PROGRESSIVISM: MEANING AND OBJECTIVES
Permeating the early 20th century, progressivism was a movement to improve American life
by expanding democracy and achieving economic and social justice. Progressives were
optimistic and forward-looking. They generally did not seek to restore the rural America of
the past, but rather they accepted liberalization and industrialization. They hailed the
benefits of the machine age but sought to correct its evils.
1. Political Reforms. Shocked by the sorry state of everyday politics, Progressives planned
(a) to wipe out such practices as graft, machine politics, and business domination of
government, and (b) to set up political procedures to assure the people closer control over
the government. The remedy for the evils of democracy, Progressives believed, is more
democracy.
2. Social and Economic Reforms. Appalled by the poverty afflicting many Americans,
progressives planned (a) to eliminate practices harming farmers 7 workers, tenement
dwellers, and consumers, and (b) to expand government regulation over our economy so as
to further the public interest.
SOURCES OF PROGRESSIVE STRENGTH
1. Farmers. Although they had abandoned the Populist Party, farmers retained the Populist
heritage. They wanted tighter regulation of railroads, lower tariffs, and easier credit.
2. Urban Middle Classes. Many professional people, shop owners, and small businessmen
were alarmed by the power of giant trusts and political machines. They favored lower tariffs,
more government regulation of industry, and the extension of democracy.
3. Workers. Laborers looked to the government for laws regulating work by women and
children, protecting workers from dangerous machinery, and easing the financial hardships
caused by industrial accidents.
4. Writers. Men of letters critically analyzed American society and indicated the need for
reform. These writers included Frank Norris, Gustavus Myers, Ida Tarbell, Ray Stannard
Baker, Upton Sinclair, and Lincoln Steffens; they are generally known as muckrakers.
5. Political Leaders. Progressives were found not only in the short-lived Progressive Party
of 1912, but more significantly in both major parties. Progressive leaders achieved office and
furthered reform at all three levels of government.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENT
Political Reform
a. City and State Action
(1) Direct primaries enabled voters rather than party bosses to nominate candidates.
(2) Initiative and referendum provided voters with a greater voice in making laws.
(3) Recall enabled voters to oust an unsatisfactory elected public official.
(4) The Australian (secret) ballot.
(5) Municipal and state civil service examinations.
b. Federal Action
(1) Direct election of Senators (17th Amendment, 1913).
(2) Women’s suffrage (19th Amendment, 1920).
Social and Economic Reform
a. City and State Action
(1) State regulation of intrastate railroads and public utilities.
(2) Consumer protection laws.
(3) Labor laws set minimum age for employment, prohibited children from working in
dangerous occupations, and set minimum wages and maximum working hours for all
workers.
(4) Welfare benefits for dependent children, widows and the aged.
(5) Factory inspection laws improved sanitation, lighting, and safety, and Workmen's
compensation laws protected workers and their families in case of on-the-job accidents.
b. Federal Action
(1) Expanded federal regulation of railroads, industrial combinations, and banks.
(2) Conservation measures preserved America's natural resources.
(3) Consumer protection laws required pure foods and drugs.
(4) Federal Income tax as a revenue source for programs and a means of redistribution of
wealth (16th Amendment, 1913).
(5) Legitimate union activities were exempted from antitrust prosecution.
WEAKNESSES OF THE PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENT
1. Uneven Pattern of Reform. In some states, the Progressives achieved very little--in
other states, with vigorous leaders, the Progressives achieved much. The leading
progressive states included New York, New Jersey, California, Oregon, Michigan, Ohio, and
Wisconsin.
2. Court Roadblocks. The courts at first held illegal considerable progressive legislation
affecting economic matters such as minimum wages for women. The states claimed that
such laws were a valid exercise of the states' police powers." The courts, however,
frequently ruled that such laws violated the "due process" clause of the Fourteenth
Amendment.
3. Survival of Political Machines. The Progressives failed to end the power of political
machines. Party bosses learned to evade the reform laws. The Progressives were unable
permanently to overcome public apathy, which continued to be the greatest enemy of
successful democratic government.
DISAPPEARANCE -OF THE PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENT
By the early 1920's, progressivism had died out because many progressive reforms had
become law and the public had lost its enthusiasm for further reforms. Also, the American
people had -turned their attention from domestic matters to foreign affairs with the coming of
World War I. After the war, Americans were tired of public affairs and looked on reform with
apathy.
HERITAGE OF THE PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENT
(1) The Progressives promoted the belief that government has the reasonability to act for the
people's welfare. The Progressive Era marked the transition from laissez-faire to
government regulation of the economy.
(2) The Progressives demonstrated the ability of our democratic institutions to meet
problems arising out of urbanization and industrialization. Further, they showed the need for
tackling such problems on the city and state levels as well as on the federal level.
(3) The Progressives believed that a President should provide strong and effective national
leadership. This concept was illustrated, for the first time since the days of Abraham Lincoln,
by both progressive Presidents: Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson.
ROOSEVELT ADMINISTRATION: 1901-1908 (REPUBLICAN)
Roosevelt's Views
Strong Leadership. Focused public attention upon national problems and won public support
for progressive solutions.
