H102 Lecture 11: The Dawn of Liberalism: Progressivism

Stanley K. Schultz, Professor of History
William P. Tishler, Producer

Lecture 11

The Dawn of Liberalism: Progressivism

Historians often describe the Progressive movement as the urban counterpart to Populism. Although the two movements shared some characteristics, they also had some important differences. Most important, Progressivism found support among small businessmen, professionals, and middle-class urban reformers, in contrast to the disgruntled farmers who fueled the Populist movement. In the end, however, both Progressives and Populists left a lasting stamp on the nation's history. This lecture explores the origins of Progressivism and its impact on American government and society.

Some questions to keep in mind:

What social, economic, and political factors fostered the Progressive movement?
Compare the goals and accomplishments of the Progressives and the Populists. Which movement was more successful?
Why might some historians argue that Progressivism was the "Dawn of Liberalism?"

Definition of Liberalism:

Although many historians speak of a Progressive "movement," we should really think of Progressivism as an umbrella, under which a variety of reform groups and champions of liberalism gathered. So, any discussion of Progressivism should begin with the meaning of "Liberalism" at the beginning of the twentieth century:

Government should be more active
Social problems are susceptible to government legislation and action
Throw money at the problem

"Definition" of Progressivism:

Progressives, themselves, were never a unified group with a single objective or set of objectives. Instead, they had many different, and sometimes contradictory goals, including:

End to "white slavery" (prostitution and the sweat shops)
Prohibition
"Americanization" of immigrants
Immigration restriction legislation
Anti-trust legislation
Rate regulation of private utilities
Full government ownership of private utilities
Women's suffrage
End to child labor
Destruction of urban political machines
"Taylorism"
Political reform

Types of Progressive Reform

There were four basic types of Progressive reform, and each reform corresponded to a key word, repeated time and again in the rhetoric of Progressives:

Economic--"Monopoly"
Structural and Political--"Efficiency"
Social--"Democracy"
Moral--"Purity"

Basic Goals of Progressives

Even though they were not a unified group, Progressives shared five basic characteristics or beliefs:

They were moralists
Government, once purified, must act
Believed in protecting the weakest members of society
Never challenged capitalism's basic tenets
Paternalistic, moderate, soft-minded

Origins of Progressive Thought and Action:

1. "Discovery" of poverty
Poverty had always existed in American society, but a number of urban reformers began to call for new legislation to help the poor in the late 1870s and early 1880s .

An entirely enclosed court in a tenement district in Baltimore

2. Charity movement
Prior to the late 1870s, there was no systematic method for social welfare, just individual charity groups funded by private donors. In 1877, however, reformers in Buffalo, New York, organized a citywide effort to coordinate local charities. This type of system eventually spread to other United States cities.

3. Emancipation of Women
The 1880s saw the first generation of women--mostly white and middle- or upper-class--to graduate from college in large numbers. These women left college full of enthusiasm, but, for the most part, were shut out of professions in medicine, law, science, and business. So, they often used their energies to battle social injustices.

4. The "Social Gospel Movement"
Up until the 1880s, most Protestant ministers had not concerned themselves with the problems of industrial society. Rapid urbanization and industrialization, however, convinced many of them to fight for social justice. The goal of the Social Gospel movement was to make Christian churches more responsive to social problems like poverty and prostitution. Some ministers became known nationally as spokesmen for the Social Gospel, including Washington Gladden and Walter Rauschenbusch.

5. Social settlement movement
The social settlement movement was formed as a ministry to immigrants and the urban poor. University-educated men and women (such as Jane Addams) settled in working-class neighborhoods to try and help the poor and learn about the real world. Most settlement houses started with clubs and classes, then campaigned for housing and labor reform. As they aided people, settlement houses also tried to instill middle-class values and often had a paternalistic attitude toward the poor.

Immigrant children at Jane Addams' Hull House in Chicago

6. Good Government movement
In the 1880s, reformers organized clubs in several American cities in an effort to streamline government, to clean up corruption, and to turn municipalities into model corporations. The National Conference for Good City Government took place in Philadelphia in 1894. This was the starting point for many reformers who identified themselves with the Progressive movement. The keynote speaker was future President Theodore Roosevelt, who was the Chief of Police for New York City at the time. In his speech, Roosevelt preached morality and efficiency in city government. The founding of the National Municipal League was one crucial outcome of the National Conference for Good City Government. The League was a training ground for Progressives. It became an exchange network for various reform movements and still exists today.

The Progressive Movement and National Politics

TR is "Dee-Lighted" to throw his hat into the ring of the 1912 presidential election

Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt (1858-1919)--A Republican champion of "trust-busting" and conservation, Roosevelt served as vice president under President William McKinley and became president when McKinley was assassinated in 1901. Roosevelt was reelected in 1904, but did not seek a third term in 1908. In his place, the Republican convention nominated as its presidential candidate William Howard Taft, who promised to carry on Roosevelt's policies. In 1912, feeling that Taft, had undermined his progressive legacy, Roosevelt sought, but did not get, the Republican nomination. As a result, he ran for president as the candidate of the Progressive Party. With the Republican vote split between Taft and Roosevelt, Democrat Woodrow Wilson won the 1912 presidential election.

Campaign poster for William McKinley and Teddy Roosevelt

Bull Moose Party--Nickname for the Progressive Party of 1912. The bull moose was the emblem for the party, based on Roosevelt's boasting that he was "as strong as a bull moose."

William Howard Taft (1857-1930)--Republican President of the United States from 1909 to 1913. The United States' most corpulent chief executive, Taft stayed close to the policies of Roosevelt at the beginning of his term. Later in his presidency, however, Taft favored conservative measures, such as a high protective tariff, and lost popularity.

Postcard states "Here's to the Man the New Dixie Counts On"

Photo of Robert M. La Follette (1855-1925) speaking before an audience of 12,000 in Los Angeles, 1907

Robert M. "Fightin' Bob" LaFollette (1855-1925)--Progressive Era political leader who served as a United States Congressman from 1885 to 1891, governor of Wisconsin from 1900 to 1905, and United States Senator from 1905 to 1925. In 1924, LaFollette ran as an independent Progressive candidate for President and polled nearly 6 million votes out of some 30 million cast.

Robert "Fighting Bob" La Follette (1855-1925) in a classic pose

Ultimately, Progressives introduced a host of reforms and transformed the way that many Americans understood government and economics. Progressivism, however, did not just transform domestic life. As the United States stepped onto the world stage in the early twentieth century, it also shaped the nation's foreign policy. The story of the links between Progressivism and foreign policy is fascinating; so fascinating, in fact, that we will take it up in the next lecture: Lecture #12: "Policemen of the World."

Lecture 11	*Related Web Links*
Content	Presentation	Audience	Link	Info
		College	HOW THE OTHER HALF LIVES, by Jacob Riis
		College	Working conditions at the Westinghouse Works
		High School	Jane Addams Hull-House Museum
		High School	Biography of Lewis Hine
		College	Theodore Roosevelt
		High School	Theodore Roosevelt and the Bull Moose Years
		College	Eugenics Watch
		College	Taylorism: F. W. Taylor & Scientific Management
		College	Washington Gladden, "Applied Christianity"

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