Ohio in the Progressive Era Flashcards
Progressivism
Progressivism a reaction to economic, demographic transition from an agricultural society in which most people spoke English and shared the same culture to a complex industrial society with extensive cultural diversity
Ohio in Transition - Urban Growth
- Population
- Ethnic
- Response to new populations
- Infrastructure
- Electric trolleys, interurbans end Awalking city@ growth of
suburbs; trolley systems particularly subject to corruption and
political connection
- Electric street lighting replaces gas and oil
- Paving
- Sanitary services
- City services improved
- Education
Ohio in Transition - Ethnicity
Look on notes
Ohio in Transition - Response -Settlement House movement - Goodrich House in Cleveland
Local settlement work began in the late 1890s,
These houses strived to educate the community, while trying to solve urban problems. Many settlement houses offered education classes, health care, and even served as a meeting place for the community.
founded by Flora Stone Mather. Mrs. Mather in 1897
Ohio in Transition - Infrastructure changes
Transportation Paving Lighting Sanitation City services Education - Bing Law of 1921 - This law required all children between six and eighteen years of age in the state of Ohio to attend school. The legislature made two exceptions. First, children who had already graduated from high school did not have to remain enrolled in school. Second, once a child reached the age of sixteen years and had passed the seventh grade, the student could work as a farmer rather than attend school. In addition to these stipulations, the Bing Act also establ
Issues
Panic of 1893 - The Panic of 1893 was a national economic crisis set off by the collapse of two of the country’s largest employers, the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad and the National Cordage Company. Following of the failure of these two companies, a panic erupted on the stock market. Hundreds of businesses had overextended themselves, borrowing money to expand their operations. When the financial crisis struck, banks and other investment firms began calling in loans, causing hundreds of business bankruptcies across the United States. Banks, railroads, and steel mills especially fell into bankruptcy. Over fifteen thousand businesses closed during the Panic of 1893.
- Perceived increasing gap between rich and poor
- Growth of monopolies and trusts
- Political corruption, urban machines - City “machines” - A political machine is a political organization in which an authoritative boss or small group commands the support of a corps of supporters and businesses (usually campaign workers), who receive rewards for their efforts.
Who Were the Reformers
- Educated, white, middle class Protestants
- Professionals, businessmen resentful of industrial, financial magnates and their political allies
- About 2/3 Democrats, 1/3 Republican
Ohio’s Progressive Program
- Restore economic competition
- Eliminate favored treatment for monopolies
- Widen popular participation in government
- Some wanted to restore a sense of order to the economic and social world disturbed by economic transformation
- Home Rule; GA controlled cities, could overrule decisions made at local level; allowed politically connected to maintain franchises B streetcars; water; electricity, et al B regardless of local desires
Samuel “Golden Rule’ Jones
- Born Wales; common laborer; Acme Sucker Rod Company
- Applied Golden Rule to his employees
- Chosen by GOP to run for mayor of Toledo in 1897; served four terms
- Goal: To make Toledo a model co-operative commonwealth
- Program
- Run for Governor
8 hour day
City-owned utilities (failed)
Kindergartens
Public parks, etc
PD reform
Program for Ohio:
Direct primaries
Public ownership o utilities
Non-partisan elections
Direct legislation
Labor reforms
Tom L. Johnson
- Wealthy from steel, street railways; economic and political rival of Mark Hanna;
- Platform in mayors= race for Cleveland in 1900 (Democrat)
- Served three terms; brought much talent into administration, inc. Newton Baker, Sec of War in WW I
- Accomplishments:
Ended water dept corruption: purer water
Sewer system
Garbage removal
Dept. of Public Works
Sanitary regulations
Reformed Police Dept.
Constitutional Amendments Before 1912
- 1903 - governor got veto
- 1905 - Even year elections for state and local officials
- 1906 - Direct primaries for General Assembly; most judges; county, township, municipal officials
1912 Constitutional Convention
Initiative and referendum Recall Direct primaries Civil Service protections Line-item veto Labor regulation Home Rule
1912 Constitutional Convention - Home Rule
s the power of a constituent part (administrative division) of a state to exercise such of the state’s powers of governance within its own administrative area that have been decentralized to it by the central government.
Failed Amendments
Female Suffrage
Abolition of death penalty
Removal of “white” from Constitution
William Howard Taft
A. Born Cincinnati, lawyer, Yale grad
B. President of Philippine Commission after Spanish-American War; later Governor of Philippines; Secretary of War under TR
C. Founder of powerful Ohio Republican family
D. Presidency
- Elected in 1908 as disciple of reforming President TR
- Conservative instincts upset Progressive Reps and TR
- Accomplishments
- Firsts
B. TR runs as ABull Moose in 1912, throws election to Wilson
C. Appt=s Chief Justice of Supreme Court by Harding in 1921, serves with great distinction
