Progressivism from

the Grass Roots

to the White House
1890-1916

Wednesday, February 17, 2010 1

 6:00-6:15
quiz, roll
6:15-6:45
Stones River and African Americans




Elizabeth Goetsch
6:45-7:10
Primary source exercise, Booker T.




Washington's 1898 address
7:10-7:20
break
7:20-8:10
lecture
8:15-9:00
film: TR part 2

Wednesday, February 17, 2010 2

 Quiz

Wednesday, February 17, 2010 3

 1. T or F Jane Adams, a 29 year old college graduate, founded a settlement house
called Hull House in Chicago in 1889.

2.________________gospel was a movement that sprung out of the urban

industrialism of the late nineteenth century. Its teachings contrasted sharply with
the gospel of wealth espoused by Andrew Carnegie.

3.What does a progressive of this period believe?

4.Give 2 examples of causes important to progressives of this era.

5.__________________________was the first truly progressive president.

6.___________________ Canal was completed in 1914.

7. T or F William Howard Taft won the election 1908 without Theodore Roosevelt’s
support.

8.Name three candidates who ran for president in 1912?

9.Was Wilson a progressive?

10.What issue did activist Margaret Sanger campaign for?

Wednesday, February 17, 2010 4

 1. T or F Jane Adams, a 29 year old college graduate, founded a settlement house
called Hull House in Chicago in 1889.
2. Social gospel was a movement that sprung out of the urban industrialism of the
late nineteenth century. Its teachings contrasted sharply with the gospel of wealth
espoused by Andrew Carnegie.
3.What does a progressive of this period believe?
They leave social Darwinism behind and push toward scientific management of
human systems to create a better life for all.
4.Give 2 examples of causes important to progressives of this era.
a. better working conditions for laborers through legislation; b. education; c.
social problems; d. government corruption; e. child labor; f. Conservation; g.
women’s suffrage; h. large cities
5. Theodore Roosevelt was the first truly progressive president.
6. The Panama Canal was completed in 1914.
7. T or F William Howard Taft won the election 1908 without Theodore Roosevelt’s
support.
8.Name three candidates who ran for president in 1912? Woodrow Wilson,
Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, Eugene Debs
9.Was Wilson a progressive? Yes--a reluctant progressive
10.What issue did activist Margaret Sanger campaign for? Birth Control

Wednesday, February 17, 2010 5

 Progressivism
The Progressive Era unfolded as a response to
the social and political conditions of the Gilded
Age. It is also a response to the negative
impact of industrialism. Progressives believed
that science is a tool applicable to many types
of human systems such as business, social
constructs, and government with a goal of
making them more virtuous, efficient and
professional.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010 6

 Progressive Theory
The active, interventionist approach of
progressives directly challenged social
Darwinism, with its insistence that the world
operated on the principle of survival of the
fittest and that human beings should not stand
in the way of the law of natural selection.
A new group of sociologists argued that
evolution could be advanced if men and
women used their intellect to alter the
environment.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010 7
 Progressive Theory
This new theory, reform Darwinism,
condemned laissez-faire, insisting that the
liberal state should play a more active role in
solving social problems.
Key words: Efficiency and expertise
The theory was heavily influenced by
philosopher, William James and John Dewey.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010 8

 Grassroots Progressivism

1.Civilizing the City

2.Moving the Working Class forward

Progressivism was a response to

cultural, labor, and demographic
changes throughout the country.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010 9

 Notes on Progressivism
✦ Churches and settlement houses were at the forefront
of the movement.
✦ The confronted the social problems by enunciating a
new social gospel, one that saw its mission not simply
to reform individuals but also to reform society.
✦ Ministers played an active role in the social purity
movement, the campaign to attack vice.
✦ Attacks on alcohol went hand in hand with the push
for social purity.
✦ Nativism ran through the move for prohibition, as it
did in a number of progressive reforms
Wednesday, February 17, 2010 10
 Settlement House Movement
✦ The Settlement House Movement began in
England and migrated to New York City in
1886.
✦ College educated women formed the backbone
of the movement.
✦ Settlement houses were designed to help
immigrants acclimate to America and give
women tools to find meaningful work and
practical support once they did.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010 11

