Background
The Progressive Movement (1901-1917) was initiated as a response to political and corporate abuses at the
turn of the Twentieth Century. Religious groups, members of the press, and radical political groups all cried out
for reform, with solutions ranging from subtle reforms of the American capitalist economy, to a call for the
creation of a socialist government. Reforms were initiated by individuals, and at the city (local), state, and
national levels of government.
Early Reform: Amendments
13th (1865) Abolishes slavery and involuntary servitude
14th (1868) Defines citizenship, equal protection, & due process
Prohibits
the
denial
of
suffrage
based
on
race,
color,
or
15th (1870)
previous
condition
of
servitude
A number of social reformers also worked to reform what they viewed as the ills negatively impacting United
States society:
Social Reformers
Pioneer in the field of social work who founded the
Jane settlement house for immigrants Hull House in Chicago,
Addams which provided shelter, clothing, and other resources. She
also helped found the NAACP.
Founded the Tuskegee Institute that focused on teaching
Booker T. African-Americans trade skills to earn a living and gain the
Washington trust of white society. Promoted economics as a means to
equality
Co-founded the NAACP, Du Bois challenged Washington’s
W.E.B. ideas on equality by endorsing education as a means for
Du Bois equality (talented tenth). Promoted Anti-lynching and
anti-Jim Crow Laws.
After the ratification of the 13th, 14th, & 15th Amendments, Homer Plessy agreed
to
be
arrested
to
test
the
1890
law
establishing
"whites
only"
train
cars.
The
judge
at
the
trial
was
John
Howard
Ferguson,
in
Plessy's
case
he
decided
that
the
state
could
choose
to
regulate
railroad
companies
that
operated
only
within
Louisiana.
He
found
Plessy
guilty
of
refusing
to
leave
the
white
car.
Plessy
appealed
to
the
Supreme
Court
of
Louisiana,
which
upheld
Ferguson's
decision.
In
1896,
the
Supreme
Court
of
the
United
States
heard
Plessy's
case
and
found
the
law
constitutional.
Plessy
v.
Ferguson
was
an
1896
decision
by
the
US
Supreme
Court
that
confirmed
the
principle
of
"Separate
but
Equal"
and
minority
segregation.
It
also
established
Jim
Crow
Laws
(enforce
segregation
in
the
south.)
Although
Addams,
Washington,
and
Du
Bois
fought
for
Civil
Rights,
Congress
did
not
make
any
serious
efforts
during
the
Progressive
Era
and
did
not
see
any
major
legislation
changes
until
the
1950s.
Muckrakers
Muckrakers were members of the press that investigated corruption in order to expose problems to the
American people. They had a great amount of influence, often resulting in the passage of laws designed to
reform the abuse that they reported.
These muckrakers recalled the efforts of early reformers who exposed corruption in print. Thomas Nast worked
diligently to expose the abuses of the NYC political machine called Tammany Hall and its leader Boss Tweed
through the use of political cartoons. Jacob Riis exposed the plight of the urban poor and substandard housing in
his 1890 book How the Other Half Lives.
Muckraker Work Subject Results
Political corruption by Tweed was convicted of
NYC's political embezzlement and died
Thomas Political
machine, Tammany in prison.
Nast Cartoons
Hall, led by Boss
Tweed.
How the Other Half Living conditions of NYC passed building
Jacob Riis Lives the urban poor; focused codes to promote safety
(1890) on tenements. and health.
Provided statistics on NAACP joined the fight
Ida B. A Red Record
the lynching of for Federal anti-
Wells (1895)
African-Americans. lynching legislation.
National Child Labor Hine used his camera as
Committee a tool for social reform
Documentary
Lewis commissioned Hine to and were instrumental
Photographer
Hine photo child labor to in changing the child
(1908)
pressure Congress into labor laws in the United
changing laws. States.
Exposed the ruthless In Standard Oil v. U.S.
"History of tactics of the Standard (1911), the company
Standard Oil Oil Company through a was declared a
Ida Tarbell
Company" series of articles monopoly and broken
(1904) published in McClure's up.
Magazine.
Cities began to use city
Examined political
The Shame of the commissions and city
Lincoln corruption in cities
Cities managers instead of
Steffans across the United
(1904) informal political
States.
groups.
Investigated dangerous In 1906 the Meat
working conditions and Inspection Act and Pure
Upton The Jungle
unsanitary procedures Food and Drug Act
Sinclair (1906)
in the meat-packing were passed.
industry.
City Reforms
Progressive reform began at the local or city level because it was easier to implement than at the vast state or
national level. Urban corruption from political machines was a major focus, resulting in the reorganization of
local government using the commissioner-and city-manager-styles of management and using a competitive
hiring process, which included applications, testing, and interviews.
City Reforms
Cities hired experts, based on competition & testing, in
different fields to run a single aspect of city government.
Commission Plan For example, the sanitation commissioner would be in
charge of garbage and sewage removal.
City Manager A professional city manager is hired to run each department
Plan of the city and report directly to the city council.
