5.1 Progressivism

What is Progressivism?
A collection of different ideas on how to fix the problems within America
1st step: fixing the government
Problems can be fixed by applying scientific principles

MUCKRAKERS
A name for journalists who investigated social conditions & political corruption
They raked(pulled) up ‘muck’ (dirt) on politician and society
Pressured gov’t to make reforms
Topics covered included: poverty, disease, & crime, among other things
Lost of different types of progressives
Some wanted to improve government efficiency
Commission plan: replaces gov’t – a board of commissioners hires experts to run city departments
Texas was the first state to have a city that adopted this plan

Democracy & Progressivism
Progressives wanted more democracy
1st target: elections and voter concerns
Direct primary
Robert La Follette
Party election where all members get to vote for a candidate
This is what we have now

CHANGING LEGISLATION
Initiative: group of citizens can introduce legislation
Referendum: proposed legislation has to be submitted to the voters for approval
Recall: voters can demand a special election to remove an elected official
This happened in CA when we recalled Gray Davis and elected Arnold

TACKLING SENATE CORRUPTION
Progressives proposed the direct election of state senators by voters
1912 – 17th Amendment: direct election by voters

THE SUFFRAGE MOVEMENT
Suffrage movement: movement for women’s rights
1848 – 1st convention (Seneca Falls)
After the Civil war, the 14th&15th amendments protected the voting rights of African Americans.
Women wanted these A’s to apply to them as well
Republicans said no
The argument over 14&15divided them into 2 groups.
Only 4 states gave women voting rights before 1900:
Wyoming
Idaho
Utah
Colorado
NATIONAL AMERICAN WOMEN SUFFRAGE ASSOCIATION
Aka the NAWSA
Combined both groups
Leader: Alice Paul
Used protests
Eventually, she was booted out and started a new group, the National Women’s Party.
This group used protests and hunger strikes
1918 – woman suffrage amendment fails to pass by 2 votes
1919 –Senate passes 19th amendment
1920 – amendment ratified

SOCIAL WELFARE PROGRESSIVISM
Created charities to help the poor & disadvantaged; pushed for new laws
National Child Labor Committee: worked to end child labor
Zoning laws & building codes: regulated how land could be used and ensured that buildings were constructed safely
To improve the safety of workers’ conditions:
Workers’ Compensation - $ if you get hurt on the job
Health codes – make workplaces safer
Building codes – ensured that the place would stay up

TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT
Moderation or elimination of alcohol
Caused society’s problems: poverty, crime, unemployment
Women’s Christian Temperance Movement (1874)
Pushed for prohibition

PROGRESSIVES v Big BUSINESS
Some progressives wanted to regulate big business (large corporations) but had different ideas on how
Break up big companies
Crate gov’t agencies to regulate
Some wanted Socialism: the idea that gov’t should control all industry/business
American socialist party ran Eugene Debs for pres in 1912