Progressive era

The era lasted from the 1890’s to the 1920’s

It was based around fixing the problems of the guilded age and industrialization.

Started by people on a local levels pushing for change in society and Government following with laws.

Progressives

Progressives were people attempting to move society forward and change the country.

Again solving the problems of the guilded age.

Many of them were young middle class successful people. In part they were professionals that were a result of Pendleton act

Muckraker

Were crusading journalists that reported on stories about the scum, crime and corruption of the cities.

They wrote books, newspapers, and magazines.

Jacob Riis

One of the fore most Muckrakers wrote a book about the poverty, crime, and corruption of New York city.The book was called. “How the other half lives.”

The upper class brought their concerns to city government and the slums of New York were torn down.

La Follette and the democratic laboratory

• Lafollette: A republican governor who attacked the current style of party politics.

• Direct Primary: All party members could vote for a candidate to run in a general election.

• Initiative : allowed a group of citizens to introduce legislation and required legislature to vote on it.

• Recall: Provided voters an option to demand a special election to remove an elected official.

Women’s suffrage

Suffrage is the right to vote.

During the progressive period women were pushing for the right to vote.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton was the first women to really start the modern suffrage movement

It was started at the convention at Seneca Falls convention in New York.

Roosevelt Revives the Presidency

• Roosevelt was a Social Darwinist, believed U.S. was in competition with other Nations, and only the strongest will survive

• Roosevelt, also believed a progressive government should actively balance needs of competing groups in American Society known as the Square Deal.

• Square Deal: Roosevelt's reforms, which equalized business, trying to make everyone equal and give everyone the same opportunities

Trust BusterRoosevelt believed trust made businesses efficient and partly why America prosperedHowever he was concerned about monopoly power of some trusts which hurt public interestRoosevelt went after J.P. Morgan, Northern Securities railroad holding company, the largest railrod in the country.Roosevelt filed a law suit and using the Sherman Antitrust Act, declares the company a monopoly on railroad traffic in the NorthwestSupreme Court rules that Northern Securities is a Monopoly violating the Sherman Anti Trust and breaks it up

Regulating Big Business• Roosevelt still believed in trusts and business,

but wanted to stop big businesses from abusing its power

• 1903, Roosevelt convinces congress to create Department of Commerce and Labor which worked to make labor conditions better.

• Hepburn Act: strengths Interstate Commerce Commission to regulate railroad prices, over time ICC set prices that ensured railroads made a profit

Coal Strike of 1902United Mine Workers Strike, Coal prices began to rise

Roosevelt steps in, promotes Arbitration: a settlement negotiation by an outside partyWhen the workers decided not to negotiate Roosevelt sent in the police to break the strike.

Still Roosevelt attempted to act helpful force to labor and business.

The Sinclair contribution

The Jungle

In 1904 Sinclair spent seven weeks in disguise, working undercover in Chicago's meatpacking plants to research his fictional exposé, The Jungle. When it appeared in 1906, it became a bestseller.

The book featured the poor conditions where food was produced and the abuse of workers.

Teddy Roosevelt

• There was an overwhelming response to Sinclair’s book

• Many were disgusted, some protested, and some became vegetarians

• Roosevelt read the book at the time and shared many of these beliefs.

• Congress would passed both the meat inspection and Pure Food and Drug Act.

Consumer protection

Meat inspection act required the government inspect all meat products sold.

Pure food and drug act mad sure no impure drugs or were sold

These acts protect consumers leading to the food and drug administration.

Conservation

Roosevelt, the rugged outdoorsmen that he was. Concerned about the nations resources being used up at an alarming rate, urged Americans to conserve those resources.

Gifford Pinchot a good friend of Roosevelt was brought into run the national forestry service.

It would lead to the creation of the National Parks.

Changing of the guard

As Roosevelt left the Presidency the Republican party Chose Taft to be his replacement

Taft was a more traditional Republican though Roosevelt had built a large progressive following for the party

Roosevelt warned the Republicans and Taft not to alienate the Progressive movement.

Pain Aldrich Tariff

A tariff is a tax on imports and exports

Taft thought he would make progressives happy if he lowered the Tariffs. He thought the Pain Aldrich bill would make them happy.

Roosevelt told Taft to stay a way from the bill because it would split the Republican party.

Results

Taft passed the Pain Aldrich Tariff which lowered tariffs. Unfortunately it did not lower them as much as Taft had claimed.

This angered the Progressives who felt they were being ignored by the Republican party.

Pinchot V.S. Ballinger

Richard Ballinger was hired to assist in the Presidency.Gifford Pinchot head of the forestry service accused Ballinger of selling government land in Alaska for profit.

Pinchot took the story to the news papers and was fired by Taft.

The action angered both Roosevelt and the Progressives.

Taft’s one success

Taft did bust more trusts than Teddy Roosevelt.

He also created the Children’s bureau.

The Bureau made it illegal to hire underage workers and made sure child made goods were not transported to other states.

Roosevelt V. Taft.

Roosevelt was angered by Taft firing Pinchot and treating progressives poorly

Roosevelt ran for the Republican nomination and lost to Taft.

Roosevelt took the remaining Progressives and formed the Bull Moose Party to run for President.

Rise of Wilson and the Democrats

As Roosevelt and Taft Argued the Democratic party Nominee for President Woodrow Wilson used to the drama to the win the presidency.

New Freedom

The idea of New Freedom was pushed by Wilson against Roosevelt.

He thought Trusts should be ended.

Federal Trade Commission

Known as the FTC

It was organization Created by Wilson to stop companies participating in unfair trade practices.

Wilson wanted to make business competition fair.

Clayton Anti trust Act of 1914

The act made it harder for trust to exist.

It forbade certain business practices and pushed for better competition.

Reforming financing

Wilson passed the 16th Amendment which created the income tax. Allowing the government to directly tax citizens.

Federal Reserve Act created twelve banks to mange the money supply, which was ran by a board of governors.

Women’s suffrage

Though Wilson had created many changes he was resistant to women getting the right to vote.

Before Wilson Susan B. Anthony pushed the suffrage movement claiming the 14th amendment gave her right to vote.

Anthony voted but it was seen as illegal.

Carrie Chapman CattIn 1915 Carrie Chapman Catt became the head of NAWSAOr the National American Women’s Suffrage Association

She pushed for marches and letter writing campaigns for women’s suffrage.

Alice Paul

Paul broke away from NAWSA to form the National Women’s Party.

She lead hunger strikes and other forms of protest until Wilson took Notice.

19th Amendment

In 1920 the 19th Amendment is passed giving women the right to vote.