Reform- Progressives- 1890`s

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Transcript Reform- Progressives- 1890`s

Reform- Progressives- 1890’s- 1900’s
Early programs- young, educated middle class (women) Social Gospel- Christians services to poor
 Settlement houses- Jane Adams- community centers,
education, health, assistance
 1890- Sherman Anti-Trust Act- trusts illegal to interfere
with free trade, impossible to enforce
4 Goals
 social welfare- urban problems-YMCA, Salvation Armyfeed poor, provide services, libraries, child care
 moral improvement- prohibition (no alcohol), WCTU
(women’s Christian Temperance), open kindergartens,
visit prisons, women’s suffrage
 economic reform- want govt to regulate business,
Muckrakers, end corruption
 efficiency- US output more efficient, assembly line
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Muckrakers and Reform
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Journalist write about issues/ sanitation/
corruption in business and govt. in mass
circulation magazines
Ida Tarbell- History of Standard OilRockefellers unfair business practices
 Upton Sinclair- The Jungle- unsanitary
conditions of meat packing industry
 Lincoln Steffens- The Shame of Citiespolitical machines and corruption
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Reform local govt/ State govt
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Reform mayors (Detroit, Cleveland)/ organize city
govt
natural disasters show problems- flood Ohio,
Hurricane Texas
Convict political bosses of fraud
Led by governors- Robert La Follette, James Hoggregulate big business
Limits on work, child labor- national child labor
committee
Worker compensation- injury
Referendum, recall, initiative- more power to people
Direct election of public officials, senators(17th
amendment)
Secret ballot (Austrailian)
Supreme court- not always helpful
Women and Reform
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women work- farms, domestic work (other
families), industry, teachers, clerks/ office (1890
more women highschool grads)
Middle/ upper class women- higher education
available- participate in reform movementswork/ living conditions, food/drug laws,
education
NAWSA- National American Women’s Suffrage
association- Susan B Anthony, Elizabeth Cady
Stanton- 3 ways- states to grant vote, challenge
supreme court, constitutional amendment
Teddy Roosevelt
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Rough rider (war of 1898)
Governor (NY) then Vice pres “where he could
do no harm”, McKinley assassinated (1901)
Model for future presidents, bold and sure of
himself, physically active, tough
President acts for good of people as long as
constitution doesn’t deny it
Square Deal- good of common people
Bully Pulpit- influence public opinion, news
media, shape legislation
Roosevelt in Action
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1902- Coal Strike- President joins in- federal arbitrationthird party decides best for both
Trustbusting- filed 44 cases, broke up several trusts
Railroads- regulate further, give power to Interstate
Commerce commission
Protect Citizens, Environment
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1906- Meat Inspection Act
1906- Pure Food and Drug Act- ban contaminated foods, truth in
labels
Raise interest in pollution- 50 wildlife sanctuaries, parks
(Yosemite), irrigation projects in west
Little Racial Progress- NAACP founded- National
Association of the Advancement of Colored People
Taft & Progressives- 1908
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Roosevelt’s shadow
Trust busting- 90 trusts
High tariffs, less conservation, lower public
opinion
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Republican party splits- conservative/progressive
Roosevelt returns to politics, progressive partyBull Moose party breaks away/ split the vote
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Eugene Debs- socialism
Wilson- Progressive Democrat
Taft- conservative Republican
Roosevelt- progressive Republican
Wilson elected- 1912
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Break up trusts, smaller govt.- New Freedom
Federal Trade Act
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Federal trade commission- monitor business, eliminate unfair
business, force co. to stop
Clayton Anti-Trust Act
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Reduce tariffs/ bully pulpit (public opinion)
16th amendment- income tax
Federal Reserve- regulate currency, basis of US banking
Voting rights Women
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one co. cannot hold stock of another
Labor unions legal/ protected
Officers of co. held to laws
middle class, educated women- gain support, organizepicket white house, democratic convention
1920- 19th amendment
no support for racial equality