mc reform the progressive era. context: post 1900 abundance – being able to participate in...
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MC REFORM
The Progressive Era
Context: Post 1900
Abundance – being able to participate in consumerism – having access to material good and a higher standard of living
The living wage – About $600/yearFordism
Assembly line/mass production $5 & $6 dollar days workers – why Democratization of the automobile Workers as consumers
Women’s Rights Economics – working outside the home
increased Gilman – Women and economics Unions – WTUL/ILGWU– Schneidermann and Triangle
ShirtWaist Fire Child labor – march & Lawrence Strike
New Feminism Leisure time
Sexual Emancipation – reproductive rights (birth control)– Sanger & sexual expression
Suffrage NAWSA Alice Paul – ERA 19th Amendment
Woman’s Rights
Women Progressives - the New Woman Addams & Kelley – Hull House – political reforms & activism for women’s issues – abuse, divorce, child labor
Public health issues – Brandeis Brief – Muller v Oregon
Temperance
Minorities
Native American Progressivism Montezuma – full citizenship, end wardship and
the BIA
African American Progressivism DuBois – Niagra Movement --- NAACP
Impact of WWI – the “race issue” The meaning of freedom and citizenship Access to opportunity
The Progressive MovementCharacteristics:
Optimistic – believe can create change and improve society
Righteous – prefer voluntary action – but have a willingness to intervene to do what’s best for society
Tool/method = government (state and federal) – the instrument to create effective change to “humanize” the system and “ameliorate” the worst excesses caused by industrialization and urbanization
Pervasive and diverse – many different focuses Sought social control and systematizing –
government as referee or as broker among interests – MC Protestantism/MC values
MC, educated, many women – Mowry “benevolent guardians”
Goals
End the abuse of power - seek to stabilize or balance the political and economic system
Address/correct the problems created by industrialization and urbanization – soften – no challenge to capitalism – just the unregulated excesses - social justice
Empower the people – at least the “right” ones
Seek efficiency, expertise – systematizing – Lafollette Wisconsin Idea
“Roots”Intellectual challenges to Social
Darwinism (Ely, Veblen, George, Darrow, Etc) role of environment – pragmatism
Social gospel Muckrakers Status Anxiety = MC fearsPopulism The labor movement Reaction to the boss system and desire
for reform Women’s rights movement Professionalism
State And City Reforms
Reform & Innovation in local government and state government
Wisconsin Idea – LaFollette – utilities, labor laws, political changes – use of expertise Government structure – city managers, city
commissions Education - kindergartens & night school Public works But appearances of democracy not always
democratic changes - ………
Political Changes
Initiative, referendum and recall Direct primary Australian ballotVoter registration 17 Am 19 Am (ERA –Paul) Limited campaign contributions
Efficiency & Organization
City manager; city commissionerWisconsin Plan – LaFollettebusinesses licenses 16 Am Federal Reserve System Bureau of Corporations RFD“systematizing” of government institutions
and services – makes it predictable and controllable
Gas & power socialism
Social Justice
Brandeis Brief – Muller v Oregon18Am & 19 AM Child labor laws Workman’s compensation Increase $ for educationBureau of labor Public Health Service – Sheppard-Towner Mann Act Juvenile courts Divorce laws Death penalty reform
Government Regulation
Public utilities commission Gas & power socialism Conservation laws Minimum wages & maximum hours (fed) Consumer protection laws – Pure Food & Drug,
Meat Inspection Act Increase regulatory agencies (FDA, FTC)RR regulation –Hepburn, Mann-ElkinsTariff decreaseAnti trust enforcement (Northern Securities,
Taft, Clayton) “trust-busting” Safety codes
Areas of limited concern
Race - segregation increasedAfter 1900 movement North (more post WWI) –
decreasing opportunities, & race relations in S, boll weevil epidemic, more opportunities in N – still segregated cities
Labor – what to help but not crazy about union movement - concerns for political radicalism – Ludlow Massacre
Immigration – sought to “Americanize” appearances of democracy not always
democratic changes – literacy tests, registration – impact on the poor
Presidential Progressivism 1901-1920
TR = “Elan Vitale” Process – must develop an awareness and a
“readiness” for the degree of gov’t involvement at the national level – thus greater amount of legislation as society accepted/understood need
Increased power of Executive branch Increased power of the national
government Developments that strengthen in the 20th
century
TR 1901-1908
The Bully Pulpit The Square Deal The “trust-buster” ---
“good trusts” –”bad trusts” Northern Securities Case – restore S A-T
challenges powerful interests– Morgan, Rockefeller, etc.
