The Progressive Era: Late 1800

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The Progressive Era Late 1800s to World War I
PEOPLES LIVES AND THE ROLE OF THE GOVERNMENT
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Focus Question
From the 1900 to 1915 three progressive
presidents held office. During these years what
role did the national government play in the
lives of the average citizen? Was the role
appropriate?
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There were many reasons for the progressive
movement.
Perhaps the best reasons were captured by the
late 1800s early 1900s photographers.
Most notable among these photographers was Jacob
Riis.
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What clues in this picture may tell a story well
beyond the borders of this photo. Surmise what
that story may be.
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• The progressive movement sought to change many of
  the conditions depicted in the previous photos.

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Before there were the Progressives there were the
Populists.
Populists

• Rural
• Poor and uneducated
• Radical

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The Progressives worked to improve on the
Populists experiences
Progressives

• Networked
• Urban labor
• Middle Class
• Educated
• Mainstream

The Progressive Movement was a broad and
sometimes unorganized reform group. Although
they were not suffering themselves, they
sympathized with those who were.
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The Progressive EraEarly Progressive Voices
The Muckrakers

• Upton Sinclair

• Lincoln Steffens

• Ida Tarbell

• Jacob Riis

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The Progressive EraEarly Progressive Voices
Robert M. La Follette

• Fighting Bob
• Wisconsin Idea
• 1st state income tax
• corporate tax
• railroad rate commission
• Utilized professors to aid with complex issues

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The Progressive EraProgressive Reforms

• Australian Ballot Secret vote
• Initiative People introduce legislation
• Referendum People vote on legislation
• Recall People can get someone out of office
• Direct Primary People narrow down the field of
  candidates
• Amendments 16,17,18,19

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The Progressive EraAmendments

• 16 Progressive income tax
• 17 Direct election of senators
• 18 Prohibition
• 19 Women can not be denied to vote based on
  gender

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The Progressive EraProgressivism in the Courts

• Holden v. Hardy (1898) - For the first time the
  Supreme court upheld a law limiting working hours
  in hazardous industries.
• Lochner v. New York (1905) - Limiting work hours
  for bakers was not upheld by the Supreme Court as
  bakeries were not viewed as dangerous places to
  work.
• Muller v. Oregon (1908) - the Supreme Court
  upheld laws limiting the working hours for women
  in hazardous industries.

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The Progressive Presidents
Theodore Roosevelt
William Howard Taft
Woodrow Wilson
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The Progressive EraPresident Roosevelt
President Roosevelt championed many progressive
ideas.
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The Progressive EraRoosevelt and the 1902 Coal
Miners Strike
In 1902 Pennsylvania Coal Miners (many of whom
were children) went on strike over terrible
working conditions, low wages, frequent layoffs,
and living conditions in company towns.
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Healthy Lung
Miners Lung
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The Progressive EraRoosevelt and the 1902 Coal
Miners Strike
The coal miner owners refused the Presidents
suggestion of impartial arbitration. In reaction,
President Roosevelt threatened to have the
military take over the mines.
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The Progressive EraRoosevelt and the 1902 Coal
Miners Strike
For the first time the federal government had
stepped into a labor controversy to protect the
interest of all concerned.
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The Progressive EraPresident Roosevelts Actions
President Roosevelt was known for his square
deal, trust busting, and consumer protection
legislation
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The Progressive EraProgressivism and the Taft
Administration
While considered by some to be not as
progressive as Roosevelt, under President Taft
the government continued to be very involved in
many causes.
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The Progressive EraTaft and the Payne-Aldrich
Tariff
Progressives supported lower tariffs because they
opened American businesses to foreign competition
which tended to lower prices for consumers.
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The Progressive EraTaft and the Payne-Aldrich
Tariff
However, Rhode Island Senator Nelson Aldrich, who
wanted tariffs higher, rewrote the bill in the
Senate.
President Taft supported the bill disappointing
Progressives
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In addition to working conditions and tariffs,
the government also became involved in
environmental issues during the Progressive Era.
There was much public support for this issue as
the Pinchot-Ballinger conservation issue showed.
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The Progressive EraTaft Problems
The environmental issue, or at least peoples
understanding of the issue, hurt Taft politically.
When Roosevelt returned from his manly exploits
around the world, he challenged President Taft
for the presidency.
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In the end, neither fared well.
Woodrow Wilson would be selected the next
progressive president.
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The Progressive EraPresident Wilson Involvement
with the Economy
1907 The United States experienced a Panic
(economic depression.)
The Aldrich Commission found three major
concerns

• Lack of banking stability Not enough money on
  reserve for withdrawals Little cooperation
  between banks

• Currency was Inflexible Could not control
  flow of money

• No Central Control of Banks

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The Progressive EraThe Federal Reserve Act

• 12 Federal Reserve Banks
• Banks for Banks
• Provide reserves
• Move funds for investment
• Independently owned banks
• Federal Reserve Board
• Government Regulation
• Washington D.C. power base

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Focus Question
From the 1900 to 1915 three progressive
presidents held office. During these years what
role did the national government play in the
lives of the average citizen? Was the role
appropriate?