The Rise of Progressivism

1. The Rise of Progressivism Changes of the Early 1900s

2. What is PROGRESSIVISM • A middle-class, urban/suburban reform movement of the first two decades of the 20th Century. It focused on better government and more rights for workers. • Things to remember • Not limited to one party • Comes in many shapes and sizes—some progressives were more progressive than others.

3. Origins • Many of Progressives ideas came from the Populists of the 1890’s—a failed third party who wanted • Reforms to business (gov’t owned RR, Telegraphs etc.) • Reforms to democracy (iniative, referendum, direct election of Senators) • Inflationary monetary policy (more money in circulation)

4. The Religious Left Social Gospel The original WWJD folks YMCA/Salvation Army etc. Scientific Reformers Lester Ward—gov’t planning beats the market Frederick Winslow Taylor—”Scientific Management” Roots of the reform are with reformers who come in various forms

5. More Reformers • Muckrakers • Women’s reformers • Socialists

6. The Muckrakers • Writers who exposed the seamy side of life/society/politics to a wide audience • Forerunners of Dateline NBC?

7. IDA M. Tarbell • Wrote “A History of Standard Oil Company” • Exposed Rockefeller’s tactics • Led to Breakup of Standard Oil Trust

8. Lincoln Steffans • Wrote “Shame of the Cities” • Exposed Corruption in city government • Creates Push for Reform

9. Upton Sinclair • Most famous for “The Jungle” • Exposed sickening meat packing processes • Led to Pure Food and Drug Act, Meat Inspection Act, FDA

10. From The Jungle • There would be meat that had tumbled out on the floor, in the dirt and sawdust, where the workers had tramped and spit uncounted billions of consumption germs. There would be meat stored in great piles in rooms; and the water from leaky roofs would drip over it, and thousands of rats would race about on it. It was too dark in these storage places to see well, but a man could run his hand over these piles of meat and sweep off handfuls of the dried dung of rats. These rats were nuisances, and the packers would put poisoned bread out for them; they would die, and then rats, bread, and meat would go into the hoppers together. This is no fairy story and no joke; the meat would be shoveled into carts, and the man who did the shoveling would not trouble to lift out a rat even when he saw one – there were things that went into the sausage in comparison with which a poisoned rat was a tidbit. There was no place for the men to wash their hands before they ate their dinner, and so they made a practice of washing them in the water that was to be ladled into the sausage.

11. Women’s Reformers • Promoted Labor Unions • Promoted social reform—more equality • Sufferin’ for suffrage

12. Socialists • Promoted Equality, classless society • Preferred government ownership of Railroads, public utilities etc. • Too radical for most—may have pushed the center to the left

13. Eugene V. Debs • Former President of American Railway Union • Turned to socialism after Pullman strike • Ran for president several times • “While there’s a lower class, I am in it. Where there’s a criminal element, I am of it. So long as there’s a soul in prison, I am not free.”

14. Local-level progressivism • Mostly interested in improving city government • City Commission system (Galveston, Tx) • City Manager System (Staunton, Va.) • Reform Mayors • Hazen Pingree (Detroit) • Samuel “Golden Rule” Jones (Toledo) • Tom L. Johnson (Cleveland) • Recall

15. AS A RESULT OF ALL THESE REFORMERS GOVERNMENT GETS INVOLVED • Local Level • State Level • National Level

16. State-Level Progressives • Interested in improving government • Initiative, Referendum • Secret Ballot • Direct Primary • Improving the workplace with social welfare legislation • Improved job safety (especially after Triangle Fire) • Workman’s Comp. Laws • Minimum Wage Laws • Maximum working hours • In a way, states are a laboratory for the Fed. Gov’t.

17. Triangle Shirtwaist Fire 1911 • Killed 148 workers • Shocked/Outraged Americans • Led to reform push

18. Robert M. LaFollette R-Wisc. • “Battling Bob” • Best known state-level crusader—Congressman, Gov. and, later, Sen. • His “Wisconsin System” Fought for Democracy reform, workers rights, business regulation, utility control, improved eductaion.

19. Who didn’t want reform? • Fundamentalist Protestants—support prohibition only • Business Interests • Advertising boycotts • Slammed Muckrakers as dangerous socialists • Anti-Union (Example “Ludlow Massacre—1914 in Colorado) • Pushed in Courts • 1906 Lochner v. New York

20. Despite critics, social welfare legislation begins to emerge • Maximum Hours for Women • Mueller v. Oregon key • Also a key legal case • Minimum Wage laws (minimally effective) • Widow’s Pensions • Workman’s Compensation Laws • Triangle Fire

21. Despite all of these non-government reformers, it’s a traditional politician who plays the biggest role. • Theodore Roosevelt • Maverick politician • Pro-Business Repubs cannot control him, so they try to get rid of him • Nominated as McKinley’s VP in 1900 • Mark Hanna (GOP boss) allegedly said, don’t you know that &#$^# fool Roosevelt is just one bullet away from the White House now. • Summer, 1901, McKinley Assassinated—everything changes.