Movement
Common demands ofpolitical reformers• More services• More efficiency• More accountability• More transparency• More expertise• Less partisanship• Less patronage
Origins of the Progressive Movement
• Proliferation of national magazines & investigative journalists (Muckrakers)
• Consumer awareness & demands for quality
• Growing demand for social justice– 1/3 of Americans in poverty– 1.5 million children working– Social Darwinist thought
prevelent
Obstacles to Progressive Change
Challenge the dogma that • Growing gap between rich & poor was natural
selection (Social Darwinism).• Progressives wanted to reexamine the belief that
granting special privileges to business by the govt was good for the country, but help for the working man was un-American.
• How can there be growing wealth AND growing poverty?
Foundation of Progressive Change
Henry George• Justice & harmony can be
achieved w/o revolution or abandoning capitalism.
• Author of Progress & Poverty• Remove privileges – esp.
those created/protected by the govt.
• Activism for poor was Christian
Foundation of Progressive ChangeHenry George & Religion• Many working-class Protestant
men drifted away from religion
• Many Americans shocked by labor violence, charged that churches had lost workers’ allegiance – failed to understand their needs
• To help prevent a descent into revolution, the church would have to step up.
Foundation of Progressive ChangeJosiah Strong• Church to take up
burdens of less privileged to avoid revolution.
• Our Country, Its Possible Future and its Present Crisis
• Called for a Christian commitment to reform.
Foundation of Progressive Change
Social Gospel• Social Justice = Christian• Humanity of Christ –
esp. for the poor• Individual salvation
required the creation of a Christian society
• Churches began to spearhead charities & missions in slums
Foundation of Progressive ChangeSettlement Houses:• Generally secular, staffed by
religious folks• Hull House (1888) in Chicago –
Jane Addams• Goals of Settlement Houses:– Improve living conditions– Neighborhood relations– Teach English– Cultural events/arts– Child care – Early education
Foundation of Progressive Change• Experience with the poor
led activists to demand greater change.
• The Social Gospel will influence influential leaders. (T. Roosevelt, Bryan, Wilson)
*The Social Gospel made theProgressive Movement amoral movement.
Foundation of Progressive ChangeChanges in Academic Thought• New alliance between socially
minded clergy & reform-minded academics = committed to progress.
• Move from competition > to cooperation.
• Growing number of college courses focusing on progressive ideas & principles.
• In time, grads begin to go into government.
Foundation of Progressive Change
Roles for Progressive Professors• Advisors/counsel to govt• Helped to write progressive laws• Served on new regulatory
commissions• Led regulatory agencies• Govt officials (Wilson)• Influenced by Europe*Progressives will put considerable faith in experts.
Post Civil-War Politics
Common Themes• Sectionalism• Religion• Race & Ethnicity• Social/Economic Self-
Interest*Not the issue oriented politics of a new tomorrow for everyone.
The Influence of European Progressivism
Progressive ideasimported from Europe:• Govt seen as an instrument of
constructive change• Public ownership of utilities• Settlement House• Public housing• 8-hour work day• Unemployment insurance• Old-age pensions
Political Challenges to Progressivism
• Nation wide, business & commercial interest largely controlled politics.
• Sectional prejudices were an enormous barrier to a multi-sectional party of reform.
Post Civil War Monetary Policy• $450 million in Greenbacks still in
circulation. (Fiat money is not based on gold)
• Creditors - redemption in goldWhy? Deflation, high interest rates, keep value high
• Debtors – keep fiat moneyWhy? Inflation, easier credit
*System will protect the interests of the wealthy. This will force many to become more radical.
Gold vs. SilverSupporters of Gold:• Holders of debt• Elite, established wealth• Restrict the amount of money
in circulation to keep value highSupporters of Silver:• Those in debt• Working class, poor• Those favoring inflation like
farmers• Increases the supply of money
decreasing the value
Farmers Organize
Farmer’s Concerns• Perpetually declining
farm incomes• Government connection
to big business• Erosion of their self-
sufficiency & independence (Many dependent on RRs)
Farmers Organize
Farmers Organize
• Claimed to represent theFounding Fathers’ visionfor democracy.
• Farm mechanization + millions of new acres =soaring production & declining prices
• Loss of coveted independence, growing tenancy, migration to cities
Farmers Organize• Farmers believed that
history was a struggle between power and libertyPower – oppression, dependenceLiberty – social advance, equality
*More than anything, farmers wanted economic justice.
Farmers Organize
Farmer’s Complaints• Growing animosity
toward the middle-men who profited w/o labor.
• RR rates that were increasingly monopolistic
• Land speculation• The lack of credit
Farmers OrganizeThe Grange• Organization that encouraged
farmers to band together for economic & political well being.
• Granger Laws were passed to regulate rates for grain elevators and railroad rates.
• Munn v. Illinois declared that business interests (private property) used for public good could be regulated by government and the laws governing their rates were constitutional as well.
Farmers Organize
Early efforts at organizingNational Farmers Alliances(1877-1892)• Economic self-help• Creation of cooperatives• Education campaign about the
economic “realities” in the US• Political organization
Farmers Organize
Populist Party Platform (1892)• Greater democracy in the form of
– Secret ballot– Initiative– Reform– Direct election of senators
• Partial redistribution of wealth– Graduated income tax– Govt ownership of RRs, telegraph, and
telephone• Establishment of Postal Savings Banks
responsible to the Federal Govt
An Economic Paradigm Shift
The Fall of Populism• Massive gold strikes in the 1890s
increases the supply of money.• Southern Populists were split over
race.• Economic recovery in the late 1890s.• Failure to form a lasting alliance with
labor.• The established parties absorbed
various planks from the Populist platform.
• Nationalism surrounding the Spanish-American War.
Republican ReformersMugwumps• Reform minded Republicans• Concerned about growing
corruption in politics• Champions of civil-service
reform *Pendelton Civil Service Act• Focusing on reform, many
became Progressives.• Some supported Cleveland
because of Blaine’s tainted record
The Influence of the Muckrakers• Wealth Against Commonwealth by Henry Demarest Lloyd was
a critical examination of corporate giants who were responsible to no one and were able to corrupt/control govts.
• How the Other Half Lives by Jacob Riis, which exposed the deplorable living conditions in urban slums.
• The Shame of the Cities by Lincoln Steffens targeted municipal corruption.
• History of Standard Oil by Ida Tarbell provided a detailed and damaging assessment of Standard Oil’s rise to power.
• The Jungle by Upton Sinclair exposed the filthy, unhealthy conditions in Chicago’s meat packing industry.
Demand for Greater Democracy
Government Reform• Direct Primary• Initiative (Initiate Legislation)• Referendum (popular vote on
legislation)• Recall (remove elected officials)• Direct election of Senators*Most governmental reforms
occur at the local & state level.
Progressives & Efficiency