Keeps trusts in “bounds” – restrains Gentleman’s Agreement
The Bully Pulpit
TR
The Square Deal – Anthracite Coal Strike – the “broker”
UMW v Coal Mine owners TR – Arbitration – Mitchell =ok – refusal
by owners ---TR army Wage and hours gains --- but no union
recognition
Other Actions
RR – Elkins and Hepburn Acts – increase power of ICC
Consumer protection: Pure Food and Drug Act; Meat Inspection Act Sinclair – The Jungle Wiley – the poison squad
Conservation – forests, parks, irrigation Pinchot
Bureau of Commerce & Labor (corporations)
The Republican
Party &
President William H.
Taft
The Republican
Party &
President William H.
Taft
Taft’s Accomplishments
Real Trust bustingConservation – forestry 16 & 17 amendments Mann-Elkins Act – rr and
communications Federal gov’t 8 hr dayChildren’s Bureau Safety regulations
Taft’s “ordeal”
Alienates progressive wing of the party Cannonism Payne-Aldrich TariffBallinger-Pinchot Affair1910 Purge
TR Returns Osawatomie, KS
Big business requires big government.Big business requires big government.
New Nationalism
Increase the power of the presidency & federal government to deal w/ changes
National approach to problem solving Strong assertive leadership Government efficiency and expertise
New Freedom
Increase competition – decrease monopolies
More limited federal government – states rights
BUT comes to embraces New Nationlism - WHY
The Republican Convention
Battle between Old Guard and Progressives
Republican Party Platform
Put limitations on female and child labor.Put limitations on female and child labor.High import tariffs.High import tariffs.Workman’s Compensation Laws.Workman’s Compensation Laws.Against initiative, referendum, and Against initiative, referendum, and
recall.recall.Against “bad” trusts.Against “bad” trusts.Creation of a Federal Trade Commission.Creation of a Federal Trade Commission.Stay on the gold standard.Stay on the gold standard.Conservation of natural resources Conservation of natural resources
TR and the Progressive Party
The Bullmoose Party
Progressive Party Platform
Women’s suffrage.Women’s suffrage.Graduated income tax.Graduated income tax.Inheritance tax for the rich.Inheritance tax for the rich.Lower tariffs.Lower tariffs.Limits on campaign spending.Limits on campaign spending.Currency reform.Currency reform.Minimum wage laws.Minimum wage laws.Social insurance.Social insurance.Abolition of child labor.Abolition of child labor.Workmen’s compensation.Workmen’s compensation.
The Socialist Party
& Eugene V. Debs
The Socialist Party
& Eugene V. Debs
The issue is Socialism The issue is Socialism versus Capitalism. I am versus Capitalism. I am for Socialism because I for Socialism because I am for humanity.am for humanity.
“The Working Class Candidates”
“The Working Class Candidates”
Eugene V. Debs Emil Seigel for President for Vice-President
Growth of the Socialist VoteGrowth of the Socialist VoteYear
Socialist Party
Socialist Labor Party Total
1888 2,068 2,068
1890 13,704 13,704
1892 21,512 21,512
1894 30,020 30,020
1896 36,275 36,274
1898 82,204 82,204
1900 96,931 33,405 130,336
1902 223,494 53,763 277,257
1904 408,230 33,546 441,776
1906 331,043 20,265 351,308
1908 424,488 14,021 438,509
1910 607,674 34,115 641,789
1912 901,873901,873
The Industrial Worker: I. W. W.
