The Women’s Movement & Black Awakening

African-American Reforms■Southern progressivism was for

whites only; Keeping blacks from voting was seen as necessary:–Allowed for poll taxes, literacy

tests, property qualifications (& grandfather clauses for whites)

–Strengthened Jim Crow laws requiring separate theaters, restaurants, hotels, & schools

–But did regulate RRs & industry

By 1900, 80% of African-Americans lived in rural areas, most as Southern sharecroppers

African-American Reforms■Black leaders were

divided on how to address racial problems–Booker T Washington Booker T Washington

was Harvard educated, studied black urban culture, & was 1st president of Tuskegee University

–His “Atlanta Compromise” stressed black self-improvement (not lawsuits or agitation against whites)

■W.E.B. DuBoisW.E.B. DuBois was more aggressive

■Dubois led the Niagara Movement in 1905 calling for immediate civil rights, integrated schools, & promotion of the “Talented 10th” to be the next generation of black civil rights leaders

African-American Reforms“[African-Americans] have a right to know, to think, to aspire… We must strive for the right

which the world accords to man.”

—W.E.B. DuBois

The Niagara Movement & NAACP■In 1909, National Assoc for the National Assoc for the

Advancement of Colored PeopleAdvancement of Colored People (NAACP) was formed by William Walling & others; Du Bios was put in charge of The Crisis publication

■The NAACP had some victories:–Guinn v U.S.Guinn v U.S. (1915) ended

Oklahoma’s grandfather clause–Buchanan v WorleyBuchanan v Worley (1917)

ended KY housing segregation

But…“I have never seen the colored people so discouraged and so bitter

as they are at the present time.”—Booker T. Washington, 1913

Conclusions■Social progressivism led to

successful reforms in American cities by attacking corruption & advocating for the less fortunate

■Urban reformers drew national attention to:–The plight of women & blacks

(with mixed results)–The need for reform at the

state & national levels

Conclusions■Social progressivism led to

successful reforms in American cities by attacking corruption & advocating for the less fortunate

■Urban reformers drew national attention to:–The plight of women & blacks

(with mixed results)–The need for reform at the

state & national levels

The Women’s Movement■Successful progressive reforms

led by women strengthened calls for women’s rights & suffrage:–The National Association of

Colored Women advocated for the rights of black women

–The National American Woman Suffrage Association was key in getting the 19th Amendment passed in 1920

“Women’s vote will help cure ills of society”

Women’s Suffrage Before 1900

The Women’s Movement■Margaret Sanger championed the

cause for increased birth control for women:

–Her journals provided contraceptive information for poor & middle-class women

–In 1916, Sanger opened the 1st birth control clinic in the U.S.

Conflict in the Workplace■The new industrial advances like

mass production & management sped up production but led to:

–Long hours, low wages, dangerous settings for workers

–Labor unrest & strikes

–Union membership jumped from 4% in 1900 to 13% by 1920

–Progressive reforms for workers

Labor Union Membership, 1897-1920

Organizing Labor■Gompers’ American Federation of

Labor was the largest U.S. union but it was exclusive; led to:–Women’s Trade Union LeagueWomen’s Trade Union League

(1903) formed to help working women & educate the public

–Industrial Workers of the WorldIndustrial Workers of the World (1905) urged revolution & the creation of a workers’ republic via sabotage & strikes

The WTUL strike against Hart, Schaffer, & Marx Co led to the 1st collective

bargaining victory in U.S. labor history

Open to all workers regardless of race, sex,

ethnicity, or skill

Called the “Wobblies”

“It is our purpose to overthrow the capitalist system by forceful means in necessary…

[There is nothing a worker can do that] will bring as much anguish to the boss than a little

sabotage in the right place.”—IWW co-founder “Big Bill” Haywood

Organizing Labor■Eugene V. Debs

formed the Socialist Party Socialist Party of Americaof America & applied Marxist ideas into a moderate & appealing political platform

Did not threaten to overthrow the capitalist system

The Republican Roosevelt■The McKinley assassination (1901)

made Teddy Roosevelt president:

–TR was an activist president who knew how to guide public opinion

–Unlike most Gilded Age Republicans, Roosevelt refused to ignore social inequalities

–He believed gov’t agencies should be run by experts

TR thought of presidency as a bully pulpit to advocate his agendaThe president is “a steward of the

people bound actively & affirmatively to do all he can for the people”

Elihu Root to Sec of State (district attorney of NYC)

W.H. Taft to Sec of War (governor of Philippines)

Gifford Pinchot as chief

conservationist

The Square Deal■In 1902, the United Mine Workers

went on strike to demand higher pay & an eight-hour work day–The strike lasted 11 months–TR brought both sides to

arbitration & threatened gov’t seizure of the coal mine

■The result was a “square deal” for labor (higher wages) & owners (no formal recognition of the union)

TR the Trustbuster?■TR saw the benefit of good trusts,

but wanted to control bad trusts:–He pushed for the Dept of

Commerce & Labor to investigate business misconduct

–In 1902, TR ordered the Justice Dept to charge the Northern Securities Co in violation of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act; The Supreme Court ordered the company to be broken up

