Introduction to Progressivism:
Reform movement that began in the late 1800s, lasting to the early 1900s
died with america's involvement in ww1
life had gotten so complex the only way to protect society was through gov- the agency for human welfare at all levels- could protect public interests
major departure from jeffersonian america- government has to get involved, as well as departing from the gilded age, seen in industry running rampant
this came about due to the problems that the gilded age presented:
-increasing wage gap between rich and poor, widened in the 1890's, resulting in widespread political corruption: Sherman Anti-Trust Act, Haymarket Strikes, etc. led to dangerous working and living conditions for the masses in tenement houses, limited sanitization, etc., little concern for African Americans with Jim Crow laws (government still does very little to address this in the Progressive Era).
- goals: stop monopolies, political corruption, inefficiency, and start social justice movements (seen in prohibition movement, etc.)
these were to be achieved by the idea of government involvement to fix american problems
believed there needed to be a push for greater democracy
The Road to Progressivism
Greenback Party (Populist Party) outlined reforms that the progressive era would accomplish in the 20th century, which party members saw as the vindication for goals they championed in the 1890s with the Omaha Platform
Progressive Era reached peak in 1917
Mugwumps:
Reform movement shifted ideas into the cities after the Populists' continued losses in elections, where the Mugwumps arise
Mugwumps brought the notion of good government to the progressive party: gov could be a vehicle for good purposes and reform, wanted to first fix problems in cities
Active in the republican party, nicknamed "republican insurgents"
Socialism:
Brought the ideas that working conditions, laborers, and living conditions needed to be addressed
even though progressives as a whole sought to counter socialist doctrines, they still agreed with the views of improving lives of laborers
Social Critics:
Used writing and literature to spur progressive reform
"Wealth against Commonwealth" by Henry Demarest Lloyd, "Theory of the Leisure Class" by Thorstein Veblen, and "How the Other Half Lives" by Jacob Riis - used the power of the photograph to expose living conditions
Most important factors on the road to Progressivism: tossup between social critics and populists
Social Gospel and Settlement Houses
More and more people addressed problems that arose of rapid urbanization through charity, business, laws, etc. These reformers gave a new sense of life and urgency to American society
Protestant churches played a main role because middle class church goers where attending, but they moved out of the cities and into the suburbs
Preachers preached social darwinism, etc., so city workers such as immigrants didn't want to go- catered to middle class and wealthy rather than the poor
This shifted in the 1870s with attitude of being afraid that the church had turned its back on the people Christ loved the most- led to movement of church to address the less fortunate
Creation of organizations such as the YMCA, brought over from England in the 1850's onwards, Salvation Army (1878) tried to address the ills of poor
This led to the Social Gospel Movement: church tied in the religion into relevant problems of the masses
Washington Gladden: The working people and their employers book, rejected social darwinism: religion and god should govern workplace, endorsed workers rights, against classist church societies; wanted to see religion be more of a unifier than a divider
Walter Rauschenbusch: in the beginning of 20th century, he spent decades in "Hell's Kitchen", New York- focused his efforts where there were high criminal rates, immigration, poor living conditions, wrote "Christianity and the Social Crisis"- if we want the church to survive, we need to put moral forces in society to instill christian values and encourage church attendance
Other efforts at urban reform came from settlement houses:
by 1900, over 100 settlement houses in the US such as Hull House, Southend House, Henry Street Settlement
more pragmatic approach to combating problems of urbanization
bring together prosperous men with the working poor, placed right in the heart of poor ethnic ghettos
run often by a young middle class idealists, college trained women, etc.
focused on essential needs of their clientele required: give kindergarten to young kids, child care for women working in factories, came to sponsor art studios, lectures, gymnasiums, and other events/services: focused on tangible benefits rather than spiritual benefits.
"as effective as bailing out the ocean with a teaspoon"
got sanitary housing codes, public playgrounds, prohibition of child labor, monitoring of working conditions, etc. passed into law
Jane Adams (Hull House) won Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts.
