🗽US History Unit 21 – Progressive Era: Reform and Change (1890-1920)

Key Events and Timeline

• Progressive Era spanned from 1890s to 1920s marked by widespread social activism and political reform across the United States
• Rapid industrialization and urbanization in the late 19th century led to a host of social, economic, and political problems that Progressives sought to address
• 1890 - Jacob Riis published "How the Other Half Lives" exposing the squalid living conditions in New York City slums
• 1901 - President William McKinley assassinated succeeded by Theodore Roosevelt who became a leading figure in the Progressive movement
  • Roosevelt's "Square Deal" domestic program embodied Progressive ideals of consumer protection, conservation, and trust-busting
• 1906 - Upton Sinclair's novel "The Jungle" published spurring reforms in the meatpacking industry
  • Led to the passage of the Pure Food and Drug Act and Meat Inspection Act
• 1911 - Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in New York City killed 146 workers highlighting the need for improved labor conditions and workplace safety regulations
• 1913 - 16th Amendment ratified establishing a federal income tax
  • 17th Amendment ratified providing for the direct election of U.S. Senators
• 1920 - 19th Amendment ratified granting women the right to vote nationwide marking a significant victory for the women's suffrage movement

Social and Political Reforms

• Progressives sought to address a wide range of social issues including poverty, crime, corruption, women's rights, and racial inequality
• Settlement house movement established community centers in urban areas to provide social services, education, and cultural activities for immigrants and the poor (Hull House in Chicago)
• Women's suffrage movement gained momentum with the formation of the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) in 1890
  • Women played a key role in Progressive reforms particularly in areas such as child labor, public health, and education
• Temperance movement aimed to prohibit the production and sale of alcohol culminating in the passage of the 18th Amendment in 1919
• Muckraking journalists exposed corruption, waste, and social injustices through their investigative reporting (Ida Tarbell, Lincoln Steffens)
• Political reforms aimed to increase citizen participation, weaken the influence of political machines, and curb corruption
  • Initiative, referendum, and recall gave citizens more direct control over legislation and elected officials
  • Primary elections replaced party bosses in selecting candidates for office
• Civil service reform sought to establish a merit-based system for government jobs and reduce political patronage

Economic Changes

• Progressive Era saw significant changes in the American economy as the country shifted from a primarily agrarian to an industrial society
• Rise of big business and monopolies led to concerns about corporate power and the concentration of wealth
  • Antitrust laws such as the Sherman Antitrust Act (1890) and the Clayton Antitrust Act (1914) aimed to promote competition and break up trusts
• Labor movement grew in response to poor working conditions, low wages, and long hours
  • Formation of labor unions such as the American Federation of Labor (AFL) and the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW)
  • Strikes and labor unrest were common (Pullman Strike of 1894, Lawrence Textile Strike of 1912)
• Progressive reformers advocated for improved working conditions, minimum wage laws, and restrictions on child labor
  • Keating-Owen Child Labor Act of 1916 prohibited the sale of goods produced by child labor in interstate commerce (later ruled unconstitutional)
• Federal Reserve System established in 1913 to provide a more stable and flexible banking system
• graduated federal income tax introduced with the passage of the 16th Amendment in 1913 allowing for a more equitable distribution of the tax burden

Key Figures and Movements

• Theodore Roosevelt - 26th U.S. President and a leading figure in the Progressive movement known for his "Square Deal" domestic program and conservation efforts
• Woodrow Wilson - 28th U.S. President who implemented several Progressive reforms including the Federal Reserve Act, the Clayton Antitrust Act, and the Federal Trade Commission
• Jane Addams - Social reformer and founder of Hull House in Chicago a settlement house that provided social services and education to immigrants and the poor
• W.E.B. Du Bois - African American scholar and civil rights activist who co-founded the NAACP and advocated for racial equality
• Upton Sinclair - Journalist and novelist whose book "The Jungle" exposed the unsanitary conditions in the meatpacking industry leading to the passage of the Pure Food and Drug Act and Meat Inspection Act
• Women's suffrage movement - Campaign to secure the right to vote for women led by activists such as Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Alice Paul
  • Culminated in the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920
• Temperance movement - Effort to prohibit the production and sale of alcohol led by organizations such as the Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) and the Anti-Saloon League
  • Led to the passage of the 18th Amendment in 1919 which established Prohibition