TR accepted monopolies as a fact of life for 20th century business but viewed

regulation as the best way to tame trusts who use corrupt business practices

TR the Trustbuster? ■TR was not always consistent:

–Initiated suits against beef trust, American Tobacco, DuPont, Standard Oil, & New Haven RR

–But he relied on business to gain re-election in 1904; sought the advice of JP Morgan; allowed some monopolistic mergers

–The Roosevelt administration only “busted” 25 trusts in 7 years

Taft busted 43 monopolies in 4 years

Muckraking Journalism■Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle

(1906) led to federal investigation of the meatpacking industry, gov’t inspections, & improved sanitation

■Sam H. Adams exposed the dangers of patent medicines which led to the Pure Food & Drug ActPure Food & Drug Act requiring listing of ingredients & banned “adulterated” drugs

“I aimed at the public’s heart & by accident I hit it in the stomach”

■TR was a popular president & won a landslide victory in 1904

“Under no circumstances will I be a candidate for or accept

another nomination”

Regulating the Railroads■TR’s re-election agenda focused

on business regulation:

–Hepburn ActHepburn Act (1906) increased the ICC’s power to set maximum RR rates & investigate RR company financial records

–The Food & Drug ActFood & Drug Act (1906) & Meat Inspection ActMeat Inspection Act (1906) protected consumers

Conserving the Land■TR created the 1st comprehensive

national conservation policy:–TR defined “conservation” as

wise use of natural resources–Created the Reclamation Service

to place natural resources (oil, trees, coal) under federal domain

–From 1901 to 1908, U.S. gov’t preserves grew from 45 million acres to 195 million acres

National Parks and Forests

The Presidency of William Howard Taft

The Taft Presidency■TR remained true to his promise

not to run for a 3rd term & chose William Howard Taft as the Republican nominee for president

■Taft seemed ready to carry out TR’s political agenda

“I feel a bit like a fish out of water…I hate the limelight.”

The Taft Presidency■Taft was poorly equipped to

continue Roosevelt’s agenda:

–Taft did not trust the gov’t to regulate business behavior

–He didn’t have the flair of TR; Taft was “too honest & sincere”

–Taft tended to side with conservative Republicans rather than progressive Republicans

Taft backed the high Payne-Aldrich tariff

Taft fired Pinchot, TR’s chief conservationist after the Ballinger-Pinchot Affair

Progressive Republicans no longer looked to Taft for leadership & criticized almost all his policies

The Taft Presidency■Despite these set backs, Taft

helped push through significant progressive legislation:–1616thth Amendment Amendment was written;

created a national income tax–1717thth Amendment Amendment was written;

direct election of U.S. Senators–Safety codes for miners & RRs–Created the Children’s Bureau

The Election of 1912■TR decided to run against Taft for

the Republican nomination in 1912 but conservative Republicans refused to take him over Taft

■TR was nominated to the new Progressive (Bull Moose) Party

■Democrats nominated former Princeton president & NJ governor Woodrow Wilson who ran as a progressive reformer

“I’m feeling like a Bull Moose!”

This deeply divided the Republican Party

The Election of 1912TR’s New Nationalism■ U.S. needs a nat’l

approach to reform & a strong president

■ Social-Justice reforms; protection of women, children, workers; “good” trusts to help growth

■ 1st to enlist women

WW’s New FreedomWW’s New Freedom■ U.S. needs small

gov’t, free trade & competition

■ Both plans saw the economy as the central issue, but Wilson distrusted federal power & nat’l planningDemocrats not only won the presidency, but

also outright control of both House & Senate

The 1912 election was the most significant 3-way election since 1860: Lincoln (Republican), Stephen Douglas (Northern Democrat), &

John Breckenridge (Southern Democrat)

Woodrow Wilson’s New Freedom

Woodrow Wilson's New Freedom■Wilson believed in strong, activist

leadership & helped push through many “New Freedom” ideas:–Underwood Tariff ActUnderwood Tariff Act reduced

tariffs & created America’s 1st graduated income tax

–Federal Reserve ActFederal Reserve Act created a Federal Reserve to regulate the economy by adjusting the money supply & interest rates

1% tax for all, but 2% for the rich

The 1st efficient national banking system since Jackson destroyed the BUS in 1832

Woodrow Wilson's New Freedom–Clayton Anti-Trust ActClayton Anti-Trust Act banned

interlocking directorates & held business officers personally liable for monopolies; helped workers by allowing strikes & banning injunctions

■As the 1916 elections neared, Wilson pushed for more social reforms…but U.S. involvement in WWI in 1917 distracted Americans from progressive reform

Federal Farm Loan Act

Endorsed an 8-hour day for all workers

Supported women’s suffrage

Defended unions’ right to collectively bargain

ConclusionsConclusions:The Fruits of Progressivism

The Fruits of Progressivism■Progressive reforms led to:

–Urban & labor improvementsUrban & labor improvements–Direct primaries & female votingDirect primaries & female voting–More gov’t responsibility for More gov’t responsibility for

social welfare social welfare –Regulatory commissionsRegulatory commissions–Increased importance of interest Increased importance of interest

groups & public opinion pollsgroups & public opinion polls–An “expert” bureaucracy An “expert” bureaucracy –A more powerful presidencyA more powerful presidency

■WWI ended the Progressive Era