Chapter 21: Progressivism

Chapter 21: Progressivism

1. What was Progressivism, and which groups spearheaded the movement?

Simply put, Progressivism was a reformation movement. With a goal to cleanse and rejuvenate the America they saw in political and societal declination. Retaining a libertarian aspect, they fought prostitution, gambling, drinking and other vices. They made their first appearances ousting crooked mayors and breaking up local monopolies. They believed in having an active government to identify and resolve political, economic and social wrongs. Originating from a group of reformers and those who gathered around the lead of Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson.

2. What were the key similarities and differences in the progressive politics of Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson?

Both presidents’ had a significant role in the progressive era, rejuvenating and reforming the societal and political flaws in America. Wilson was a democrat while Roosevelt was a republican, Wilson sought to break trusts where Roosevelt sought to regulate and increase power in the ICC, Roosevelt was an advocate of war and Wilson was not, Roosevelt fought to increase wages for miners. Both presidents’ gave hope to African Americans, re-evaluated the tariff act, and reformed the economic system establishing the Federal Reserve act for more federal banks and currency.

3. Why did Anti-Alcohol ideas gain momentum in the Progressive era?

By definition itself, the progressive movement sought to reform, rejuvenate, and abolish all vices including alcohol which they saw similar too prostitution. It was a cultural conservatism with similar attitudes seen in Jane Addams and others on female sexuality. They saw alcohol as an unmitigated evil that caused violence and fights; they sought to shut down the saloons. Evidently the immigrants opposed the prohibition movement, as they did not desire to be "reformed".

4. What did Progressive reformers mean by a 'virtuous electorate'?

Progressive reformers were on the brink of shifting America into the new generation. They sought to disenfranchise the voters who were deemed vulnerable to corruption and coercion. They wanted to build an electorate pool of citizens who understood the significance of their vote and were deterred from intimidation and coercion. By doing such, the government has great power over regulating the elections.

5. Which states granted women the right to vote prior to the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment?

Wyoming
Colorado
Utah
Idaho
Washington
California
Arizona
Kansas
Oregon
Montana
Nevada
New York
Michigan
Oklahoma
South Dakota 

6. Why were public lands protected by Progressive administrations?

During the conversationalist movement and the apex of Roosevelt’s presidency, Roosevelt sought to preserve America’s roots and destiny by establishing 5 national parks in the west. Not only that but he appointed the Public lands commission to survey, inventory and regulate the use of lands. Not only that, but he also authorized scientists to take place of the politicians in the distribution of land as an objective scientific aspect of distribution is preferred over political connection leading to corruption and misuse of public lands for monopolies.

7. Why did Roosevelt challenge for the Presidency in 1912?

Roosevelt originally found Taft as his secretary of war and ideal successor. They worked together on foreign and domestic and policies. When Taft's candidacy for president challenged and was detrimental his competitor, Roosevelt quickly announced his own candidacy.

Terms:

Muckrakers:

At the epicenter of realizing America's dilemmas, this class exposed the foundation of vices and issues the Progressivism era sought to reform. Members of the Muckrakers or investigative journalists sent corrupt government officials to jail by putting pressure on the city and state government. They also sought out to expose and prosecute sources of vice and corruption. As a result, the government became involved launching several investigations on prostitution and the "Trusts" or the power in the hands of large industries and financiers.

Billy Sunday:

Significant for being one of the precedent "ministers of reform", Billy Sunday grew up in the middle class and felt outcast by his society. Amongst many others, Billy was raised in a protestant home. Evidently, he was expected to be a minister and did in fact become one of the most theatrical evangelical priests of his day opposing saloons and the liquor trust. However he was also a major league baseball player.

Jane Addams:

Amidst the progressive era where all vices and corruption had seemed to plague society, Jane Addams and Ellen Starr established the first settlement house. They provided food, education, entertainment, and many other social services to the community. They also inspired many young extraordinary women to enlist. Their services included a nursery for mothers, a penny savings bank, employment bureau and several social clubs. This in turn widened the reformers circle of talented intellectuals, artist, and politicians to contribute to their enterprise.

Mann Act:

Reformers of the progressive era, specifically feminists sought to equate female sexuality and abolish prostitution. These attitudes carried on through Jane Addams and many other zealous feminists. Unfortunately, the problem was exaggerated leading to questionable legislation, The Mann act of 1910. This act made it illegal to transport a woman across state lines for immoral purposes, or rather prostitution and human trafficking. However it also enable government interference in private consenting sexual relation of adults. This further pushed into attitudes opposing alcohol and saloons.

