The Progressive Era

1
The Progressive Era

• 1895 - 1906

2
Progressive Roots

• The progressive era began with a book written by
  Jacob Riis, called How the Other Half Lives. In
  the book, he describes the living conditions of
  the slums of New York.
• One of the most famous urban pioneers was Jane
  Addams, who created the Hull House.

3
Jane Addams
4
Muckrakers

• Muckrakers- reported on the muck, or filth, in
  large cities.
• The two leaders in this reporting were Lincoln
  Steffens and Ida Tarbell.
• They sought to bring focus to the corruption
  ailing this country. They primarily took on
  large companies like Standard Oil.

5
Ida Tarbell
Lincoln Steffens
6
CHECKPOINT!

• Which female Progressive created Hull House?
• What is a muckraker?
• Who were 2 leading muckrakers?

7
Political Progressivism

• The Progressive reformers were mainly
  middle-class men and women.
• They sensed that something was wrong in society,
  especially corruption.
• Progressives emerged in both major parties, in
  all regions, and at all levels of government.
• The Progressives wanted to reform, or improve,
  politics and elections in the country.

8
Progressive Democracy

• Direct Primary - Voters could choose the
  candidate they wanted.
• This along with the passage of the Seventeenth
  Amendment allowing Americans the right to vote
  directly for U.S. Senators.
• Referendum way in which the voters choose to
  accept or reject a proposed law
• Recall- would enable voters to remove the bad
  officials in government by calling for a new
  vote.

9
Reforming Child Labor Laws

• In 1900, more than 1.75 million children were
  working in mines, mills, or factories.
• Many of the American workers could not make
  enough money to escape poverty.
• As late as 1910, nearly 1/3 of all working class
  people in America were poor.
• There were efforts to establish laws to guarantee
  a minimum wage, and to limit the number of work
  hours in a week.

10
CHECKPOINT!

• What did Progressives feel was wrong with
  society?
• What did the 17th Amendment do?
• What is a recall?
• How did the Progressives try to help working
  people?

11
Theodore Roosevelt A Progressive President

• Theodore Roosevelt makes a name for himself
  during the Spanish-American War where he led a
  group of individuals that became known as the
  Rough Riders.
• Teddy, as he later is known, takes over the
  office of the president after William McKinley is
  assassinated in 1901.
• He felt that the president should be an active
  leader.

12
Roosevelt once he becomes president.
Roosevelt in his Rough Rider attire
13
Regulation of Food

• During Roosevelts first term in office, he set
  out to regulate big companies.
• In 1906 author Upton Sinclair wrote about the
  horrors of the meat-packing industry his book,
  The Jungle.
• This leads Roosevelt to investigate the matter
  and causes him to force Congress pass the Pure
  Food and Drug Act in the same year.

14
Upton Sinclair
The Jungle
15

• This act prohibited the manufacture, sale, or
  transportation of mislabeled or contaminated food
  or drugs sold.
• He also regulated railroads and their shipping
  rates.
• Surprisingly, the public supported his expansion
  of the regulatory powers of the federal
  government.

16
CHECKPOINT!

• What did Theodore Roosevelt think a president
  should do/be?
• What famous book talked about the meat-packing
  industry?
• What law was passed due to this book?
• What did this law prohibit?

17
Progressivism in South Carolina

• Early Progressive leaders in SC
• Duncan Heyward Governor (1902-1906) wanted to
  end child labor and lynchings
• Ellison D. (Cotton Ed) Smith Elected Senator
  in 1908 worked alongside Tillman in the U.S.
  Senate

18
Progressivism in South Carolina

• Martin F. Ansel Elected Governor in 1906
  helped close the state Dispensary (where the
  state sold alcohol)
• In 1915, SC banned the sale, production, or
  drinking of alcohol in the state.
• This ban on alcohol was called PROHIBITION.

19
CHECKPOINT!

• Name some of the early SC Progressives.
• What is Prohibition? When did SC make it law?
• What was the Dispensary?

20
Opponents of Progressivism

• One major opponent of Progressives in SC was Gov.
  Coleman Blease, a friend of Ben Tillman
• Blease was elected Governor in 1910 with the
  support of poor white farmers and mill workers
• Blease was against paying for black education and
  mandatory school attendance, but openly supported
  lynching (sound familiar)?
• While governor, he pardoned some 1500-1700
  convicts, including many murderers

21
Opponents of Progressivism

• As governor, he openly insulted people and
  refused to follow court orders
• In 1914, one of his enemies, Richard Manning, was
  elected Governor
• Blease was so mad at Mannings election that he
  resigned as Governor 5 days before his term ended

22
CHECKPOINT!

• What SC governor was a major opponent of
  Progressives?
• What groups of people supported him?
• What kinds of laws did he oppose?
• Why did he resign from the Governors Office?

23
Richard Manning SCs Progressive Governor
24
Richard Manning SCs Progressive Governor

• Under Mannings leadership
• Expanded the state mental hospital
• A school for mentally disabled students was
  opened
• Increased funding for public education
• Minimum work age rose from 12 to 14
• Taxes were assessed in a more equal way
• A state Highway Department was createdroads were
  improved

25
Richard Manning SCs Progressive Governor

• Overall, Manning and the Progressives greatly
  improved life for many people working and living
  in SC

26
Women Try to Vote

• Many Progressives wanted to give women the right
  to vote
• SC refused to ratify (approve) the 19th
  Amendment, which would give women that right
• The SC Democratic Party did not let women vote in
  its primary
• Women in SC could not vote until 1920, when the
  19th Amendment went into effect!
• SC did not ratify the 19th Amendment until 1969!

27
CHECKPOINT!

• Who is known as SCs most Progressive governor?
• List 4 positive actions taken in SC under this
  governor.
• What did SC refuse to do for women?
• When could women in SC actually vote?