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american pageant chapter 13 notes

american pageant chapter 13 notes

3 min read 04-02-2025
american pageant chapter 13 notes

This chapter of American Pageant delves into the Progressive Era, a period of significant social and political reform in the United States. It explores the multifaceted nature of progressivism, highlighting its successes, limitations, and enduring legacy. These notes offer a concise overview of the key themes and figures discussed.

I. The Rise of Progressivism:

  • Defining Progressivism: The Progressive Era (roughly 1900-1917) wasn't a unified movement, but rather a diverse collection of reformers with shared goals: improving society through government action. They aimed to address problems created by industrialization, urbanization, and political corruption. Key goals included curbing the power of big business, improving working conditions, and promoting social justice.

  • Muckrakers: Investigative journalists like Upton Sinclair ( The Jungle ), Ida Tarbell (exposing Standard Oil), and Lincoln Steffens (exposing municipal corruption) played a crucial role in exposing societal ills and galvanizing public support for reform. Their work fueled public outrage and pressured politicians to act.

  • Progressives' Diverse Backgrounds: The movement encompassed a wide range of individuals – from middle-class reformers to working-class activists, women's suffrage advocates, and African American leaders. This diversity led to a spectrum of reform strategies and priorities.

II. Political Reforms at the Local, State, and National Levels:

  • Municipal Reform: Cities tackled issues like inefficient government, corrupt political machines (like Tammany Hall), and inadequate public services. Commission and city-manager forms of government aimed to improve efficiency and reduce corruption.

  • State-Level Reforms: States adopted various reforms, including initiative, referendum, and recall to increase citizen participation in government. Direct primaries were introduced to weaken the power of party bosses and increase voter choice in nominating candidates.

  • National-Level Reforms: President Theodore Roosevelt embodied the spirit of the Progressive Era. His "Square Deal" focused on mediating labor disputes (e.g., the Coal Strike of 1902), regulating big business (through antitrust actions against Northern Securities), and conserving natural resources. Woodrow Wilson, his successor, continued the reform momentum, pushing for significant legislative changes, as detailed below.

III. Key Legislative Achievements:

  • The Hepburn Act (1906): Strengthened the Interstate Commerce Commission's power to regulate railroad rates.

  • The Pure Food and Drug Act (1906): Addressed concerns about food and drug safety, spurred by The Jungle.

  • The Meat Inspection Act (1906): Improved the safety of meat products.

  • The Clayton Antitrust Act (1914): Strengthened antitrust enforcement by clarifying what constituted illegal business practices.

  • The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) (1914): Created to investigate and prevent unfair business practices.

  • The Sixteenth Amendment (1913): Authorized the federal income tax, providing a new source of revenue for the government.

  • The Seventeenth Amendment (1913): Provided for the direct election of senators, reducing the influence of state legislatures.

IV. Social Reforms and the Fight for Women's Suffrage:

  • Social Reforms: Progressives addressed social problems like child labor, working conditions, and poverty. Settlement houses, like Hull House, provided social services to the poor and advocated for reform.

  • Women's Suffrage: The fight for women's right to vote gained significant momentum during this era. Leaders like Alice Paul and Carrie Chapman Catt employed different strategies to advance the cause, eventually leading to the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment (1920).

V. Limitations and Criticisms of Progressivism:

  • Racial Inequality: Despite the era's focus on reform, racial discrimination remained pervasive. African Americans faced significant challenges in securing equal rights, and many progressive reforms did little to address systemic racism. The work of W.E.B. Du Bois and the NAACP highlighted these limitations.

  • Limited Scope: Some progressives focused primarily on reforming political and economic institutions, paying less attention to addressing broader social inequalities.

VI. Conclusion:

The Progressive Era represents a pivotal moment in American history, marked by significant reforms that reshaped the nation's political and social landscape. While achieving considerable progress, the movement also faced limitations, particularly regarding racial equality and its scope of reform. Understanding this complex period is essential to grasping the ongoing evolution of American democracy and its enduring challenges.

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