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The Roots of Progressivism

The Roots of Progressivism. Progressivism. Not a unified political movement, but rather a broad range of reform movements Rejected Social Darwinism, laissez-faire economics, & Individualism

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The Roots of Progressivism

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  1. The Roots of Progressivism

  2. Progressivism • Not a unified political movement, but rather a broad range of reform movements • Rejected Social Darwinism, laissez-faire economics, & Individualism • Blamed industrialization & urbanization for the filth, crime, and poverty of American cities, yet embraced the power of science and technology to build a better society • Believed change can only come through government regulation of the economy and providing direct help to those in need • Progressives tended to be urban, educated, middle-class Americans • Leadership came from journalists, educators, social workers, and the clergy

  3. Muckrakers • Journalists who investigate social conditions, unfair business practices, and political corruption (today, this is called “investigative journalism”) • Term first coined by Theodore Roosevelt in a 1906 speech

  4. Ida Tarbell • 1857 – 1944 • Magazine journalist • Wrote The History of Standard Oil Company (1904), an expose of Rockefeller’s unethical business practices • For many Americans, this was their first lesson in the dangers of trusts and monopolies

  5. Charles Edward Russell • 1860 – 1941 • Journalist • Exposed the conditions in Chicago’s stockyards, badly damaging the reputation of the beef industry • One of the founders of the NAACP in 1909 • Later became a socialist, ran for office in NY

  6. David Graham Phillips • 1867 – 1911 • Journalist / Novelist • Exposed how campaign contributions had led to corruption in the Senate; the public uproar that followed led to the passage of the 17th Amendment, changing how Senators are elected • Shot and killed by a man who believed Phillips’ exposé had led to the downfall of his family’s reputation

  7. Lincoln Steffens • 1846 – 1936 • Journalist • Wrote The Shame of the Cities (1904), an exposé on political corruption within the US’ major cities • Later became a communist, declaring after a visit to the Soviet Union in 1919: “I've seen the future, and it works”

  8. Jacob Riis • 1840 – 1914 • Danish immigrant • Worked as a journalist and crime scene photographer • Wrote How the Other Half Lives (1890): Used photographs to expose the squalor and horrible living conditions in the tenements and slums of NYC • Worked with then NYC police-commissioner Theodore Roosevelt to effect reforms within the NYPD

  9. Progressive Philosophers

  10. Henry George • 1839 – 1897 • Wrote Progress and Poverty (1879) • Argued that a gap was opening up between the rich and poor due to industrialization • Wanted government to tax the wealthy (through property taxes) to raise the money for social programs to help the poor • Also supported free trade, limits on Chinese immigration, use of secret ballots in voting • Died of a stroke while running for mayor of New York – over 100,000 people attended his funeral!

  11. Lester Frank Ward • 1841 – 1913 • Wrote Dynamic Sociology (1883) • Used Darwin’s ideas to argue that humans were different from animals because of the ability to think and plan; we succeed not because of the ability to compete, but rather because we have the ability to cooperate (through government) • This idea is called Reform Darwinism

  12. Edward Bellamy • 1850 – 1898 • Wrote Looking Backward, 2000 – 1887 (1888) • Predicted a future where the US has become a utopia – no crime, poverty, or politics, government owns all industry and distributes wealth equally • His cousin wrote the Pledge of Allegiance • Died of tuberculosis

  13. Naturalists • Group of novelists who argued that, contrary to “survival of the fittest,” sometimes people fail through no fault of their own – they are caught up in circumstances that they can’t control; part of the Realism movement

  14. Stephen Crane • 1871 – 1900 • Wrote Maggie, A Girl of the Streets (1893): tale of a girl forced by family circumstances into prostitution and death • Also wrote The Red Badge of Courage (1895), the short-story The Open Boat • Died of tuberculosis which he contracted while covering the Spanish-American War

  15. Jack London • 1876 – 1916 • Author of The Call of the Wild (1903) • Wrote stories of man’s struggle against the uncontrollable power of nature • Also a socialist • Was his death a suicide?

  16. Theodore Dreiser • 1871 – 1945 • Wrote Sister Carrie (1900): a story of how sex and wealth can slowly corrupt the innocent without them even being aware of it • Devoted socialist

  17. The Social Gospel • 1870 – 1920 • Work to improve society through the biblical ideals of charity and justice • Primarily church-centered • Churches began to evolve from being simply places of worship to being community centers and taking on missions designed to help the poor – provide gyms, social programs, day care

  18. The Salvation Army • Began in England in 1865 as the Christian Mission, spread to US in 1880 • Dedicated to “The advancement of the Christian religion as promulgated in the religious doctrines . . . the advancement of education, the relief of poverty, and other charitable objects beneficial to society or the community of mankind as a whole.”

  19. The YMCA • The Young Men’s Christian Association • Began in England in 1844, spread quickly throughout US • Aim was to help urban workers by offering Bible studies, prayer meetings, citizenship classes • Facilities included gyms, pools, libraries, auditoriums, and temporary low-cost lodging

  20. Jane Addams • 1860 – 1935 • Founded Hull House, a settlement house in Chicago • First woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize • Supported the idea that Christians have a moral responsibility to fix society’s problems & help the less fortunate

  21. Settlement Houses • Most famous settlement house = Chicago’s Hull House • Middle class “settlers” moved into working class neighborhoods to help provide education, meals, childcare, medical care, and general advice to immigrants and poor workers

  22. Public Education • Industrialization increased demand for a trained, educated workforce • Schools were also necessary for Americanizing immigrants’ children: they learned English, US History, patriotism, responsibilities of citizenship

  23. School to Work Pipeline • Schools were used to teach the traits necessary to succeed in the industrial workforce: punctuality, attendance, neatness, efficiency, attention to detail, obedience to authority • High schools offered a variety of technical and vocational skills

  24. Public Universities • Due to the Morrill Land Grant Act, the number of public universities rose dramatically • Between 1870 and 1890, the number of American students in college tripled • New colleges opened aimed specifically at educating female and black students

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