|
Section 1
Progressive Movement -Industrial Revolution changed America -More goods, jobs, middle class created -Bigger gap between richest and poorest, bad working and living conditions -People wanted to fix the bad things -Called “progressives” -Some reporters publicized corruption, social problems -Muckrakers -Upton Sinclair (The Jungle)
Reforming Government -Lots of corruption (patronage/spoils system) in gov’t -Progressives wanted to give power “back to the people” -Direct primary -Voters choose candidate to run for office -pre-election election -Initiative -Voters can propose a law directly -Referendum -Proposed law voted on by people -Recall -Allow voters to remove elected official -Secret ballots -Direct election of US Senators -17th Amendment
Promoting Social Welfare -Social Gospel Movement -Using Christian principles and applying them to social issues (Churches played major role) -Settlement housesàJane Addams (Hull House) -Salvation Army -Gospel of Wealth -Andrew Carnegie -Rich have an obligation to help those in need -But not simply a handout -Let poor be within reach of success -Social Darwinism -Some people wanted to “clean up” peoples morals -Wanted prohibition -Get rid of alcohol = no more crime, no divorces -18th Amendment ratified in 1919 -Movies caused too much temptation -Movie censor boards created -Cleaning up the cities -Regular trash service began in major cities -NYC passed building codes (1901) -No windowless apartments -Bathroom in every apartment -Planning and zoning laws began
Economic Reform -Progressives wanted to limit power of big business -Trusts (coalition of companies) were “bad” -Sherman Anti-Trust Act (1890)
Reforming the Workplace -In 1893, the IL legislature outlawed child labor -Restore family life was the reasoning -By 1912, 39 states passed child labor laws -Many businesses ignored laws -Needed cheap labor to stay in business -Some states limited the number of hours in a work day -In 1912, MA passed minimum base for women & kids -Not until 1938 was there a national minimum wage -Safety in the workplace -It took tragic events to reform workplace safety -Triangle Shirtwaist Co. (March 1911) -140 dead -After that event NY enacted the nation’s strictest fire codes
Theodore Roosevelt -Born in 1858 -Outdoorsman -Graduated from Harvard -Widow, but remarried -Wrote history books -Started the Rough Riders -Volunteer cavalry unit during Spanish-American War -War hero -Elected governor of NY after being NY legislatoràReformer -Not what Republicans wanted -Wanted him out of NYàGot him nominated VP -“Only 1 life b/w this madman and the Presidency” -42 years old when he became president -McKinley assassinated by anarchist -No-nonsense, straight-talking, energetic
Square Deal -TR thought gov’t was an umpire -Had to ensure fairness -Promised “square deal” to all -Filed suit against 44 trusts (“trustbusting”) -Believed in arbitration -Letting objective 3rd party settle a dispute
TR and Progressive Reforms -Meat Inspection Act (1906) -Upton Sinclair (The Jungle) -Pure Food and Drug Act (1906) -Forbid selling of impure foods and medicines -Did little for civil rights -Big conservationist -Wanted to protect natural resources -Preserved 200,000,000+ acres -Created first wildlife refuge -Preserved Grand Canyon and Petrified Forest
|