CHAPTER 9

THE ORIGINS OF PROGRESSIVISM

 

GENERAL INFORMATION

..\..\The Gilded Age WebQuest Documenting Industrialization in America.htm

 

-         THE CITIES BECAME MAGNETS FOR IMMIGRANTS AND MIGRANTS

o      WHY? – JOBS

-         INDUSTRIALISM AND THE RISE OF CITIES  CAUSED PROBLEMS

o      Def – THE APPLICATION OF MACHINES TO THE PRODUCTION PROCESS

 

o      SOCIAL

 

§       RISING CRIME

§       INADEQUATE HOUSING – TENEMENTS

·       Def – OVERCROWDED, UNSANITARY APARTMENT BUILDING

§       DISCRIMINATION

 

o      ECONOMIC

§       TRUSTS

§       WORKING CONDITIONS

 

o      POLITICAL

§       CORRUPTION

·       POLITICAL MACHINE

 

-         THE NEWLY EMERGENT MIDDLE CLASS IS THREATENED BY

 

o      PREDATORY WEALTH

o      CRIMINAL ELEMENT OF THE UNDERCLASS

 

-         THE MIDDLE CLASS TURNS TO GOVERNMENT FOR PROTECTION

o      LAISSEZ FAIRE GIVES WAY TO A REGULATORY MENTALITY

§       Def – GOVERNMENT “ HANDS OFF ”

9/2

-          THE PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENT IS THE POLITICAL RESPONSE TO THE NEEDS OF THE MIDDLE CLASS

 

FOUR GOALS OF PROGRESSIVISM

 

-         PROTECTING SOCIAL WELFARE

 

o      PROHIBITING CHILD LABOR

o      SETTLEMENT HOUSES

o      IMPROVE EDUCATION

 

-         PROMOTING MORAL IMPROVEMENT

 

o      PROHIBITION

o      SUFFRAGE

 

-         CREATING ECONOMIC REFORM

 

o      LIMIT WORKING HOURS

o      IMPROVE WORKING CONDITIONS

 

-         FOSTERING EFFICIENCY

o      ASSEMBLY LINE

o     SCIENTIFIC MANAGEMENT

 

THE PROGRESSIVES SOUGHT CHANGE IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS

-         POLITICAL AREA - THEY SOUGHT TO MAKE POLITICIANS MORE RESPONSIVE AND MORE RESPONSIBLE TO THE PEOPLE

 

-         ECONOMIC AREA - THEY SOUGHT A BREAKUP OF THE POWER OF BIG BUSINESS - THE TRUSTS


9/3

SOCIAL AREA

 

-         THEY SOUGHT CHANGE WHICH WOULD IMPROVE HOUSING

-          REDUCE CRIME

-         ELIMINATE CHILD LABOR

-         IMPROVE EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN

-         ELIMINATE DISCRIMINATION

-         IMPROVE WAGES AND WORKING CONDITIONS

 

POLITICAL REFORM

 

-         THE PROGRESSIVES HAD AS THEIR GOAL THE END TO THE STRANGLEHOLD THAT SPECIAL INTERESTS HAD ON GOVERNMENT

 

-         MANY REFORMS WERE PATTERNED AFTER THE WISCONSIN IDEA OF ROBERT LAFOLLETTE

 

o      COMMISSION GOVERNMENT - GALVESTON TX

§       IMPROVED THE EFFICIENCY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT BY PLACING POWER IN THE HANDS OF BUSINESS ORIENTED MANAGERS INSTEAD OF POLITICIANS

 

o      INTRODUCTION OF CIVIL SERVICE

§       THIS ELIMINATED MUCH OF THE PATRONAGE (JOBS) OF THE POLITICAL MACHINE AND WITHOUT JOBS AS REWARDS FOR VOTES THE POLITICAL MACHINE LOST THE FUEL WHICH STOKED THE FIRE.