17th Amendment:

Preceding the Progressive era, populist proposed direct election of US senators and initiative and referendum. Initiative enabled the right to put in legislative proposals to voters in the general elections without having the state legislatures to act. Referendum gave voters in general election to repeal an unpopular to act that a state legislature had passed. It essentially mandated the direct election of senator by general voters, balancing political honesty and strengthening the vote of citizens.

Australian Ballot:

In the progressive era government regulation of citizens societal, economic, and political influence toward a better and reformed America was essential. Aside from the many vices, voting had also become corrupt, lobbyists would bribe voters with offerings of alcohol, food, and other objects to steer their vote. However the government adopted the secret ballot in which each voter was required to vote in private under the supervision of a party official eliminating the chance of a bribed vote. This was revolutionary in the fact that the secret ballot was predated to the progressive era.

NAACP:Seeking to better America into a modern day land of opportunity, many progressives realized the inequality and discriminatory barriers set to deter African Americans and those of color. Immigrants and African Americans struggled for societal and political equality. However Du Bois and many young black activists met at Niagara Falls to announce their political agenda, demanding the right to vote and the abolishment of segregation. Later on the Springfield riot of 1908 shook up several whites. In order to sufficiently fight racial prejudice and discrimination the progressives established the National Association of Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Essentially the NAACP marked the beginning of the modern civil rights movement. Not only did gain a list of employment opportunities, but it also enable housing, and eased the adjustment of rural migrants.

18th Amendment:

In the attempts to rejuvenate America and cleanse society of all vices and corruption, the 18th amendment was set in place. It consists of three sections. The first prohibits the transportation, sale, and manufacturing of alcohol. The second justifies the power for congress to enforce the article under appropriate legislation. The third, exclaims that the article is only effective if established as an amendment and processed and approved to the constitution by the legislature of several states. Essentially this disable the use of alcoholic beverages and brought the attitude seen by Jane Addams and many feminists had toward prostitution to alcohol and saloon. Evidently immigrants rejected this attempt of reformation.

Volstead Act:

During the progressive era negative attitudes toward liquor began. Liquor was seen as an intoxicated vice that had to be abolished. Wayne Wheeler sought to abolish the liquor monopoly by approaching the saloons. He later collected several members for his anti-saloon league and managed to gain enough votes to approve the 18the amendment restricting the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcohol.

NAWSA:

During the late 19th century the women's rights movement lead to a group of suffragists coming together to form the National American Women's Suffrage Association. With the ratification of the 19th amendment they saw to fight for the rights and equality of women. Although it had been established that men and women were equal, NAWSA tried to exclaim that women were different. Rather, that they possessed a moral nurturing quality that men lacked.

19th Amendment:

Square Deal:

Evidently, during the industrial era, much of the workers suffered long workday, terrible working condition, and insufficient wages. However, President Roosevelt amidst the progressive era took initiative. He displayed such by protecting the economically weak, specifically the coal miners of PA. When miners demanded recognition of their union (UMW) and were rejected they went on strike. Roosevelt then summoned the president of the company and managed to get them to go along with the requests. The fact that the federal government ordered employers to compromise with employees gained a vast amount of support. Essentially he used the slogan a square deal as the epitome of helping working class Americans.

'Trust-Buster':

During his presidency, Roosevelt pursued several monopolies and became the first American president to utilize the Sherman Anti-trust act to break up business monopolies. He ordered the justice department to prosecute the Northern Securities companies, a 400 million dollar monopoly that controlled all railroad lines. As a result JP Morgan rushed to the white house told him "if we have done anything wrong, send you man to man and we can fix it" and Roosevelt said, "there will be no fixing".

ICC:

As Roosevelt sought to extend government regulation of economic affairs, he proposed to give the government power to set shipping rates on railroads, eliminate the markets discriminatory practices. The ICC is a regulatory body established by Congress in 1887 that the courts had weakened to a point of futility. However Roosevelt managed to increase ICC's power through the Hepburn act.

Ballinger-Pinchot controversy:

After Roosevelt's administration had bought acres of land under federal protection, Richard Ballinger released 1 million acres for private commercial use. As a result, this raised the suspicion of the progressives. Gifford Pinchot then obtained info of Ballinger selling Alaskan coal deposits to private syndicates. He also discovered that Ballinger profited from the sale to Taft. Taft defended him but his hopes were shattered when Roosevelt returned.

Bull Moose:

Bull moose was used as an adjective to define Roosevelt's persistence and strength. His candidacy in 1912 gained many supporters whom called themselves bullmoosers. However they knew that their mission was futile, as they had to gain the approval of many Republican insurgents that were skeptical to begin with.