The Industrial Worker: I. W. W.
The first American labor group to open its The first American labor group to open its membership to all wage-earning workers, membership to all wage-earning workers, regardless of skill, nationality, race, sex, or regardless of skill, nationality, race, sex, or gender.gender.
Socialist Party PlatformSocialist Party Platform
Government ownership of Government ownership of railroads and utilities.railroads and utilities.
Guaranteed income tax.Guaranteed income tax.
No tariffs.No tariffs.
8-hour work day.8-hour work day.
Better housing.Better housing.
Government inspection of Government inspection of factories.factories.
Women’s suffrage.Women’s suffrage.
The Democratic Party &Governor Woodrow
Wilson (NJ)
The Democratic Party &Governor Woodrow
Wilson (NJ)
Could he Could he rescue the rescue the Democratic Democratic Party from Party from “Bryanism”??“Bryanism”??
The ReformGovern
orof NJ:
It TakesTime
to Remov
ethe
Grime
The ReformGovern
orof NJ:
It TakesTime
to Remov
ethe
Grime
Democratic Party PlatformDemocratic Party PlatformGovernment control of the Government control of the monopolies monopolies trusts in general were bad trusts in general were bad eliminate them!! -- Competition eliminate them!! -- Competition
States Rights – limited governmentStates Rights – limited government
Tariff reduction.Tariff reduction.
One-term President.One-term President.
Direct election of Senators.Direct election of Senators.
Create a Department of Labor.Create a Department of Labor.
Strengthen the Sherman Anti-Trust Strengthen the Sherman Anti-Trust Act.Act.
Did NOT support women’s suffrage.Did NOT support women’s suffrage.
Opposed to a central bank.Opposed to a central bank.
NewNew
FFrreeeeddoomm
NewNew
FFrreeeeddoomm
The “Seas” [of Opportunity]Open Up for the DemocratsThe “Seas” [of Opportunity]Open Up for the Democrats
Election ResultsElection Results
By 1912, 100,000 fewer people had voted By 1912, 100,000 fewer people had voted for Wilson than had voted for Bryan in for Wilson than had voted for Bryan in 1908.1908.
The 1912 election marked the apogee of The 1912 election marked the apogee of the Socialist movement in Americathe Socialist movement in America..
On Uncle Sam’s FarmOn Uncle Sam’s Farm
The Democratic party took control of The Democratic party took control of the Senate for the first time in 20 the Senate for the first time in 20 years.years.
TheGOP:
AnExtinctAnimal
?
TheGOP:
AnExtinctAnimal
?
Wilson’s AccomplishmentsFederal Reserve System Clayton Anti-trust Act - “interlocking directorate”;
recognition of unions/ no injunctionsUnderwood TariffFederal Trade Commission18th & 19th Amendments Used the 16th AmendmentFederal Farm Loan Act ---Warehouse ActAdamson Act Keatings-Owen Act (Hammer v Dagenhart ) Brandeis ---SCTWorkman’s Compensation Act Actions in Ludlow/RR strikes
Assessment of Progressivism
How effective was progressivism at addressing the problems of the period?
What was the impact of progressivism on the expectations of people for government?
What was the impact on the relative power of the legislative and executive branches?
What is the long term assessment of the impact of progressivism on the nation?
To what degree do we see progressive ideas operating today?
Assessment
Paradox and Irony – Democracy and disenfranchisement Democratic reforms – manipulation by well-
financed PR campaigns Power to people – decision-making by faceless
and disconnected policy makers & “experts
BUT also established ideas of role of government in promoting public welfareConnections: New Deal, Great Society, Obama
