User:Atcovi/VA and US History/Origins of the Progressive Movement

What problems were there with Gilded Age society/politics/economy?
The Progressive Movement aimed to...
 * ...return control of the government to the people,
 * ...restore economic opportunities to all, and
 * ...to correct social injustices.

Progressives were Pragmatists. This movement felt the gov't should be used as a tool for social reform (broadens the power of the government).
 * Middle-class Americans who were very well educated.

They are firm believers in ability to fix problems.

"Fighting Bob" Lafollette

 * At the state level, reforming governors may be elected.
 * Most well known is Robert LaFollette of Wisconsin.
 * He targeted Railroads and set up state commissions to forbid business paying kickbacks to gov't officials.
 * GOAL: To keep businesses OUT of politics.
 * Introduced the direct primary
 * Citizens vote directly for party nominees
 * Party membership is not always required.

Scientific Management

 * With new machinery and factories, now workers were regulated by time clocks and machines.
 * Proposed by Frederick Taylor
 * Pushed to increase output by standardizing tasks and rewarding the fastest workers.
 * What would be the pinnacle of scientific management?
 * The Assembly Line

Regulating Child Labor

 * The federal government mostly targeted child labor.
 * Progressives formed the National Child Labor Committee which pressured politicians to pass the Keating-Owen Act - 1916.
 * Prohibited the transportation of goods produced with child labor across state lines.
 * The Supreme Court will declare this law unconstitutional in Hammer v. Dagenhart - 1918.

Is it legal to regulate business?

 * Muller v. Oregon - 1908
 * Women cannot work more than 60 hours a week.

Is it legal to unionize?

 * Danbury Hatters Case
 * The Hat Factory in Danbury, CT refused to recognize the hatters' union.
 * Union organizes a boycott/strike.
 * Brought to Supreme Court - 1908
 * Ruled against strikers.
 * What law did the Supreme Court use to support the ruling?

The AFL craft unions grew primarily with skilled workers. 2 unions tried to organize semi-skilled and unskilled workers. The International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union successfully led strikes in needle trades. The Industrial Workers of the World consisted of "wobblies" organized a strike in 1912 to be repressed by the government during WWI.

Progressives: The 20th Century Populists
Many of the political reforms of the progressives had been part of the Populist Omaha Platform.
 * Initiative: A bill that is proposed by the people other than the lawmakers and is placed on the ballot.
 * Referendum: The vote where the initiative is voted on.
 * Recall: Enables voters to remove public officials from elected positions if voters ask for it.
 * 12th Amendment: Allows for the direct election of senators

The Muckrakers

 * Upton Sinclair, The Jungle
 * Lincoln Steffans, Shame on the Cities
 * Jacob Riis, How the Other Half Lives

Jacob Riis

 * Explored the discrepancy between the "haves" and "have-nots" in Manhattan's Lower East Side.
 * Used photography to capture the lives of the have-nots.
 * Published "How the Other Half Lived" in 1890.

Making Cities More Livable

 * 1920: 50% of American citizens were living in cities.
 * Efforts to beautify cities.
 * Frederick Law Olmsted Central Park
 * More than just an effort to have pretty cities - this was an effort to reinforce civic-minded citizens.

Progressivism vs. Socialism

 * 17 mil immigrants came to the US from 1900-1917. Mostly new immigrants from SE Europe.
 * Gentlemen's Agreement/Chinese Exclusion Act.
 * Amongst native-born Americans there was the belief that the immigrants covered poverty and immorality.
 * 1917: Increased standards for admission into the US.

Municipal Hygiene

 * Progressive insisted on improved
 * Water and sewer systems
 * Regulation of beverage and food handles
 * School medical exams
 * Vaccination program
 * Public health information campaign


 * 1) Margaret Sanger
 * 2) *Remove unwanted characteristics by controlling reproduction


 * 1) Carrie Buck
 * Buck v. Bell
 * Ruling: Case brought by VA Colony officials to reinforce sterilizations going on at the colony. "Three generations of imbeciles is enough." - Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.

Efforts to Enlarge the "Woman's Sphere"

 * An advocate for improving the lives of women and children.
 * Worked with Jane Addams at Hull House. Active in the Socialist Party.
 * Formed National Consumer League which lobbied for fewer hours, more pay for women.
 * Her efforts helped to get the Illinois Factory Act of 1893 passed.
 * Prohibited child labor and limited women's working hours.

Moral Causes

 * Prohibition: Banned the consumption of alcoholic beverages.
 * Temperance and Prohibition were especially popular among females.
 * Woman's Christian Temperance Union; Anti-Saloon League


 * Efforts to outlaw prostitution
 * View of "White Slavery"
 * Mann Act, 1910
 * Prohibited prostitution
 * Outlawed travel over interstate lines for "immoral" purposes.


 * Efforts to regulate addictive drugs
 * Especially morphine, heroin and cocaine
 * 1914: Harrison Act
 * 1919: US v. Doremus
 * Affirms government power to regulate prescriptions by MDs.

Women's Education

 * Female colleges were established as requirements for education increased in the job market.
 * NAWSA
 * Susan B. Anthony
 * Carrie Catt ran the organization from 1900-04, resumed leadership late in 1915.
 * Strategy focused mainly on state-by-state action.
 * Tactics: Lobbying, Disseminating, Literature, and Demonstrating
 * In principle, the NAWSA remained neutral in political elections and shied away from taking on other "controversial" causes.
 * NWP
 * Alice Paul
 * This organization was in favor of putting direct pressure on Congress and the federal government, and of directly attacking "the party in power" as long as women lacked the vote.
 * The NWP used more militant forms of protest like those used in England.
 * Picketed the WH and went on hunger strike.