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P- Politics 1890-1912 (Progressivism) x (Theodore Roosevelt and…
P- Politics 1890-1912 (Progressivism) x
Meaning
not confined to one main party as Roosevelt and Taft were Republican and Wilson was Democrat but all were progressive
De Witt published in 1913
Progressives were interested in the reform of big business, political and social reform
Chambers
Progressivism - interventionist - direct intervention at state and federal level could improve society
Major constitutional changes
regulation of working hours
votes for women
Radical Reforms to the role of the federal governemnt
Why did it emerge?
Economic problems
recession of 1893
employment sat at 12% for the rest of the 1890's
Businesses cut wages meaning a fall in living standards
Banks collapsed and people lost their savings
Agriculture continued to decline due to falling prices and the farmers in the North Eats could not compete with large scale farming of the West
Social Problems
many lived in poverty
living standards was due to overcrowding , lack of proper sewage systems and lack of clean water
no restriction on working hours with six day 72 hour working week the usual
No welfare system
Need for Political Reform
Dissatisfaction with the 2 main political parties
Democrats in the South seen as very conservative
Republicans now seen the party of big business
Progressives were opposed to corrupt party machines and business domination of the political process
Need to regulate big business
late 19th C big business and trusts became powerful and threatened to establish monopolies
monopolies = fixed prices without fear of competition
increasing hostility towards Rockerfella Morgan and Carnegie who put their profits above the interests of the masses
growing demand for government regulation
Influence of the media
Early 20th C huge increase in newspaper and magazine circulation
1904 McClures magazine was selling 750,000 copies
1912 Colliers was selling 1 million copies per edition
press exposed the evils of American society's
1902 McClure's magazine exposed the political and business corruption in cities
writers such as Ida Tarbell, Lincoln Steffens and Upton Sinclair wrote 'muckraking articles'
Fear of Revolution
growth of socialism and the Trade unions
Militant union actions such as strikes often turing violent ie 1892 steelworkers strike in Pittsburgh
progressiveness is seen as a middle class movement from middles class professions ie lawyers and Dr
Middle class were scared
Aims
Political
constitutional changes ie women's vote and senators having direct elections
greater role of federal government in economy society and regulating big business
Radical Reform of management of towns and cities controlled by corrupt officials were progressives wanted a more open democratic system
Changes to political parties that were dominated by a few wealthy business men who controlled candidate nominations up to the president - wanted open primary election
Open Primary Election= early stage in voting allowing the whole electorate to vote on candidates for election rather than the party choosing
Economic
That business was ran in the interest of the whole community not just rich individuals
Gov control of banks insurance companies and stock market
Legislation to ensure the recognition of trade unions
Legislation that wold regulate hours of work and provide compensation for injury at work
insurance schemes for illness or old age unemployment
laws to provide consumer protectiopn against adulterated food
Change currency to involve silver - raise farmer prices and reduce the power of the trusts and big business
Social
Female emancipation 1890 National American Suffrage Association
poor living and working conditions as well as the extent of poverty in the USA- gov wanted to provide safety net of a welfare state
Abolition of the manufacture and sale of alcohol. 1893 the Anti-Saloon league was founded campaigning for prohibition
Reforms to help AA who moved North to escape poverty and were treated as second-class citizens experiencing poor living standards
Theodore Roosevelt and Progressivism
President in 1901 after the assassinationm of McKinley
Some see him as a reactionary that supported reforms
criticised by liberals for being cautious and criticised by many of his part for being too radical
made the federal governemtn take a role in the economy
Gave impetus and publicity to the progressive movement
Progressive measures
First state of the union adress in 1901 made it clear he was taking on big business
Antitrust measures
Sherman antitrust act of 1890 more effective
1902 C.Knox was to start preceedings against Norther Securities company that controlled several railroads
took on powerful business men Rockerfella and JP Morgan who used monopoly to make excessive profits
Supream Court decided in 1904 the Company was illigal and it was dissolved
Roosevelt embarked on 44 anti-trust prosecutions among them American Tobacco and Standard Oil
1903 the department of cmmerce and albour Act created itself a Cabient and Secretariet
given the power to collect data from any business in interstate commerce
Roosevelt played an important role getting this passed encouraging the public to pressure senators and Congressmen
1906 Hpburn Act gave the federal gov power to inspect the books of railroad companies to lay down max rates
Labour Relations
Rooselvelt was prpared to intervene in industrial disputes ie coal strike 1902
Employers locked miners out who went on strike for better wages and 8 hr day
Roosevelt summoned both sides to Washington by telling the employers if they didnt he would send in troops
Employers settled on raising wages and a 9 hour working day
previous presidents always chose the employers side but Roosevelt was bothered about justice
made him popular to the working classes but employees simply increased prices to cover the wage increase
Conservation
the first president to realise that natural resources were not infinate
ordered 150 million acres of forest onto federal reserves
extended the role of governemnt in food consumption
1906 federal program of meat inspection
1906 Pure Food and Drug act started to end the process of food adulteration
1908 set up the National Conservation conference
By supporting conservation people saw him as supporting the people against th minding timber and oil industrys
Achievements
last few years of second administration ( 1906-08) continued with action against big business and conseration
120 million acres taken into the public domain between 1905-1909
His final State of union message in 1908 set an agender his democratic successor should practise
genuine concern for the underdog
Presidental office of the USA officially into the arena of social and economic reform
negatives
unable to pursuade congress to pass more reforms
couldnt stop the divide in the republic PArty between conservaties and progressives
Taft 1909-1912
Roosevelt was popular in popular in 1908 adn would have won a 3rd term but respected Washingtons 2 term tradition
Successor was William Taft who fought against bryan and won
Achievemetns
anti-trust policies , initiated 80 in his time 2 times as many as Roosevelt
introduced 8 hr day for governemnt employees
saftey legistaltion for miners
power to the Interstate Commission to set railroad rates
introduced federal income tax and coperation tax- later used to cover increasing governement spending
direct election of senators
unsimilar to Roosevelt
as a lawyer he belived Roosevelt overused presidentail authority
respected the rights of congress and was determined to act within the constitution
Lacked political skills nd faled to hand the progressive conservative divide of the Republicans
Sacked Gifford Pinchot the conservationist appointed under Roosevelt
Alingning himslef with right wing republicans esp over tariff reform
1909 held a debate on tariff reform that lead to the signing ofe the Payne-Aldrich Act that was very weak
many expected him to veto it including Roosevelt
instead he signed and defended it publicly
Opposition from Roosevelt
in 1910 while in Africa Roosevelt heard about Tafts lack of reform and returned from Safari
Acted as a opponant to Taft
speech in Osawatomie where he attacked trusts , urged social reform , supported greater federal power - launching New Nationalism
1911 he ran against Taft but lost due to Tafts controll of the party machien and dominated the convention
Roosevelt after the 1911 failure claimed the Republican party no longer represented the people and in 1912 left to form a new party
clled his new party the Progressives
new party split the Republican vote and was a big reason for their defeat in 1912