Federal Reserve Act:

The Federal Reserve act was the most significant law passed in president's Wilson's administration. It established 12 regional banks under the control of the private banks in its region. It also required every bank to deposit 6% on average of its assets to the regional federal bank in order to issue federal notes and loans. Not only that, but it eased flow, demand, and distress of credit under any situation. This system strengthened the nation's financial structure, but it seemed as if Wilson was retreating from his New Freedom pledge.

New Nationalism:

During his Presidency, Wilson not only fought to eliminate the monopolization of large industries, but he also made things easier on the middle class.  Wilson supported the Federal Trade commission, which governmentally regulated the industrial behavior, in such terms Wilson became known as a new nationalist. He also denied the insistence of the implementation of the Clay Antitrust act that exempted antitrust prosecutions toward labor and farmer organizations, all in all his left wing strategy aided his re-election in 1916.

Upton Sinclair:

Detachment, skepticism, and objectivity are the characteristics America's middles class sought as they grew intellectually. It was a movement toward realism; they criticized the emulation of European styles and demanded reconstruction of their modern day literature. Inevitably Artist, philosophers, and novelists were reinventing themselves toward a truer and more integral representation of American society. One of the significant contributors was Upton Sinclair, a famous novelist.

Chapter 20: An Industrial Society 1890-1920

Chapter 20: An Industrial Society 1890-1920

1. How did corporations and workers respond to the social and economic turmoil of the late 19th century?

Evidently during the late 19th century the depression had begun to fade away as corporations and workers began to advance technologically. Railroads were built from country to country, factories eliminated unemployment, skyscrapers signified the newly revolutionized production and employment. The internal combustion engine began what is known as today's car. It began as Ford's dream to one day has an automobile society beginning with his affordable Model T. The automobile industry exploded and nearly quadrupled over the years creating was also known as today's assembly line. However production was not the only aspect that had advanced, management too branched off in sophisticated sectors that efficiently managed the workers of big industries. Later on, corporations began approaching management techniques more scientifically.

2. What is meant by the term  'scientific management?

Management had become essential in a time of vast economic and technological advancement. Corporations established a hierarchy to efficiently manage the employees and industries. However one man had a vision of perfection, to reduce the amount of down time and utilize the machines and skilled/unskilled laborers for mass production. Frederick Winslow Taylor examined each and every human task with great analysis, observing "Time and motion" to evaluate each action performed and it's duration. Scientific management was essentially a revolutionized paradigm of the conventional management of laborers.

3. Why were Americans concerned about physical fitness in the 1890's and what remedies did they seek?

In 1899 Theodore Roosevelt wrote an essay "the strenuous life", where he emphasized the importance in testing ones physical strength and endurance through competitive sports as well as recreational activities; hiking, hunting, climbing, running, etc. This articulated a way of life that not only the wealthy elites but also the middle class of America adopted and cherished. Such heightened enthusiasm set the streets for bicyclists, runners, competitive sports, physical fitness, and outdoor activities. Women even began to lose their corsets and dresses to wear more comfortable sportier apparel.

4. In what ways were immigrants welcomed and in what ways did Americans attempt to bar the entry of migrants in this period?

During the late 19th century, the technological and economic growth had become exponential. European and Asian immigrants had suffered from poverty, religious execution, and industrialization that diminished their market and rural areas. As a result, immigrants sought to utilize the "land of opportunity" to attain a higher economic standing. Many had a mindset of returning, as they did not see Americas as home. This explained the vast immigration of men as opposed to women and children. However, racial prejudice did in fact bar much of a specific group of immigrants. The Chinese exclusion act of 1882 restricted Americas two largest migrant groups from settling, Japanese and Chinese.

Terms:

Henry Ford:

Beginning as an eccentric 37-year-old mechanic who built race cars, Tom ford had a dream to create an automobile civilization. Soon enough he produced his first Model T that was affordable and reliable enough to travel hundreds of miles without a single service. Inevitably his car sold by the millions and he watched his dream come true. Amongst the simplification and advancement of transportation came benefits in the job market. His stimulus to the economy nearly eliminated unemployment as well as he built several factories to produce the many materials and resources required to produce his cars. Through out the factories the first assembly line was also established simplifying the efficiency of production amongst workers and specialized laborers.

James Buchanan Duke:

During a time domestic markets had much potential but could not market or distribute adequately, James Duke set the example with his aggressive methods. Renown for being America's smoking tobacco manufacturer, James duke transformed the cigarette into one of the best selling commodities. He invested greatly in Bonsack cigarette machines that produced vast amounts  of about 120k cigarettes a day. To correlate with his vast production of products he set out regional sales officers and sales representatives to disperse the market throughout the country. As a result, sales sky rocketed and in order to sustain the high demand, Duke merged with four competitors to make American Tobacco Company.

