Progressive Era Review
Child Labor Laws
As the number of child workers rose, reformers worked to end child labor. Children were more prone to accidents caused by fatigue. Nearly every state limited or banned child labor by 1918.
New Freedom
(democratic party platform): -As America's newly elected president, Wilson moved to enact his program, the "New Freedom." -He planned his attack on what he called the triple wall of privilege: trusts, tariffs, and high finance.
New Nationalism
(progressive party platform): Big Business requires big government. Theodore Roosevelt's Progressive political philosophy during the 1912 election. promote social justice and the economic welfare of the underprivileged.
Muckrakers/ Upton Sinclair
-Journalists who exposed corruption in business. Muckraker is a name that was first given to American writers in the early 20th century who exposed corruption and scandals in business and politics. -Iba Tarbell- exposed Standard Oil Company's for it's questionable methods of eliminating competition -Lincoln Steffens- wrote and photographed living conditions in slums in the late 1800's and early 1900's. -Increased numbers of magazines, newspapers, and books coupled, as well as a more literate population, increased the impact muckrakers had on society. -Upton Sinclair: Journalist The Jungle-1906- About the sickening conditions of the meatpacking industry -Caused Roosevelt to push the Meat Inspection Act and the creation of the FDA (after he read).
Square Deal
: Roosevelt's "Square Deal" was a domestic program that targeted the middle class. The 3Cs: 1. Curbing Corporations (busting up trusts) By 1900, Trusts - legal bodies created to hold stock in many companies - controlled 80% of U.S. industries Roosevelt filed 44 antitrust suits under the Sherman Antitrust Act. The Railroad industry regulated by the government in both the Elkins Act and the Hepburn Act Coal miners 2. Consumer Protection (protect citizens) (The Jungle) 3. Conservation (Meat Inspection, etc.)
Susan B. Anthony
: Started NAWSA • Nov 28, 1872: Susan B. Anthony and followers arrested for voting illegally in NY. Found guilty.
Federal Reserve System
Central bank of the U.S. Regulates the U.S. monetary and financial system. Federal Reserve Act: -Created 12 regional banks as "banker's banks? (lend money to banks as a set interest rate). -Established federal regulation of currency through interest rates. -Established a Federal Reserve Board to oversee the system of banks
Alice Paul
From New Jersey. Aggressive/Assertive. Kicked out of NAWSA -Protested outside of white house- arrested -Hunger strike for 30 days in jail- They had to force feed her Focused on constitutional amendment (Congress and President) not state to state.
19th Amendment
Gave women the right to vote in 1920.
18th Amendment
Liquor becomes illegal to sell or import. Progressives associated liquor with violence and poverty.
Carrie Chapman Catt
President of NAWSA in 1900
Progressive Groups
Progressives: Urban middle class Americans who challenged the status quo SOCIALIST MOVEMENT (govt. become power to the people) LABOR MOVEMENTS (child Labor) (better jobs) MUNICIPAL REFORMERS (local govt.) MUCKRAKERS (journalists-public awareness, 1 mil every day) WOMAN'S MOVEMENT CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT: NAACP (only group that did not see progression/advancements) ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENT PROHIBITION MOVEMENT ANTI-TRUST MOVEMENT (Anti-trust: of or relating to legislation preventing or controlling trusts or other monopolies, with the intention of promoting competition in business.) EDUCATIONAL REFORM MOVEMENT
Meat Inspection Act
prevent adulterated or misbranded meat and meat products from being sold as food and to ensure that meat and meat products are slaughtered and processed under sanitary conditions.
Pure Food and Drug Act
remove harmful and misrepresented foods and drugs from the market and regulate the manufacture and sale of drugs and food involved in interstate trade. The Act stopped the sale of contaminated foods and medicines. It also called for truth in labeling.
17th Amendment
voters now chooses their US Senators/ Direct election of Senators
Municipal Reforms (know examples, Robert LaFollette)
-Efforts at reforming local government stemmed from the desire to make government more efficient and responsive to citizens. -Eliminating Political Machines. -Robert LaFollette: Republican leader- Led (Wisconsin) the way in regulating big businesses- Known as the "Wisconsin Idea"- Most progressive politician in America. Labortory of Democracy -Political Machines and bosses were criticized by the Progressives. Political fight between reformers and the old political bosses. -Results of no more bosses: registered voters increase, healthcare programs, city services, enforced tenement codes, free kindergartens, night school, public playgrounds, public baths, work relief programs. -Controlling public utilities: taking power away from private companies. Cities now owned and regulated gas, water, electricity, trolley lines, and stopped the monopolies. - Commissions and city mangers: voters elected city departments (fire, police, sanitation)
Clayton Antitrust Act
-In 1914 Congress enacted the Clayton Antitrust Act which strengthened the Sherman Act. -The Clayton Act prevented companies from acquiring stock from another company (Anti-monopoly) -The Act also supported union workers
Four goals of reformers
1) Protect the Social Welfare (governmental provision of economic assistance to persons in need) 2) Promote Moral Improvement (changes in character) 3) Create Economic Reform (government change in policies toward businesses) 4) Foster Efficiency (the effective use of resources)
Election of 1912