 Population increase was
another impetus for the
Progressive Era

Wednesday, February 17, 2010 12

 U.S.Population Growth
Native population
in outlying of American Foreign-born

Year Total Pop Total Born in US Total areas parents Popluation

1990* 248,709,873 228,942,557 225,695,826 3,246,731 1,382,446 1,864,285 19,767,316
1980* 226,545,805 212,465,899 210,322,697 2,143,202 1,088,172 1,055,030 14,079,906
1970* 203,210,158 193,590,856 191,329,489 2,261,367 891,266 1,370,101 9,619,302
1960* 179,325,671 169,587,580 168,525,645 1,061,935 660,425 401,510 9,738,091
1950* 150,216,110 139,868,715 139,442,390 426,325 329,970 96,355 10,347,395
1940 131,669,275 120,074,379 119,795,254 279,125 156,956 122,169 11,594,896
1930 122,775,046 108,570,897 108,304,188 266,709 136,032 130,677 14,204,149
1920 105,710,620 91,789,928 91,659,045 130,883 38,020 92,863 13,920,692
1910 91,972,266 78,456,380 78,381,104 75,276 7,365 67,911 13,515,886
1900 75,994,575 65,653,299 65,583,225 70,074 2,923 67,151 10,341,276
1890 62,622,250 53,372,703 53,362,371 10,332 322 10,010 9,249,547
1880 50,155,783 43,475,840 43,475,498 342 51 291 6,679,943
1870 38,558,371 32,991,142 32,990,922 220 51 169 5,567,229
1860 31,443,321 27,304,624 27,304,624 - - - 4,138,697
1850 23,191,876 20,947,274 20,947,274 - - - 2,244,602

SOURCE: U.S. CENSUS DEPARTMENT

Wednesday, February 17, 2010 13

 Total Population

1880 1890 1900 1910 1920

Wednesday, February 17, 2010 14

 Immigration chart

immigrants
1920 Total

immigrants
1910 Total

immigrants
1900
Total

immigrants
1890
Total

immigrants
1880
Total

Wednesday, February 17, 2010 15

 Jane Adams and Hull House
✦ A settlement house established in Chicago in
1889 by Jane Adams and Ellen Gates Star, her
college roommate.
✦ Armed with statistics, the activists of Hull
House aimed to improve housing, end child
labor, fund playgrounds, mediate between
labor and management, and lobby for
protective legislation.
✦ She was intent on bridging social class
through Hull House.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010 16
 A young Jane Adams

Wednesday, February 17, 2010 17

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 Hull House Nursery
Wednesday, February 17, 2010 20
 Progressives & Working Class
✦ Settlement house workers were particularly
sympathetic to labor unions.
✦ Progressives unsuccessfully attempted to push
reform in the private sector, and as a result turned to
government as a vehicle for pushing workplace
change.
✦ Change also came after workplace catastrophes
demonstrated the need for safety measures such as
happened in the Triangle Shirtwaist Company’s fire
that killed more than a hundred workers.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010 21

 Progressives & Working Class

✦ Protective legislation won a major victory in

1908 when the U.S. Supreme court upheld an
Oregon law that limited the hours women
could work to a ten hour day.
✦ Labor unions joined progressive activists to
push for better working conditions and better
pay.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010 22

 Triangle Shirtwaist
✦ November 1909, the Women’s Trade Union League
(WTUL) initiated a strike to protest low wages,
dangerous and demeaning working conditions, and lack
of recognition by the management at the Triangle
Shirtwaist Company.
✦ The strike failed, but in March 1911, a little over a year
after the strike ended, a disastrous fire sent the building
up in flames killing 146 workers and injuring scores of
others.
✦ The owners were tried for negligence, but were freed
after it was established that the fire was started by a
careless smoker.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010 23

 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory
Wednesday, February 17, 2010 24
 Progressives in Politics