State Reforms
Reform governors such as Theodore Roosevelt of New York, Woodrow Wilson of New Jersey, and Robert
M. LaFollete of Wisconsin (Laboratory of Democracy), all helped get reforms passed in their respective states.
More importantly, the following reforms were enacted in order to make state governments more responsive to
the needs of the people.
State Reforms
Privacy at the ballot box ensures that citizens can cast votes
Secret Ballot
without party bosses knowing how they voted.
Allows voters to petition state legislatures in order to
Initiative
consider a bill desired by citizens.
Allows voters to decide if a proposed bill, law, or
Referendum
amendment should be passed.
Allows voters to petition to have an elected representative
Recall
removed from office.
Direct Ensures that voters select candidates to run for office (ex.
Primary Presidential), rather than party bosses.
Direct Primary
Republican
candidate
#1
Republican
candidate
#2
Public
votes
in
the
Republican
Presidential
primary
Nominee
Republican
candidate
#3
Republican
candidate
#4
Federal Reforms
During the Progressive Era, the Federal Government passed an enormous amount of legislation designed to
conserve the environment, tighten past economic regulations, preserve the health and safety of American
citizens, and generally provide needed capitalist reforms.
Progressive Era Federal Legislation
Federal
government
placed
limits
on
business
monopolies
and
cartels
and
to
prevent
restraints
on
Sherman Anti-Trust Act
trade,
such
as
price
fixing
and
forming
trusts.
(1890)
However,
the
legislation
was
too
general
(vague)
for
the
Supreme
Court
to
enforce
on
companies
Interstate Commerce Act Gave Federal government the power to regulate Rail
(1887) Road shipping and storage rates.
Pure Food and Drug Act Required that companies accurately label the ingredients
(1906/1911) contained in processed food items.
In direct response to Upton Sinclair's The Jungle, this law
Meat Inspection Act required that meat processing plants be inspected to
(1906) ensure the use of good meat and health-minded
procedures.
Hepburn Act Strengthened the Interstate Commerce Commission,
(1906) allowing it to set maximum railroad rates.
Created 12 district Federal Reserve Banks, each able to
Federal Reserve Act issue new currency and loan member banks funds at the
(1913) prime interest rate, as established by the Federal Reserve
Board.
Strengthened the Sherman Antitrust Act by outlawing the
Clayton Antitrust Act
creation of a monopoly through any means, and stated
(1914)
that unions were not subject to antitrust legislation.
New Amendments
To provide a stable base of income for the Federal Government while providing graduated taxation, the 16th
Amendment was passed. Political machines were weakened by the passage of the 17th Amendment, which
allowed state citizens to directly elect representatives to the U.S. Senate, instead of allowing party-controlled
state legislatures to do so. In addition, the Temperance Movement and the Women's Suffrage Movement
finally paid off with the passage of the 17th Amendment and the 18th Amendment.
Progressive Era Amendments
16th (1913) Granted Congress the power to tax income.
17th (1913) Provided for the direct election of U.S. Senators.
18th (1919) Prohibited making, selling, or transporting alcohol.
19th (1920) Provided women suffrage (voting).
Progressive
Questions
1. What initiated the Progressive Movement and who started it?
2. On which 3 levels of government did progressive reforms take place?
3. Of the early reform amendments, which guarantees citizens the right to vote?
4. Who was Jane Addams and what was her major accomplishment?
5. What was the difference between Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois?
6. Which court case established the “Separate but Equal” doctrine?
7. What were Muckrakers and what did they do?
8. The exposure of “Boss” Tweed’s corruption was due in part to which muckraker?
9. The Meat Inspection Act was passed after being exposed by which book, authored by whom?
10. What did Ida B. Wells and W.E.B. Du Bois have in common?
11. Who was Lewis Hine and what did he do?
12. Which Muckraker would have most likely been found taking pictures in Tenement buildings
and what was the name of his book?
13. Political Machines used patronage to fill city jobs, how was this corruption fixed during the
progressive era?
14. Who was Robert LaFollete & what did he do?
15. What was the most important impact of state reforms?
16. If a government official did not hold up to his promises or policies, or had lost the confidence of
the citizens what power could the citizen exercise to remove the official from office?
17. John wants to change a law, in order for this to happen he first needs to get one hundred
signatures; this is an example of _____________________________________. After he gets
the required signatures, voters can vote on John’s petition, this is an example of
________________________________.
18. In 2012, Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich, Rick Perry, & Mitt Romney all ran for Republican
Presidential nominee. Which progressive reform allowed this to happen by putting the power
in the hands of the American voter?
19. What was the problem with the Sherman Anti-Trust Act?
20. What did the Clayton Anti-Trust Act?
21. What was the Interstate Commerce Act?
22. Why was the 16th Amendment passed?
23. The 17th Amendment is the direct election of senators, why is this important?
24. The Temperance movement was responsible for which Constitutional amendment?
25. Women suffragist gained a victory with which Constitutional Amendment and what did it do?
Pick one of the ACTs from the Progressive Era Federal Legislation chart and draw a picture (political
cartoon) depicting its meaning.