 

o      CITY ELECTIONS WERE CONDUCTED AT LARGE INSTEAD OF BY WARD        

§       THIS REDUCED THE POWER OF THE WARD BOSS THUS ENABLING WELL QUALIFIED CANDIDATES TO RUN FOR OFFICE AND HAVE A CHANCE AT WINNING AN ELECTION


9/4

 

o      THE DIRECT PRIMARY WAS INTRODUCED

§       POWER TO NOMINATE AND SELECT CANDIDATES PASSED FROM THE BOSSES AND THE PARTY TO THE ELECTORATE

 

o      INITIATIVE - CITIZENS WERE ALLOWED TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION IN LEGISLATURES THUS REQUIRING CONGRESSMEN TO VOTE ON SPECIFIC ISSUES

 

o      REFERENDUM - VOTERS COULD NOW CAST BALLOTS FOR PROPOSED LAWS

 

o      RECALL - VOTERS COULD REMOVE AN ELECTED OFFICIAL FORM OFFICE BEFORE HIS TERM HAD EXPIRED

 

o      DIRECT ELECTION OF SENATORS

§       17TH AMENDMENT – 1913

·       PREVIOUSLY SENATORS WERE CHOSEN BY  STATE LEGISLATURES

 

o      WOMAN’S SUFFRAGE – 1920

§       19TH AMENDMENT

 

ECONOMIC REFORM

 

-         REGULATION OF BIG BUSINESS AND UTILITIES – PUC

 

-         INSTITUTION OF WORKMAN’S COMPENSATION - INSURANCE WHICH PAID A WORKER WHO WAS INJURED ON THE JOB

 

-         LIMITED THE WORKDAY TO 10 HOURS FOR WOMEN

 

-         LAWS BANNING OR RESTRICTING CHILD LABOR WERE INTRODUCED


9/5

SOCIAL AND MORAL REFORM

 

-         THE JUVENILE COURT SYSTEM WAS ESTABLISHED

 

-         UNIVERSAL EDUCATION TOGETHER WITH COMPULSORY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE WERE INTRODUCED

 

-         A CHANGE IN EMPHASIS IN EDUCATION WAS MADE FROM MEMORIZATION (ROTE) TO THE TEACHING OF      CITIZENSHIP

o      TO PREPARE THE CHILDREN OF THE MIDDLE CLASS FOR A PART IN PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACY

 

-         PROHIBITION - 18TH AMENDMENT

o      RESULTED FROM THE ACTIVISM OF THE WCTU

 

-         WOMEN TAKE A LEADING ROLE IN PURSUING SOCIAL REFORM

o      CHILD WELFARE

o      EDUCATION

o      SUFFRAGE

o      PROHIBITION

 

THE PRESIDENCY OF TEDDY ROOSEVELT

 

-         ASCENDED TO THE PRESIDENCY AS A RESULT OF MCKINLEY’S ASSASSINATION

 

-         HE BECAME THE YOUNGEST PRESIDENT TO HOLD OFFICE

o      HE WAS A LOOSE CANON

o      HE WAS FEARED BY THE POLITICAL BOSSES

o      HE IS NOMINATED  TO BE V.P. UNDER McKINLEY

§       THEY THOUGHT THAT HE WOULD BECOME FRUSTRATED WITH A DO-NOTHING JOB

§       HE WOULD RESIGN AND COMMIT POLITICAL SUICIDE


9/6

IRONY

MCKINLEY IS ASSASSINATED AND THEIR WORSE CASE SCENARIO IS FULFILLED AS ROOSEVELT BECOMES PRESIDENT

 

-         ROOSEVELT SAW HIS PRESIDENCY AS A BULLY PULPIT

o      DEF - A FORUM FROM WHICH TO PREACH THE IDEAS HE ADVOCATED

 

-         ACCOMPLISHMENTS

 

o      CONSERVATION

§       THE NEWLANDS RECLAMATION ACT – 1902

·       AUTHORIZED THE USE OF FEDERAL FUNDS GENERATED FROM THE SALE OF FEDERAL LANDS TO PAY FOR IRRIGATION PROJECTS IN THE WEST

