Progressivism arose in response to rapid industrialization, immigration, and urbanization in the late 19th century. Progressives believed the government needed to expand its role to curb the power of big business, make government more accountable to citizens, and improve lives through social reforms. Notable early reformers included Henry George, Edward Bellamy, and muckrakers who exposed corruption. The movement achieved some successes through legislation at municipal and state levels and constitutional amendments, though business interests often resisted reforms. Women also played an increasing role through social reform organizations.

1. Origins of
Progressivism
Chapter 11.1
pp. 382-387

3. Roots of 20th Century Reform
• Arose in cities in the northeast, midwest, and west coast
• Why in the cities?
 Roots in other movements:
 Populism
 Nativism,
 Prohibition &purity crusades
 Electoral reform & ending political corruption
 Reacting to rapid industrialization, immigration, & urbanization
 Workers had suffered
 Laissez-faire policies
 Charity could not do enough to fix problems
 Government needed to step in
 1890-1920 is the Progressive Era

5. *”New Immigrants”—Originated from southern &
eastern Europe; esp. Russia, Austria, & Italy

6. Goals and Beliefs
 1. Gov’t should be more accountable to its citizens
 2. Gov’t should curb the power and influence of
wealthy interests
 3. Gov’t should be given expanded powers so that it
could become more active in improving the lives of its
citizens
 4. Gov’t should become more efficient and less corrupt
so that they can handle an expanded role
 *These goals are listed on the bottom of p. 383

7. Henry George
 Early reformer
 Journalist
 Said poverty arose because some people bought and
held on to land until its price went up (speculation)
 George said to tax the land, even if holding on to it
 Single tax clubs sprang up all over

8. Edward Bellamy
 Reformer
 Newspaper editor
 Published “Looking Backward”
 A Boston man underwent hypnosis &
woke up in 2000 (written in 1887)
 Bestseller
 All wrongs of labor were gone!
 Many clubs arose preaching his
views

9. Muckrakers
 “Muckrakers”—term coined by President Roosevelt
 Muckrakes were used to clean manure & hay out of
stables
 The writers pointed out corruption, wrongdoing
 Upton Sinclair, The Jungle
 Lincoln Steffens, The Shame of the Cities
 Ida Tarbell, she revealed the abuses committed by the
Standard Oil Trust

10. Socialists
 Favors public or gov’t control
of property and income
 Wanted to end capitalism, and
have equal distribution of
wealth
 1901: Socialist Party of
America was formed
 By 1912 they had 1,000 city
gov’t offices controlled

11. But remember…
 Progressives did not want major change!
 Wanted high standard of living
 They enjoyed democracy & free enterprise
 Wanted personal liberties protected
 They wanted to eliminate corruption in gov’t so that
they could actually help those in need

12. Women & the Progressive Era
 New level of activism
 Social clubs transformed into reform clubs
 Remember, women could not yet vote
 “In a crowded city quarter, however, if the street is not
cleaned by the city authorities no amount of private
sweeping will keep the tenement free from grime; if the
garbage is not properly collected and destroyed a
tenement house mother may see her children sick and
die of diseases.”
 --Jane Addams, 1910

13. Florence Kelley
 She was instrumental in:
 Started working w/ Jane Addams @ Hull House in 1891
 Passing laws on child labor
 Limiting working hours for women
 Regulating sweatshop conditions
 Went on to other higher jobs in gov’t

14. Mother Jones
 Her husband was an iron worker; he & her 4 children
died in a yellow fever epidemic
 Called on the Knights of Labor for help
 Wanted to improve working conditions
 Organized workers’ unions
 Miners in WV and CO
 Helped found IWW in 1905

15. Finally…
 The Progressives wanted gov’t involvement in people’s
lives
 But those who should have wanted the help resisted
the most
 Ex. Poor families could not survive without child’s wages,
but they wanted to limit child labor!

16. Progressive Legislation
Chapter 11.2
pp. 389-395

17. Triangle Fire in NYC, 1911
 What happened?
 Why was this tragedy so important?

18. Robert La Follette
 Governor of Wisconsin from
1901-1906
 U.S. Senator from 1906-
1925
 “Fighting Bob”
 What were his causes?

19. John Muir
 Naturalist, author,
preservationist
 Sierra Club
 Yosemite Valley & Sequoia
National Park
 Preservation vs.
Conservation?????

20. Qs
 #1) Summarize the Progressives’ views on regulating
business.
 #2) Give examples of government reforms and social
welfare programs at the municipal and state levels
during the Progressive Era.
 #3) Describe the effect of each of these on reforms:
 A) home rule
 B) direct primary
 C) initiative

21. Amendments
 16th
 17th
 18th
 19th
 What were they, what did they do?