Progressivism (1900-1920)

Question 1

Progressivism Causes: Economic Problems

Answer 1

• 1893 Depression
• Led to high unemployment, remained at 12% for the rest of the 1890s
• Businesses cut wages, led to fall in living standards
• Many banks collapsed during the recession, people lost their savings
• Agriculture continued to decline due to falling prices
• Small farmers couldn’t compete with large-scale farming in the West

Question 2

Progressivism Causes: Social Problems

Answer 2

• Many were inspired by the ‘Social Gospel’ movement, used the Bible to urge support for the less fortunate members of society
• Groups like the YMCA and Salvation Army were very active during this time
• Most Americans living in poverty
• Terrible living conditions, overcrowded cities
• Lack of clean water
• Poor working hours, common 72 hour week
• No welfare system, no sick pay, no compensation

Question 3

Progressivism Causes: Political Problems

Answer 3

• Growing dissatisfaction with the 2 main political parties
• Democrats, strong in the South, deeply conservative
• Republicans seemed to have become the party of big business and banks
• Progressives were opposed to corrupt party machines and ‘Robber Barons’ big business domination
• Progressives wanted to give women the right to vote and the direct election of senators

Question 4

Progressivism Causes: Regulating Businesses

Answer 4

• 19th century: large businesses, particularly trusts, became so powerful, threatened to establish monopolies in particular industries
• Meant they could fix prices without fear of competition
• Increasing hostility towards Rockefeller, Carnegie and Morgan, seemed to put their own profits before the interests of the masses
• Growing demand for gov regulation to control big business, especially trusts
• Progressives couldn’t agree as to how it should be controlled

Question 5

Progressivism Causes: Media Influence (Muckraking)

Answer 5

• 1904: “McClure’s” magazine was selling 750,000 copies
• 1912: “Collier’s” magazine had reached 1 million sales per edition
• McClure’s magazine exposed political and business corruption in most of America’s cities
• Other journalists such as Ida Tarbell and Upton Sinclair wrote a whole series of what became known as ‘muckraking’ articles, greatly influenced public opinion
• Press played a major role in exposing the evils in American society
• ‘The Jungle’: Upton Sinclair, exposed meatpacking industry, helped pass the Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Act
• ‘The History of the Standard Oil Company’: Ida Tarbell, led to the Standard Oil vs US in 1911, Supreme Court, resulted in the split up of the company

Question 6

Progressivism Causes: Fear of Revolution

Answer 6

• Some felt concerned about the growth of socialism and radicalism/anarchism
• Felt that unless there was reform, a revolution would occur
• President McKinley was assassinated by an anarchist in 1901
• Trade unions grew in strength, more workers supporting militant actions/violent strikes
• Many of those fearing revolution were those from the middle-class
• Progressivism often seen as a middle-class movement
• Most Progressive leaders were middle-class professionals, e.g. lawyers and doctors

Question 7

Progressivism Aims: Political Reforms

Answer 7

• Changes to the Constitution, allowing women to vote, directly voting for senators
• Greater role for the federal gov in the economy/society, particularly regulating big business
• Radical reform of the management of towns/cities, often controlled by corrupt officials, wanted a more democratic system when voting for mayors/public officials
• Changes to the political parties, seemed to be dominated by few wealthy businessmen

Question 8

Progressivism Aims: Economic Reforms

Answer 8

• Wanted an end to laissez-faire
• Wanted gov to ensure that the country was run in the interests of the whole community and not just a few rich individuals, more gov control of banks, stock market
• Wanted new legislation, providing compensation for injury at work, insurance schemes, regulated work hours, consumer protection against adulterated food
• Wanted to change the currency, silver coinage, believed would help raise prices for farmers and reduce the power of trusts/big business

Question 9

Progressivism Aims: Social Reforms

Answer 9

• Female emancipation, 1890, National American Suffrage Association was set up, campaign vote for women
• Wanted government to provide a safety net to help the poor, state-funded benefits
• Abolition of the manufacture/sale of alcohol, 1893, Anti-Saloon League, pressure group campaigning for Prohibition
• Reforms to help African Americans, specifically those who moved to the North to escape poverty in the South