Progressive Era

1
Progressive Era

• Introduction

2
Todays Agenda

• Current Events
• The Debates
• Who Won?
• Introduce the Progressive Era
• Presentations Day 17
• Homework
• Read Section 5.1

3
Unit Objectives

• Identify the problems addressed by the
  Progressives.
• List the goals they established to address those
  problems.
• Identify the coalition members who made up the
  Progressives.
• Explain the grass roots origins of the movement.

4
How does reform differ from revolution?

• Reform To gradually make better
• via activism the democratic process
• Revolution A sudden monumental change
• Via violence (politically)

Status Quo
Revolution
Reform
5
What was the Progressive Era?

• A period of reform from 1890-1920
• Advocated the use of experts to discover
  solutions to waste and corruption
• Sought change in all policies at all levels of
  society, economy and government

6
What problems did America face in 1900?

• Rapid Urban Growth and Decay
• Overcrowded conditions, sanitation problems,
  disease, foul drinking water
• Social Problems
• Illiteracy, alcoholism, child labor, womens
  rights
• Political Corruption
• Bossism, Political Machines, Bribes, Kickbacks
• Labor Unrest
• Violence, Economic disruption, low wages, unsafe
  conditions
• Industrial Disorder
• Cut throat competition, price fixing

7
What problems did America face in 1900?
8
What were the goals of the Progressives?

• Eliminate political corruption
• Create an efficient, professional government
• Make the economy fair
• Make government more democratic

9
What was the philosophy of the Progressives?

• Pragmatic
• Not committed to theories
• Judge a program or idea by its usefulness.

10
Who were the Progressives?

• A coalition of
• Intellectuals
• Muckrakers Angry Writers
• Religious Reformers
• Concerned Women
• African Americans
• Concerned Middle Class

11
What is a coalition?

• A group comprised of various interest groups who
  join together to form one voice

Union Leaders
Intellectuals
Concerned Middle Class
Angry Writers
Interest Groups
African Americans
Religious Reformers
Concerned Women
12
What is a coalition?

• A group comprised of various interest groups who
  join together to form one voice

Union Leaders
Intellectuals
Concerned Middle Class
Angry Writers
Progressive Coalition
Interest Groups
African Americans
Religious Reformers
Concerned Women
13
Origins of the Movement

• When?
• When do eras begin and end?

1900 Bookends 1920
1915-1925
1880s
TR President 1901
Harding Elected 1920
Eras usually begin and end gradually. The
Progressive Era began in the 1890s, took off in
1900, began to decline as World War I approached,
and was over by the twenties.
14
The Progressive Era began on the Grass Roots
level, in neighborhoods and spread city wide.
15
It spread to the state level with leaders like
Fighting Bob Lafollette in Wisconsin.
16
It assumed its national character with the
ascension of Teddy Roosevelt
to the Presidency
in 1901.
17
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