The Rise of Progressivism (1901-1918):

Social Gospel and (Domestic) Science

Defining Progressivism

Progressives were not a single unified movement. Progressives fell into (at least) four, basic categories:
Social Moral Economic And political

Organizations/People Muckrakers Populists Labor Unions Middle-Class Women

Some of Their Big Issues Trusts, Labor & Business Reform Consumer Protection Temperance & Prohibition Womens Suffrage Civil Rights

Some Context: Last 40 years(1860s-1900)

Republican party w/ financial backing from conservative businesspersons dominated the govt. Legislation that was contrary to bidness interests rarely received a hearing in Congress.

Progressives Were Responding To:

Urban transformation Rising power of big bidness Rich/poor gap Violent labor conflicts Corrupt political machines Jim Crow laws Discrimination against women

The Policy Making System

Linkage Institutions Elections, Media, Interest groups, Parties

People Interests, problems, concerns

Policy Agenda Political Issues

Impacts of policies Solve the problem? Create new problems? Policy Expenditures, taxes, laws, regulations, nondecisions

Policymaking Institutions Legislature, executive, courts, bureaucracy

Liberal vs. Conservative???

Dangers of using presentism, or current standards

many Prog. Reforms would now seem conservative/reactionary while some still seem radical today.

Products of own time and should be understood on own terms

11.1 The Progressives: Their Goals and Beliefs

1. 2. 3.

4.

Government should be more accountable to its citizens. Government should curb the power and influence of wealthy interests. Government should be given expanded powers so that it could become more active in improving the lives of its citizens. Governments should become more efficient and less corrupt so that they could competently handle an expanded role.

11.1 Muckraking

11.2 Progressive Political Reforms

11.3, Progressive Presidents

9.4 & 11.4 Womens Suffrage

Methods of ProgressivesMuckraking

New problems & rising discontent w/ biz demanded new approaches.

Bellamys Looking Backwards Sinclairs The Jungle Exposes from Ida Tarbell, Lincoln Steffans, Jacob Riis, etc

Some of these reformers were Socialists All were Muckrakers

Muckrakers Appeals

Directed appeals to an audience that was primarily middle class. The Progressive middle class sought solutions via bureaucratic means.
Promote middle-class values Work within the system

Progressive Field Investigations

You will be assuming the role of muckrakers to investigate problems with living and working conditions, the environment, politics, and society in the United States in the early 20th century. You will need at least 4 sheets of paper, each folded first into halves and then each half will be divided into three sections (see handout) Your completed notes should be kept in your notebook as they will be used again at a later date

Uncovering Problems at the Turn of the CenturyField Investigations

Topic: Examine the visual and written information at the station. In this space, explain what problem you think you have uncovered. Describe the problem using vivid and shocking language that would stir a reader into action. Write at least two sentences about the photograph. Also choose one sentence from the quotation to excerpt and devote at least two sentences explaining the importance of your quotation.

Read the Corresponding section of Chapter 16 from History Alive! Pursuing American Ideals. Record important pieces of information about the problem.

How Thorough Were Progressive Reforms?

Was Progressivism the fulfillment of the Populist (grange, radical farmers) agenda? Was Progressivism the forerunner of FDRs New Deal? Or a conservative reaction to stave off larger, more sweeping reforms?

Upton Sinclairs The Jungle

Armours Estimates of Dressed Beef By-Product Costs & Profits

Steer, 1,260 lbs @ $3.25/cwt
(becomes 710lbs dressed beef)

$40.95 $1.75 $3.20 $2.48

Cost of killing, processing, salt, icing, etc Freight on 710 lbs @ $0.45/cwt NY selling charges @ $0.35/cwt

Costs of purchase, processing, and transport Sale of NW of 710 lbs dressed beef @ $0.05 per pound
(Net loss on dressed beef in NW) Sale of hide, 70 lbs @ $0.09/lb Sale of by-products

-$48.38 $38.17
-$10.21 $6.30 $4.50

Yield from all by-product sales

Net profit from all transactions

$10.80
$0.59

Ummmmm, Burger!

Progressivism: Liberal Reform or Conservative Reaction

The Progressive movement of 1900 to 1917 was a triumph of conservatism rather than a victory for liberalism.
Assess the validity of this statement.

Socialism

Union membership had grown since 1890s Biz leaders countered unions via court Injunctions-prohibited strikes Socialist Party est. 1901,
Increase in supporters Local elections Not as much strength on natl. level. 1912 Eugene V. Debs did receive 6% of the vote

http://blog.buzzflash.com/analysis/1005 http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2010/03/ 11/progressives

There's a solid history behind the term that appealed to many Democrats, as well. The Progressive Era brought America, among other innovations, direct election of senators; the right for women to vote; antitrust regulations and the first limits on corporate power; child labor laws; the eight-hour workday; and national parks. "Folks at [the Center for American Progress] clearly identify with the animating values and spirit of the original Progressive Era," says John Halpin, co-director of CAP's Progressive Studies Program. "This is not a dodge, it's a proud association."

But instead of sitting back and letting "progressive" become the next American political boogieman -- like what happened to "liberal" -- some Democrats want to fight back. "This is the big fight about the role of government and markets," says Robert Borosage, co-director of the Campaign for America's Future (who also says he's proud to call himself a progressive, because of the original economic populism of the Progressive Era). "People need a clear narrative about how we drove off a cliff, and what we need to do to get off of it, and it has to relate to a set of ideas about how we got off the cliff." That's where laying out a progressive agenda -- and explicitly identifying the conservative agenda as opposed to it -- would help. After all, it's one thing to spin conspiracy theories and imply that your opponents are goose-stepping Nazi Communists hell-bent on seizing all private property. It's another thing altogether to have a debate over whether to abolish the weekend, or go back to the pre-"Jungle" days of no meat inspection. Last time conservatives went after the term Democrats used to define themselves, the damage lasted a generation. Progressives may laugh at Glenn Beck now, but if his assertions keep going unchallenged, they might not be smiling for long.

http://www.politicususa.com/en/beckprogressives-racist

Womens Organizations

Consumer groups Social workers Domestic sciences Focus on domestic reforms later shifted to public sphere

Social Welfare

Extension of Womens Reform Movments Minimum standard of living

Employment, health insurance Soc security for disabled and elderly

Community / social driven organizations Also emphasized efficiency of business