Urban vs. Rural America

• Progressive Era saw a growing divide between urban and rural America as the country became increasingly industrialized and urbanized
• Urban areas experienced rapid population growth, immigration, and the emergence of new social and economic problems
  • Overcrowding, poor sanitation, crime, and poverty were common in urban slums
  • Settlement house movement and urban reformers sought to address these issues through social services, education, and political activism
• Rural areas faced challenges such as declining populations, economic instability, and limited access to education and healthcare
  • Populist movement of the 1890s advocated for the interests of farmers and rural communities
  • Progressives aimed to improve rural life through initiatives such as the Country Life Commission and the extension of postal services
• Migration of African Americans from the rural South to urban areas in the North (Great Migration) began during World War I leading to the growth of black urban communities and increased racial tensions
• Urbanization and industrialization led to the emergence of new cultural forms such as jazz music and the rise of mass entertainment (movies, amusement parks)

Immigration and Demographic Shifts

• Progressive Era saw a significant influx of immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe (Italians, Poles, Russians) as well as Asia (Chinese, Japanese)
  • Immigration reached its peak in the early 20th century with over 1 million immigrants arriving annually
• Immigrants often settled in urban areas forming ethnic enclaves and facing challenges such as language barriers, discrimination, and poor living conditions
  • Settlement houses and other organizations provided support and services to immigrant communities
• Nativism and anti-immigrant sentiment grew in response to the large-scale immigration leading to restrictive policies such as the Chinese Exclusion Act (1882) and the Immigration Act of 1917
• Eugenics movement gained popularity during this period promoting pseudo-scientific ideas about racial hierarchy and advocating for selective breeding and immigration restrictions
• Great Migration of African Americans from the rural South to urban areas in the North began during World War I
  • Led to the growth of black urban communities and increased racial tensions
• Demographic shifts and urbanization contributed to changing social norms and cultural attitudes (rise of consumer culture, changing gender roles)

Cultural and Technological Advancements

• Progressive Era saw significant advancements in science, technology, and medicine that transformed American society
• Rise of mass media and communication technologies such as newspapers, magazines, and radio
  • Allowed for the rapid dissemination of information and ideas
  • Contributed to the growth of a national culture and the rise of consumer advertising
• Motion pictures emerged as a new form of mass entertainment with the opening of the first nickelodeon theaters in the early 1900s
  • Silent films became increasingly popular and sophisticated featuring stars such as Charlie Chaplin and Mary Pickford
• Advances in transportation such as the widespread adoption of the automobile and the expansion of the railroad network
  • Model T Ford introduced in 1908 making automobiles more affordable and accessible to the middle class
  • Interurban electric railway systems connected cities and towns facilitating travel and commerce
• Innovations in medicine and public health such as the development of vaccines and the implementation of sanitation measures
  • Reduced the spread of infectious diseases and improved overall health outcomes
• Progressive reformers embraced science and expertise as a means of solving social problems
  • Rise of the social sciences (sociology, psychology) and the application of scientific methods to social issues
• Emergence of modernist art and literature reflecting the changing social and cultural landscape (Ashcan School, Harlem Renaissance)

Legacy and Impact on Modern America

• Progressive Era reforms laid the foundation for many aspects of modern American society and government
• Expansion of federal power and the growth of the regulatory state
  • Established the precedent for government intervention in the economy and social welfare (antitrust laws, labor regulations, social insurance programs)
• Women's suffrage and the growth of the women's rights movement
  • Paved the way for further advances in gender equality such as the women's liberation movement of the 1960s and 1970s
• Foundations of the modern civil rights movement
  • Progressive Era saw the formation of the NAACP and the beginnings of organized efforts to challenge racial discrimination and segregation
• Urbanization and the growth of cities
  • Progressive Era reforms in areas such as public health, housing, and urban planning shaped the development of modern American cities
• Rise of consumer culture and mass media
  • Progressive Era saw the emergence of modern advertising, mass entertainment, and the beginnings of a national consumer culture
• Environmental conservation and the protection of natural resources
  • Theodore Roosevelt and other Progressive reformers established the national park system and advocated for the conservation of public lands
• Continued debates over the role of government in social and economic life
  • Progressive Era marked the beginning of ongoing debates over issues such as government regulation, social welfare, and the balance between individual liberty and the common good