-Republicans split between Taft and Teddy Roosevelt (who returned after a long trip to Africa). -High import taxes, limitations on child and female labor, Workman's Compensation Law, etc. -Convention delegates nominated Taft. -above -Some Republicans formed a third party-The Bull Moose Party (also called the Progressive Party) and nominated Roosevelt. -Women's suffrage, graduated income tax, lower tariffs, minimum wage laws, etc. -The Democrats put forward a reform - minded New Jersey Governor, Woodrow Wilson. -Gov. control of monopolies (trusts-bad-eliminate), tariff reduction, one-term president, did NOT support women's suffrage, etc. - Eugene V. Debs: Socialist Party -Gov. ownership of railroads and utilities, guaranteed income tax, no tariffs, 8-hour work day, etc. -By 1912, 100,000 fewer people had voted for Wilson than had voted for Bryan in 1908. -The 1912 election marked the apogee (highest point) of the Socialist movement in America. -The Democratic party took control of the Senate for the first time in 20 years (Wilson won)
Federal Reforms
-Square Deal for Labor: Labor Reform, Coal miner strike of 1902. -1912 Children's Bureau established, then the Women's Bureau followed -1913 Department of Labor was added to the cabinet departments -Trustbusting- Anti-trust Activism: TR's helped to connect big business with BIG government. By 1909 42 Anti-trust actions were filed for reform (beef, oil, tobacco, railroad) Trusts: big businesses controlled everything Anti-trust- give small businesses power -Consumer Protection: Meat Inspection Act and Pure Food and Drug Act. -Environmental Protection: Protecting natural resources, 150 million acres of land, Newlands Reclamation Act of 1902 (irrigation projects), National Conservation Commission. Constitutional Amendments: 16th Graduated Income Tax, authorized Congress to collect income taxes ( prior relied on tariffs), Progressives believed that tariffs pushed the prices of goods up for the working class poor. Government could now tax the wealthy based on income! (Underwood-Simmons Act) 17th Direct Election of Senators 18th: Liquor becomes illegal to sell or import. Progressives associated liquor with violence and poverty. 19th: Suffrage Amendment Muller v. Oregon: Sex discrimination & labor protection laws
Describe the Woman's Suffrage Movement at the turn of the century, explain the strategies suffragists used to influence society, critique anti-suffragist theories, and indicate how suffragists, ultimately, obtained victory.
At first, the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) started with a state-to-state plan to obtain suffrage. These women had been successful in a few states, but it would take forever. Alice Paul was one of the women who wanted to go straight to congress/ the President and push them to pass a law. Most of NAWSA saw this as too aggressive and did not stand behind her. Some of the strategies that Alice Paul and her protesters used was protesting in front of the white house and hosting parades. Neither of these events had a good outcome. Alice and her friends got arrested at the white house and men started to attack the women during the parade (with no police help, because they were all men). In the end, women did obtain victory, but not entirely because of their protesting. During WWI the men were all of at war, so the women had to be at home working. Since the women were working, they were getting paid, and paying taxes. This brings us back to the old saying "no taxation without representation". This was the final push into giving women the vote.
Describe the events, the candidates, their political agendas and the result of the 1912 Election. Finally, based on the results of the 1912 election it is reasonable to conclude that most Americans favored some amount of progressive reform? Explain.
During the election of 1912, republicans split between Taft and Roosevelt. Roosevelt's party was called the Bull-Moose Party or the Progressive Party/New Nationalism. Roosevelt supported women's suffrage and wanted to lower tariffs. Taft, and the Republican party wanted higher import tariffs and put limitations on child and female labor. The Democratic candidate was Woodrow Wilson. Wilson was a New Jersey Governor who wanted tariff reduction, a one-term President and to eliminate trusts. Wilson did NOT support women's suffrage. Wilson planned "New Freedom" wanted to attack trusts, tariffs, and high finance. The last party was called the Socialist Party, their candidate was Eugene V. Debs. Debs wanted no tariffs, a 8-hour work day, and supported women's suffrage. The 1912 election marked the highest point of the Socialist movement in America. In the end, however, Wilson won the election and the democratic party took control of the Senate for the first time in 20 years. Yes, it is fair to say that most Americans favored some amount of progressive reform because every candidate favors at least one of the progressive movement.
Progressive Beliefs/Reforms
Ideals of the Progressives, Humanize Capitalism 1)More Egalitarian 2) More power to ordinary people in citizenry 3) Civic harmony to replace friction 4) Reject concepts of Social Darwinism
NAACP
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
16th Amendment
The 16th Amendment was ratified in 1916. It legalized a graduated federal income tax.
FTC (Federal Trade Commission)
The FTC was formed in 1914 to serve as a "watchdog" agency to end unfair business practices. The FTC protects consumers from business fraud.
NAWSA
The National American Woman Suffrage Association. -Original Plan (Carrie Chapman Catt): State Level (state to state). 1st plan changes- Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
State Reforms
Voters gaining power in 4 specific areas 1) Direct Primaries: voters now select nominees for upcoming election. 2) 17th Amendment: voters now choose their US Senators 3) Initiative: a method by which the voters could compel the legislature to consider a bill. Referendum: a method that allowed citizens a vote on proposed laws printed on ballots. Recall: enabled voters to remove corrupt or unfit politicians from office by majority vote. 4) Secret Ballots: privacy of a curtain booth
WWI effect of Women's Suffrage
WWI- all the men went to war- women were left home doing the work. Women paid taxes- "no taxation without representation", so they got the vote. Through local, state and national organizations, vigorous protests and World War I, women finally realized their dream in 1920.
Direct Democracy
a type of Democracy government in which people decide all the policies directly, also known as pure Democracy.