✦ Politicians were generally the followers rather

than the leaders in the Progressive Movement.
✦ Key players were:
Thomas Lofton Johnson, Mayor of Cleveland
Robert M. La Follette, Gov and Senator, WI
Hiram Johnson, Gov. and Senator, CA

Wednesday, February 17, 2010 25

 National Politics

✦ McKinley is killed by an anarchist in 1901,

and Theodore Roosevelt becomes president.
✦ Roosevelt is the first Progressive Era president

Wednesday, February 17, 2010 26

 Roosevelt’s Square Deal
✦ TR believed that the most vital question facing the
country was if the government could control the
trusts.
✦ Thus he used his power to attack abuse by JP Morgan
and the railroads.
✦ He mediated between labor and management in the
1902 coal strike.
✦ He won the 1904 election with 57.9% of the vote by
campaigning on his “Square Deal” for the people.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010 27

 Roosevelt the Reformer
✦ Railroad Reform-Created the Interstate
Commerce Commission to regulate railroads
✦ He was a master mediator in getting his
legislative agenda through congress.
✦ He was committed to conservation of natural
resources, fought western cattle barons,
lumber kings, mining interests, and powerful
leaders in congress.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010 28

 Roosevelt the Diplomat
✦ He worked to actively promote the United
States as a world power.
✦ Guarded the Monroe Doctrine.
✦ Earned a Noble Peace Prize in 1906 for his
role in negotiating an end to the Russo-
Japanese War.
✦ He maintained the “Open Door” policy in
Asia.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010 29

 William Howard Taft
✦ Was TR’s hand chosen successor in the election of
1908. He handily won.
✦ He was a diplomat not a mediator and he soon fell
prey to the old guard Republican powers in
congress. His choices regarding tariffs alienated the
public.
✦ He was an inactive president--described as
paralyzed in office, thus stalling Progressive
reforms.
✦ By the 1910, Roosevelt had become a vocal critic.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010 30
 Election of 1912
✦ Roosevelt challenged Taft for the Republican
nomination, but had lost control of the party
machine. Taft was nominated on the
convention floor.
✦ A hastily organized Progressive party met to
nominate Roosevelt.
✦ The Democrats delighted at the split in the
Republican ranks, and nominated Woodrow
Wilson.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010 31

 Wilson’s “The New Freedom”

Promised to use antitrust legislation

to get rid of big corporations and
give small businesses and farmers
better opportunities in the
marketplace.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010 32

 Roosevelt’s “New Nationalism”

Enunciated his belief in federal

planning and smart regulation
based on the core beliefs of the
Progressive Movement.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010 33

 Wilson won

Wilson and Roosevelt fought it out,

but in the end, the Republican vote
was split while the Democrats
remained united.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010 34

 Wilson’s Reforms
✦ Wilson got legislation passed that lowered tariff rates by
15%.
✦ Established a new banking system with a Federal
Reserve in 1913. This was the most significant domestic
legislation during his presidency.
✦ Tackled the trusts by supporting the Clayton Antitrust
Act, which outlawed price discrimination and
interlocking directorates.
✦ Established the Federal Trade Commission with
investigatory powers and the power to prosecute
corporations.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010 35
 Wilson, Reluctant Progressive
Progressives watched in dismay as Wilson
repeatedly obstructed or obstinately refused to
endorse further progressive reforms.
The Republican Party, no longer split, won
significant gains in the congressional elections of
1914, signaling to Democrats that voters wanted
further progressive reforms.
Wilson responded belatedly to this political
pressure by championing reform in the months
leading up to the presidential election of 1916.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010 36

 Limits of Progressivism
✦ Radical Alternatives flourished during these years:
Socialist Party and Eugene Debs; Unions-particularly
the International Workers of the World (IWW); birth
control advocates-led my Margaret Sanger.
✦ Progressivism for White Men only:Women had to wait
until 1920 for the right to vote.
✦ The Progressive era also witnessed the rise of Jim
Crow legislation across the South.
✦ Plessy v. Fergeson (1896) upheld “separate but equal”

Wednesday, February 17, 2010 37