§       HE APPOINTED GIFFORD PINCHOT TO HEAD THE U.S. FOREST SERVICE WHO WAS CONSIDERED AS AN ADVOCATE OF A LAND MANAGEMENT POLICY

·       DEF THE RATIONAL AND SCIENTIFIC MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

§       HE QUADRUPLED THE AMOUNT OF LAND PROTECTED BY THE GOVERNMENT IN NATIONAL FORESTS

§       HE ADVOCATED A STEWARDSHIP POLICY WITH REGARD TO FEDERAL LANDS

·       NATURAL TREASURES MUST BE PROTECTED FOR POSTERITY FROM THE GREED OF PRIVATE DEVELOPERS

 

o      BIG BUSINESS

 

§       BREAKING UP TRUSTS

·       HE IS REFERRED TO AS THE TRUST BUSTER - HE WALKED SOFTLY AND CARRIED A BIG STICK

 

 


9/7

§       NORTHERN SECURITIES CO. V. U. S. – 1904

·       THE SUPREME COURT ORDERED THE BREAKUP OF THIS HOLDING COMPANY WHICH CONTROLLED THE RAILROADS IN THE NORTHWEST BECAUSE IT WAS RULED TO BE A RESTRAINT OF TRADE        

·       THIS WAS PROSECUTED UNDER THE SHERMAN ANTI TRUST ACT  OF 1890 WHICH DIDN’T PROVIDE MANY PUNITIVE ACTIONS AND WAS HARD TO ENFORCE

o      TRUST - DEF - A BUSINESS COMBINATION WHICH ATTEMPTS TO CONTROL AN INDUSTRY BY BUYING UP ALL THE COMPANIES THAT THEY DO BUSINESS WITH

o      HOLDING COMPANY - DEF - A CORPORATION THAT HOLDS CONTROLLING INTEREST IN COMPETING COMPANIES CALLED SUBSIDIARIES THUS EFFECTIVELY ELIMINATING COMPETITION

§       NORTHERN SECURITIES WAS A HOLDING COMPANY WHICH CONTROLLED THE NORTHWEST RAILROADS CONTROLLED BY J. P. MORGAN, THE HEAD OF U.S. STEEL

o      SETTLING STRIKES

 

§       THE UNITED MINE WORKERS AND THE MINE OWNERS WERE AT AN IMPASSE

·       THE UNITED MINE WORKERS WANTED

o       20% PAY RAISE

o      AN 8 HOUR WORK DAY

o      UNION RECOGNITION

                                                                                      BUT

                                                THE OWNERS REFUSED TO NEGOTIATE

·       ROOSEVELT ARBITRATED  THE DISPUTE

o       9 HR WORK DAY AND A 10% PAY INCREASE

o      NO UNION RECOGNITION

 

9/8

o      ARBITRATION - DEF - A THIRD PARTY IS BROUGHT IN TO SETTLE A DISPUTE AND THEIR DECISIONS MUST BE ACCEPTED

 

o      MEDIATION - DEF - A THIRD PARTY IS BROUGHT IN TO SETTLE A DISPUTE TO OFFER SUGGESTIONS WHICH DO NOT HAVE TO BE ACCEPTED

 

o      CONSUMER PROTECTION

 

§       THE MEAT INSPECTION ACT OF 1906

·       OUTLAWED MISLEADING LABELS AND DANGEROUS CHEMICAL PRESERVATIVES

 

§       PURE FOOD AND DRUG ACT

·       CREATED THE FDA WHICH PROTECTED CONSUMERS FROM

o      FRAUDULENT CLAIMS OF PATENT MEDICINES

o      UNSAFE FOOD

 

o      CIVIL RIGHTS

 

§       ROOSEVELT PATRONIZED AFRICAN AMERICANS

·       Def – TELLING SOMEONE WHAT THEY WANT TO HEAR (LIP SERVICE)