J.P. Morgan:

An investment banker of the late 19th century and early 20th century who possessed capital and financial skills to engineer complex stock transfers and renegotiations for mergers. He worked with Andrew Carnegie to reform the U.S. Steel Corp.

Frederick Winslow Taylor:

Gospel of wealth:

Originally coined and epitomized by the steel baron, Andrew Carnegie, he essentially established for the wealthy that all income in excess of necessities were to be a "trust fund" for their community. Andrew himself withdrew from his company and continued his philanthropic ventures as he set the example for several other renowned philanthropists.

Old immigrants:

A term that came into play in the late 19th century to distinguish between the incoming immigrants and those who had settle prior to 1880. They were referred to as racially fit, culturally sophisticated, and politically mature. They came from Northwestern Europe: Great Britain, Scandinavia, and Germany.

New Immigrants:

A term that came into play in the late 19th century to distinguish between the incoming immigrants and those who had settle prior to 1880. They were referred to as racially inferior, culturally impoverished, and incapable of assimilating to American culture/traditions. However both came for the same reasons, they were either being religious persecute or need to escape from their falling economy.

Chinese Exclusion Act:

With the vast flow of immigrants, and the two most common and growing being the Japanese and Chinese; in 1882 the U.S. government excluded immigration of Chinese/Japanese laborers into the US. The exclusions carried on until the 1950's. The rural population grew faster in those countries than the labor requirements of the agricultural sector. Essentially they had similar motive to the European to flee the country.

AFL:

Essentially a union within a union, the American Federation of Labor fought for the rights, working conditions, and wages of skilled laborers. It's president, Samuel Gompers, led the way to much growth as many unskilled laborers and unions joined. They emphasized bread and butter issues and had prejudice against blacks and unskilled laborers.

IWW:

As the AFL failed to organize the laborers, immigrants sought out to find other unions. One of the most significant led by "big bill" was the Industrial Workers of the World. It rejected AFL's principle of craft organization and countered with the hope of one big union. Against capitalism, IWW refused to sign employer agreements stating that it would further benefit the capitalist system and trap workers into capitalist properties that should have been overthrown. The Ludlow massacre and IWW protests that occurred exemplified that the workers and employers did not yet have a way of peacefully resolving their dilemmas.

Margaret Sanger:

A social activists, feminist, author of "Woman Rebel, and advocate of birth control, lectured women to enjoy sexual relations without worrying of pregnancy. Amongst one of the first feminists she was put on trial for dispersing her advocating of birth control via mail.

Chapter 19: Economic Change and the Crisis of the 1890's

Chapter 19: Economic Change and the Crisis of the 1890's

1. What were the demands of the Knights of Labor?

Higher wages, shorter hours, better working conditions, bread and butter goals of working ppl. Collective bargaining with employers. Giving unskilled and semi-skilled workers union representation.

2. Why did Labor unions suffer a backlash?

During the 1800's Labor Unions including the Knights of Labor provoked several protests one of which had catastrophic consequences, the Haymarket riot at which four people were killed. Tragically skilled artisans had noticed an alarming trend that the employed were working for their wages rather than their product. In other words the quality and talent had begun to be in rarity.

3. What provoked the farmer protest movements in the last third of the 19th century?

During the last third of the 19th century there was a plague of grasshoppers, dry cycles and abnormal weather that forced farmers to move east. Not only that but the wholesale price index of 2 major commodities declined by 45%, wheat and cotton. Long periods of price deflation exacerbated the problem of credit. The dual currency between Greenbacks and Gold deviated and would not stay on par further pushing credit problems. Banks began to cut circulation of silver to decrease coinage infuriating the people.

4. What issues were at stake in the contest between 'free silver' and the 'gold buggy'?

The ratio was 16:1 but new discoveries of gold in the west just after 1848 increased the circulation of gold leaving silver severely undervalued. Anti-deflationist were enraged calling the "the crime of 1873" as they believed it was a conspiracy to destroy the people's money, silver, and benefit the banker's money, gold. Ironically several silver mines were discovered later but the deflation still plagued the people dropping the ratio to 20:1. The Sherman silver purchase act of 1890 greatly increased silver coinage but favored "gold bugs" and did not retain the original 16:1 ratio.

5. Explain the rise and fall of the Populist Party?

The farmers alliance worked toward developing their own political agenda. They made several demands that seemed radical at the time. In anticipation of rejection of their demands, the farmers alliance was eager to create a third party, the populist party. They called for government ownership of railroads, limitless coinage of silver at original rate of 16:1. However they did not receive the amount of votes needed.