"Square Deal." Roosevelt believed that the government should (1) assure honesty and
fairness in both government and business, and (2) give greater economic opportunity to the
individual.
Roosevelt's Relationship to Progressivism. Roosevelt did not create the progressive
movement, but he supported many progressive reforms as essential to save our democratic,
capitalist system. He opposed Socialists and other radicals who urged an end of private
enterprise. At the same time, Roosevelt condemned men of wealth who resisted change and
who abused their power.
Roosevelt Provides Vigorous Government
Curbing "Bad" Trusts. Roosevelt insisted that big business adjust to the public welfare.
Roosevelt approved "good" trusts but condemned "bad" trusts. In 1902 Roosevelt instituted an
antitrust suit against the Northern Securities Company. Roosevelt won dissolution of this
monopoly by a 5-to-4 decision of the Supreme Court. Roosevelt hailed the decision as
indicating the power of the federal government to regulate business combinations.
Settling the Anthracite Coal Strike (1902). The United Mine Workers went out on strike in
1902. Roosevelt summoned mine owners and Union leaders to the White House. The Union
offered to submit the issues to arbitration, but the mine owners refused. When Roosevelt
threatened to seize the mines, the owners agreed to accept a Presidential arbitration
commission. Roosevelt emerged as a friend of labor. Also, by settling the strike, Roosevelt
established a precedent for expanded Presidential powers.
Conserving Natural Resources. Roosevelt (1) increased substantially the national reserves
of forests, coal lands, and waterpower sites, (2) secured passage of the Newlands Act (1902)
to finance irrigation projects, (3) encouraged the conservation efforts of the Forest Service,
directed by the able Gifford Pinchot, and (4) in 1908 summoned a Governors' Conference at
the White House to spur conservation.
Important Domestic Legislation
Laws
Purposes
Newlands Act, (1902)
Finance construction of irrigation dams.
Pure Food and Drug Act
(1906)
Protect the consumer.
Meat Inspection Act (1906) Protect the consumer.
Hepburn Act (1906)
Expand the powers of the Interstate Commerce Commission.
TAFT ADMINISTRATION: 1909-1913 (REPUBLICAN)
Election of 1908. Promising to continue Roosevelt's policies and benefiting from Roosevelt's
support, Taft wins the election.
Taft: Background and Personality. He recognized the need for further progressive reforms,
but due to his limited view of the President's role he came to be viewed as a conservative and
not as a Progressive.
Taft Antagonizes the Progressives
Tariff Issue. Taft wanted Congress to lower tariff rates. However, the resulting Payne-Aldrich
Tariff raised rates. Taft not only supported this but also praised the tariff as the “best ever”.
This alienated progressive Republicans.
Conservation Issue. Taft supported his Secretary of the Interior, Richard Ballinger, in a
conservation controversy with Roosevelt's friend, Gifford Pinchot, head of the Forest Service.
Although Taft favored conservation, his role in this controversy widened the breach between
Taft and the progressives, who favored Pinchot.
Split Between Taft and Roosevelt. While Taft moved closer to the Republican Old Guard,
Roosevelt voiced support for the Republican insurgents. They became bitter enemies. In 1912
Roosevelt challenged Taft for the Republican Presidential nomination.
Accomplishments of the Taft Administration.
(1) Taft instituted twice as many antitrust suits as "trust buster" Roosevelt.
(2) Congress proposed the Sixteenth Amendment for a national income tax, and the
Seventeenth Amendment for the direct election of Senators.
(3) Congress increased the powers of the Interstate Commerce Commission.
IMPORTANT DOMESTIC LEGISLATION
(1) The Payne-Aldrich Tariff Act (1909) maintained high import duties.
(2) The Mann-Elkins Act (1910) authorized the Interstate Commerce Commission to regulate
telephone and telegraph companies.
WILSON ADMINISTRATION: 1913-1921 (DEMOCRAT) THE "NEW FREEDOM"
Election of 1912
Wilson's and Roosevelt's programs were similar: greater political democracy and more social
and economic reforms. Roosevelt and Wilson differed in that Wilson favored lower tariffs,
opposed business consolidation, and urged the government to break up giant corporations.
Wilson's Views
Strong Leadership. Believing that the President of the United States should give the country
strong leadership, Wilson utilized his Presidential powers to the fullest.
"New Freedom": A Progressive Program. New Freedom sought to preserve and strengthen
our democratic, capitalistic society by progressive reforms: lower tariffs, an improved banking
system, stronger regulation of business, and protection for unions and workers.
Election of 1916. Wilson won reelection with the slogan "He kept us out of the war."
Nevertheless, in 1917 the United States entered World War I. As Americans turned their
energies from reforms to war, the Progressive Era came to an end.
Important Domestic Legislation
LAWS
PURPOSES
Underwood Tariff Act
(1913)
Reduce tariff rates; institute an income tax.
Federal Reserve Act
(1913)
Create an effective national banking system.
Clayton Act (1914)
Strengthen antitrust regulations; exempt unions from antitrust
suits; limit injunctions in labor disputes.
Federal Trade Commission
Prevent unfair business practices.
Act (1914)