§       BOOKER T. WASHINGTON AND W.E.B. DUBOIS BECOME PROMINENT SPOKESMEN FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS

·       WASHINGTON ESPOUSES ACCOMMODATION

o      TO SUCCEED IN A WHITE MAN’S WORLD, ACQUIRE A TRADE

·       DUBOIS URGES CONFRONTATION

o      CHANGE FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS CAN ONLY OCCUR THROUGH THE BALLOT BOX

o      HE IS THE FOUNDER OF THE NAACP

 

9/9

THE REPUBLICAN PARTY SPLITS

 

-         ROOSEVELT KEEPS HIS  PROMISE OF NOT RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION

 

-         HIS HANDPICKED SUCCESSOR, WILLIAM HOWARD TAFT EASILY WINS  ELECTION

 

-         ROOSEVELT BECOMES DISENCHANTED WITH TAFT BECAUSE HE IS  NOT THE PUPPET ROOSEVELT EXPECTED

o      ROOSEVELT BELIEVES THAT TAFT HAS ABANDONED THE PROGRESSIVE AGENDA

§       THE PAYNE-ALDRICH TARIFF IS PASSED

·       THIS RAISES TARIFFS TO THE LIKING OF BIG BUSINESS

§       TAFT  REMOVED AND APPROVED FOR SALE OVER 1,000,000 ACRES OF PUBLIC LANDS

·       LEADS TO THE RESIGNATION OF GIFFORD PINCHOT

 

-         WHEN TAFT RECEIVES THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION FOR PRESIDENT, ROOSEVELT SPLITS FROM THE REPUBLICAN PARTY

o      HE FORMS THE BULL MOOSE PARTY (PROGRESSIVE PARTY)

o      THIS SPLITS REPUBLICAN VOTES ALLOWING WILSON, THE DEMOCRAT TO WIN THE ELECTION OF 1912

§       MINORITY PRESIDENT – Def – A CANDIDATE WHO WINS THE  ELECTORAL VOTE BUT NOT THE POPULAR VOTE

 

PROGRESSIVISM UNDER WILSON

 

-         CLAYTON ANTI-TRUST ACT

o      LABOR UNIONS WOULD BE RECOGNIZED AND NOT SUBJECT TO ANTI-TRUST LAWS

 

 

9/10

o      WAS CAPABLE OF PROSECUTING INTERLOCKING DIRECTORATES

§       Def – WHEN THE SAME INDIVIDUALS (WHO COMPRISE A MAJORITY) SIT ON THE BOARDS  OF COMPETING COMPANIES

 

-         FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION ACT

o      ABOLISHED FRAUDULENT ADVERTISING

o      ELIMINATED UNFAIR BUSINESS COMPETITION

§       CEASE AND DESIST ORDER

 

-         FEDERAL INCOME TAX – 16TH AMENDMENT

o      ESTABLISHES A PROGRESSIVE TAX

§       Def – A TAX THAT GOES UP AS INCOME GOES UP

 

-         THE FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM IS ESTABLISHED – 1913

o      THE CREATION OF A CENTRAL BANK

o      RESTORED CONFIDENCE IN THE BANKING SYSTEM

 

-         THE 19TH AMENDMENT IS PASSED

o      GRANTED WOMAN’S SUFFRAGE

 

PROGRESSIVISM IN RETROSPECT

 

-         LIKE ROOSEVELT AND TAFT, WILSON PAID ONLY LIP SERVICE TO THE CIVIL RIGHTS AGENDA

o      ANTI-LYNCHING LAWS WERE ELIMINATED

o      JIM CROW LAWS CONTINUED  TO EXIST

§       LAWS THAT RELEGATED AFRICANS TO A SECOND CLASS CITIZENSHIP

·       SEGREGATION

o      THE BEGINNING OF WORLD WAR I SHIFTED NATIONAL ATTENTION FROM WAR TO MOBILIZATION