6. What were effects of growth of American cities and an American Middle class?

Tragically during the industrialization era much of the wealth was not evenly distributed. The rich got richer and the poor reached poverty. Working conditions were adverse and injuries were severe. What was known as America's middle class had slow ceased to exist.

Terms:

Knights of Labor:

The principle Labor organization in the 1880s. Originally founded in 1869 in Philadelphia as a secret fraternal society. Under the leadership of Terrence Powderly, a machinist by trade, the knights abandoned secrecy in 1879 and emerged as a potent national federation of unions or assemblies. Most of the assemblies organized by industry as opposed to craft allowing many semiskilled and unskilled workers union representation for the first time.

Haymarket riot:

During a time of labor radicalism in Chicage, a new Socialist Labor Party arose. 4/5's being foreign born, the members embraced anarchism and seeked to overthrow the capitalist system. Hostile to labor organizers and protesters, the people quickly responded to the strike to attain the 8 hour workday on May 1,1886. Evidently much brutality and havoc arose from an anarchist meeting at the Haymarket square on May 4 as a bomb was thrown the police opened fire. 60 were injured leaving the 8 anarchists to trial for conspiracy and murder. Seven were convicted and one committed suicide. Due to their opposition of the wage system, the Knights of Labor were also caught in the backlash. As a result a new Labor organization was recorded, American Federation of Labor, they accepted the capitalist and wage system and seeked to better the conditions of worker, gain higher wage, less hours, and more safety. 

Henry George:

Member of the Knights of Labor and renowned for his best selling book "Progress and poverty"; Henry George brought the contrast of wealth and poverty to the societys attention. He exclaimed the phenomena as a result of "land monopoly" and promoted the "single tax". He believed that 100% tax on the purchase price of an estate and the market value  "capital gains" would resolve the issue. Henry George was a very influential man and struck the minds of many when he ran for mayor, his emphasized flaws in  labor.

Homestead Strike:

During a time that the middle class fearing that America was falling apart, Strikes became much more prevalent. One of the most infamous of strikes occured at the Homestead plant, Carnegie Steel Company. Along with his plant manager Henry Frick, Carnegie sought to break the union ofthe Amalgamared Association of Iron, Steel and Tin Workers. The issue lied on the working condition and wages, Frick seeked to lockout the union by disputiong over the dilemmas. However a full scale gun battle occurered when the uninon decided to have a sitdown and Frick's 300 pinkerton  guards ousted them. Much public sympathy occurred but faded away when an anarchist attempted to assasinate Frick. Another strike occured shortly after and destroy the succesor of Carnegie steel, "US Steel". The Homestead strike led to a serious weakening of unionism in the steel industry until the 1930s.

Coxey's Army:

During the depression and much political controversy about the American monetary system, unemployment was on the rise.  However one Ohio reformer had an idea 40 years ahead of it's time. He began a living petition dubbed "coxes army" a group of unemployed men to march the railroads. Unfortunately his efforts of relieving unemployment through public was deemed futile despite it's vast attention.

Sherman Silver Purchase Act:

During the depression of the 1890's much discoveries of gold were noted. As a result the value of silver dropped dramatically. However Senator John Sherman came with a resolution to increase the frequency at which government purchased silver. This became known as the silver purchase act and enabled nearly unlimited coinage of the silver dollar. Due to the monthly increase in coinage, the future of the gold standard became uncertain causing a run on the gold treasury.

Farmer's Alliance:

In the late 19th century a new farmers organization came to place. They sought to set up marketing cooperatives to "eliminate the middleman" and fought to serve the needs of farmer families. Their vast political agenda later on became law: "1. Graduated income tax. 2. Direct election of US senators as opposed to state legistlature. 3. Free and unlimited coinage of silver at 16:1 4. Effective government control, owenrship of railroad, telegraph, and telephone companies if necessary. 5. the establishment of federal warehouses or subtreasuries for storage of crops, with government loans at 2%" Farmers greatly favored to store their crops to account for fluctuation of market prices and government loans to pay their annual debts. Inevitably, they expected rejection of their demands and established the people's party, a group of populists that sought reformation. However the 2 party systems failed to respond the issues of the 1890s.

William Jennings Bryan:

A significant unexpected presidential candidate, William Bryan uplifted people and compelled much applause upon his peroration. He spoke and sought to resolve the cause of free silver. He was a one-term congressman and reshaped the political landscape at the time. His platform emphasized free silver, income tax, and disabled government order against labor. Much of this built conflict with the populists.