Theodore RooseveltTheodore Roosevelt

1901-1909:1901-1909:The Beginning of The Beginning of

Progressive Progressive PresidenciesPresidencies

1. Progressivism: A push for reform in government, economy, and society

2. Progressivism emerged in both political parties and at all levels of government

**TO MAKE PROGRESS**

A. Progressivism 1900-1917

3. Why was there a progressive movement?

a. In the Late 1800’s and early 1900’s, industrialization transformed America.

b. New inventions, science and technology, transportation, abundance of raw materials, new influx of immigrants, little government influence, and the strong marketplace all led to this fast and furious growth.

c. These factors began to help the middle class grow- but it also widened the gap between the rich and the poor and left many people working in unsafe conditions and living in overcrowded cities.

d. The late 1800’s had already begun to show the working class Americans’ concern. The Populist movement was a rural movement that pushed for the government to begin regulating unfair business practices

B. What did Progressive demand to

change?1. They wanted to limit Corporate Power2. Prohibit monopolies and help for small- business owners to compete in the economy3. 8 hour workday 4. minimum wage5. safer working conditions6. end child labor 7. reforms of local government, businesses, and

city life

4. Most progressives were:

i. Native bornii. Middle or upper classiii. College educatediv. Women (although many men

were involved as well)

5. Political Goals of the Progressives – State Level

i. Wisconsin Ideaa. Robert M. LaFollete – became

governor of Wisconsin in 1901b. Campaigned against lumber and

railroad interests, fought against crooked corporations, and returned power to the people

c. City managers

4. Political Goals of Progressives at the National Level

• Initiative – voters could directly propose legislation themselves

• Referendum – would place laws on the ballot for final approval by the people

• Recall – would enable voters to remove elected officials (particularly those who had been bribed by bosses or lobbyists)

• Australian Ballot - allowed for the secret ballot to be introduced (also was a way to battle the bosses)

7. Social Goals of the Progressives7. Social Goals of the Progressivesi. Reform list focused on slums, lives of

African-Americans, and patent medicines that were heavy in the alcohol.(13) Muckrakers – term coined by Theodore

Roosevelt for the journalists who “dug up the dirt” on prominent members of society (or businesses), exposing their misconduct in the US… and the voice of the Progressives

T.R. sweeping away some Muck

April 14, 1906 "The men with the muck-rakes are often indispensable to the well-being of society; but only if they know when to stop raking the muck.“- T.R.

(13.a) Ida Tarbell

She was a American teacher, author and journalist. She was known as one of the leading "muckrakers" of her day, work known in modern times as "investigative journalism."

She wrote many notable Magazine series and biographies. She is best- known for her 1904 book The History of the StandardOil Company.

The inspiration for her book came from her father being put out of business by oil billionaire John D. Rockefeller, Sr.

(13.b) Upton Sinclair

He gained particular fame for his 1906 muckraking novel The Jungle, which dealt with conditions in the U.S. meat packing industry and caused a public uproar that partly contributed to the passage of The Pure Food and Drug Act and theMeat Inspection Act in 1906

(13.c) Lincoln SteffensIn The Shame of the Cities, Steffens sought to bring about political reform in urban America by appealing to the emotions of Americans. He tried to make them feel very outraged and "shamed" by showing examples of corrupt governments throughout the US

Who stole the People’s money? It wasn’t me, it was him.

(14) 1906 Meat Inspection Act and Pure Food & Drug Act

i. Both laws were spurred by Upton Sinclair’s novel The Jungle

ii. The Jungle was originally intended to focus attention on the workers of the meat industry but instead focused attention on how the meat was produced.

i. Made companies responsible for products they made available for public consumption

iii. The laws were designed to prevent adulteration and mislabeling of foods and pharmaceuticals

1000s of questionable remedies, some containing only harmless and inept preparations but many having narcotic drugs and alcohol, were sold everywhere and to everyone, without

restriction. They claimed to cure every disease and symptom. Most labels did not declare ingredients, and warnings against misuse were unheard of. What info the public got about these products came from the physician or pharmacist, from hearsay, or sometimes from

experience.

8. Progressive Presidents:

i. Teddy Roosevelt, 1901-1909ii. William Howard Taft, 1909- 1913iii. Woodrow Wilson, 1913-1921

(11) Industrial Workers of the World- IWW “Wobblies”

• The IWW was founded in Chicago in June 1905 at a convention by two hundred socialists, anarchists, and radical trade unionists from all over the United States (mainly the Western Federation of Miners) who were opposed to the policies of the American Federation of Labor (AFL).

• The IWW's first organizers included Big Bill Haywood, Eugene V. Debs, Lucy Parsons, Mary Harris Jones (commonly known as "Mother Jones"), and many others.

• It is considered one of the most important events in the history of industrial unionism and of the American labor movement in general.

• The IWW's goal was to promote worker solidarity in the revolutionary struggle to overthrow the employing class; its motto was "an injury to one is an injury to all,"

• Today it is actively organized and numbers about 2,000 members worldwide, of whom fewer than half (approx 900) are in good standing (paid their dues for the past two months).