Women's Employment and Muckrakers
Settlement house workers made up a fraction of employed women- percentage increased in the 1880's and the first decade of the 1900's
Most significant event thus far in women's history
Biggest change in women's roles: clerical work- book keeping, sales jobs
These changes had little connection to women's rights movement, focused on suffrage
Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Stanford campaigned for this- even appealed to racism for this leverage (women deserve more rights than illiterate men of other races).
women's organizations began to sprout up to provide active outlets outside the home
largest and most influential: women's christian temperance movement (1874 founded) 150,000 members by 1900. Platform included: prison reform, aid for homeless children, sex ed, aid to working women, etc. Mobilized women and supported progressive reforms
Debate of the pertinence of suffrage on other issues split this group into two parts in 1879
1890: rival groups of these decided to unite as National American Women Suffrage Association
before the 19th amendment, women had rights to vote in 6 states by 1911.
Other issues women supported: literary clubs, social clubs, unfair labor conditions, national women's trade union league, etc.
What were the states doing in terms of reform?
Many states are starting to regulate business and working conditions, railroads, banks, insurance companies, limiting hours required for workers, limiting child labor, regular cash wages, factory inspections, and special protection for women.
Despite this, there are still conservative judges that limit the practical impact of these laws in the Supreme Court- used revised interpretation of 14th amendment, for example, to include corporations in order to protect business.
Slows down reforms
Muckrakers: investigative journalists who aimed to raise public awareness and political action to solve these problems
got the name from Roosevelt, who felt that the "crusading journalists" where too focused and sometimes went too far
Were responsible for the levels that progressivism took
In feeding the public's need for these facts about the social ills of America, the muckrakers embodied one of the features of the progressive movement and failures: stronger on diagnosis than on remedy.
More talk and walk, you know? Less legislation than expected
Lincoln Steffins, McClure, Tarbell are notable journalists.
Features of Progressivism
Democracy, efficiency, social justice, and anti trust legislation
Democracy:
Progressives focused on cleaning up gov: too many officials served corps, not people
aimed at increasing democratization of gov and greater political participation
the direct primary was installed, now allowed citizens and voters to decide their own political candidate inside a political party for the general election (Jacksonian Death of King Caucus spirit placed on a wider scale)
Other reforms: initiative where citizens can start legislature, referendum: citizens decide if a bill becomes law (think NC Amendment One), recall elections (vote on ending terms before terms are officially ended), the secret ballot, the direct election of senators.
taking away power from political machines
Gospel of Efficiency:
"Principles of Scientific Management" by Taylor, he is dubbed efficiency efforts expert, started Taylorism
Components of Taylorism: Reduce waste, reduce waste of energy, break down production of goods into steps to study amount of time each task has taken
Predecessor as assembly line management
In government, efficiency demanded the reorganization of government agencies to eliminate redundancies, establish clear lines of authority, assign accountability to specific officials
The commission system, 1901: local government in Texas collapsed due to a hurricane, led to ultimate authority placed on board of elected officials of different focus groups
City manager system: one professional administrator ran city government according to policies set by elected council and the mayor.
Early 20th: business functions required a special expertise
This principle of government run by nonpartisan experts was promoted by Robert Lafeyette, governer of Wisconsin, and Woodrow Wilson. Known as Wisconsin idea: promoted efficient, more scientific government and sufficient information given to those who would make laws on certain subject matters.
Rob also pushes for railroad regulation, conservation, compensation programs, etc. at every level.
Social justice:
Creation of nonprofits, charities, etc.
In time, it was realized that social evils extended beyond these efforts and demanded government intervention, seen particularly in labor legislation- most significant reform
National Child Labor Committee was founded in 1904. State and local committees had documentation of evils of child labor. This committee pushes banning of child labor through legislation
Regulation hours of women's work: Florence Kelly, Head of National Consumers League, wanted to regulate long working hours of women who were wives and mothers
Supreme Court pursued a curious path: Court voided a 10 hour workday because it devalued the liberty of contract: a worker can work any job they want for however long they want, no matter how bad the job is.
Later, Supreme Court ruled against 10 hour work days for women- demonstrates the flipping of the court.
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire- 1911- owner of the factory had locked doors to prevent theft, but when the factory caught fire, women were trapped in the burning building. Hundred of girls were burned to death; this brought about greater legislation.
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