Reforming America: Progressivism & Reforms, 1890-1920

1. “Gilded” or Industrial Age How were the following changing? • Businesses • Home • Economy • Standard of Living • Immigration • Technology • Environment • Workplace

3. `Reform in America 1890-1920 The Progressive Era

4. Populist Party, 1892 • Political party formed by the Grange & Farmers’ Alliances • Wanted: • To reduce debt of farmers • Increase power • Money backed by silver & gold to increase money supply • Secret ballot • Direct election of U.S. senators • 8 hr. workday *Party soon disappears, but show poor can influence government.

5. 4 Goals of Progressivism • Promote social welfare by bettering working conditions • Moral improvement through religion & prohibition of alcohol • Economic reform by limiting power of corporations • Increase efficiency in workplace using science

6. Muckrakers • Journalists that exposed corruption in society through magazines such as McClure’s Magazine, Reader’s Digest, & Time. Ex. • Ida Tarbell • Jacob Riis • Upton Sinclair

7. Muckrakers • Jacob Riis: Photographer, How the Other Half Lives 1890. Exposed unethical living conditions of immigrants.

11. Muckrackers • Ida Tarbell: Journalists, exposed the “giant” Standard Oil. She forcefully attacked big industry and the wealthy.

12. Muckrakers • Florence Kelley • Led campaigns for factory reform and temperance . • Fought for unsafe and unsanitary sweatshops. • Fought for higher wages.

15. Continued………… • Laws regulating factories were not enforced. • 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Company, NY City • Doors locked • 146 workers burned to death • State Legislatures quickly revamped regulations to protect workers.

16. Social Gospel • Idea that Christians are responsible for helping workers and the poor. • Jane Addams, settlement houses for poor

18. Teddy Roosevelt “Bull Moose” • Republican - Promised to provide everyone a “Square Deal” through reforms. • Three C’s : Control of Corporations, Consumer Protection, Conservation of Natural Resources

19. Trust buster

20. 1. Control of Corporations • Elkins Act, 1903 – Gave ICC power to place heavy fines on railroads offering rebates. • Hepburn Act, 1906 – Gave ICC power to set maximum railroad rates. • Broke up JP Morgan’s Northern Securities Co., huge railroad combination

22. 2. Consumer Protection • Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle – a book Roosevelt reads that leads to passage of the Meat Inspection Act, 1906 • Pure Food and Drug Act – requires truth in labeling

23. 3. Conservation • 1891, Forest Reserve Act-preserves lands for national parks. • TR sets aside more acres than his predecessors & starts the National Forest Service.

24. William Howard Taft • Republican • Filed many anti-trust suits, almost twice as many as T.R. • The breakup of Standard Oil Co occurred during his administration • Mann-Elkins Act – Extends ICC to cover telegraph, telephone, cable companies

25. Taft Loses Progressive Support • New Agencies: Established Bureau of the Mines and Federal Children’s Bureau • Actively supported 16th and 17th amendments • The Republicans split: Payne-Aldrich Tariff causes Taft to lose support by Progressive Republicans along with his firing of Chief Forester Gifford Pinchot.

26. Progressive Presidents Theodore Roosevelt 1901-1909 Woodrow Wilson 1913-1921

27. The 1912 Election • Taft runs for re-election (Republican) • Roosevelt runs again (Bull Moose Party – Progressive Republican) • Wilson (Democrat) • Wins due to Republican vote being split between Taft and Roosevelt.

28. Wilson Bio Dr. Woodrow Wilson • President of Princeton • Professor • Democrat • Strong Progressive beliefs • “New Freedom” • Tariff Reform • Business Reform • Banking Reform

29. 1. Tariff Reform • Income Tax – 16thamendment to the Constitution allows lower tariffs • Underwood Tariff Act - lowers from 40% to 25% • These acts tremendously help farmers!

30. 2. Business Reform To help labor: • Clayton Anti-Trust Act – helps breaks up monopolies • Federal Trade Commission – investigates businesses for corruption • Adamson Act, 1916 - 8 hour work day est. in railroad industry • Workmen’s Compensation Act, 1916 – first for civil-service employees • Restricted child labor through Child Labor Tax Law • Department of Labor and Women’s Bureau of Labor formed to better working conditions

31. 3. Banking Reform • Federal Farm Loan Act – low interest, long term loans • Federal Reserve System – created 12 regional banks overseen by elected board • breaks up power of New York bankers

32. 4. Political Reforms • Initiative – people can initiate laws through petitions • Referendum – a public vote on initiatives • Recall – right to vote out public officials • Direct election of senators by popular vote • (17th amendment)

33. The last 2 major reforms of the progressive era

34. Women’s Suffrage • The Progressive Era loses momentum after WWI begins. • Women’s efforts during WWI will help get them the right to vote in 1920. 19th amendment

36. “The Noble Experiment” • WCTU, Women’s Christian Temperance Union helps pass 18th amendment, 1920 • led by Francis Willard, prohibition of alcohol

37. Foreign Policy during the Progressive Era • Roosevelt Corollary • Latin American intervention by the US. Manipulating the Monroe Doctrine to favor US interests. • Panama Canal • “Big Stick Policy” – any nation politically/economically unstable, would cause U.S. entry and control. • Taft: Dollar Diplomacy • US Business intervention in Latin America. Invest $$ abroad and guarantee loans made to foreign countries. • Wilson: Moral Diplomacy • US won’t recognize any oppressive, hostile governments. Pressures L.A. to adopt democratic governments.

38. Foreign Intervention A. Haiti: 1915 - Overthrow of Haitian president • Wilson sent troops to protect US lives and property. B. Mexico -1913 - Wouldn’t recognize Victoriano Huerta’s government “the brute”

39. Continued…….. C. WWI: War breaks out in Europe. A. Wilson claims isolationism 1. Allied loyalties 2. German & Eastern European immigration ties. (immigrant sympathies)