Lec 12 Grassroots of Progressive Era

The Progressive Era, formally from 1900-1917, emerged from a desire for government intervention and 'uplift' at home, mirroring imperial justifications for intervention abroad. It began as a grassroots movement in the 1890s, shifting from a social Darwinistic, non-interventionist government to one focused on social and economic issues and human welfare. This lecture focuses on the positive aspects of this era.

Previously, the U.S. favored non-intervention, where corporations thrived, leading to a high per capita income for the wealthy while 10 million people lived in desperate poverty. This stark contrast led many to question how a nation of such wealth could tolerate such extreme suffering, sparking a desire for government intervention and prioritizing public interest over private greed.

Muckrakers, investigative journalists nicknamed by Theodore Roosevelt, brought awareness to societal problems. They exposed hidden truths, much like modern investigative news stories. These journalists played a crucial role in revealing the realities of American society that the average civilian either didn't see or wasn't allowed to see.

Ida Tarbell, one of the most famous muckrakers, came from a family affected by John D. Rockefeller's Standard Oil Company. Her father was in the oil industry, which Rockefeller systematically took over. In 1904, her book, 'The History of the Standard Oil Company,' exposed Rockefeller’s ruthless practices, leading to an antitrust lawsuit and the breakup of his monopoly. Her work demonstrated the consequences of unregulated big business.

Other muckrakers contributed significantly: Lincoln Steffens exposed the corrupt alliance between big business and city governments in 'The Shame of the City.' John Spargo's 'Bitter Cry of Children' revealed the brutal abuses of child labor. Upton Sinclair's 'The Jungle' uncovered horrific conditions in the Chicago meatpacking industry, including contaminated meat, shocking the public and prompting food safety concerns.

Jacob Riis, through 'How the Other Half Lives,' documented the living conditions of the impoverished in New York City's tenement housing. He used photography and social science statistics to visually and quantitatively demonstrate the widespread nature of poverty, making the suffering tangible beyond mere words. His work profoundly influenced public perception, including future president Theodore Roosevelt.

Middle-class women, often college-educated and with more leisure time due to new conveniences, were primary readers of muckraker articles. As 'moral guardians' of the nation, they felt compelled to act beyond their homes. They used this assigned role to justify their involvement in urban reform, challenging big businesses, child labor, prostitution, and other social ills in the cities.

Three main reasons drove middle-class involvement: 1) Many had recently entered the middle class and feared falling back into poverty, empathizing with the working class. 2) They feared a potential revolt from the large, disgruntled working class, whom they had closest access to. 3) For some, it was a genuine humanitarian desire to address the suffering of fellow human beings, acting on the awareness of injustice they had gained.

Jane Addams, an affluent college-educated woman, rejected traditional roles to pursue a purpose beyond marriage. Inspired by her father’s philosophy of sharing excess, she founded the Hull House in Chicago in 1889. The Hull House provided essential services, education (including arts, literature, and practical skills), and upliftment to immigrant working-class communities. She is often credited with creating the field of social work in the United States.

Critics suggested Addams aimed to 'Americanize' immigrants, but her work also aimed to help them climb the economic ladder. Her publication, 'Hull House Maps and Papers,' used charts and graphs to detail urban poverty. She also appealed to Christian morality, asking, 'Does Christ have no place here?' to encourage charitable action and intervention in impoverished cities, tugging at the heartstrings of her audience.

Progressive women were diverse in their interests, advocating for safer working conditions, reproductive rights (like Margaret Sanger, who championed family planning), and broader societal reforms. A major unified cause was child labor. In 1904, the National Child Labor Committee was formed, successfully lobbying state-by-state for child labor laws that banned work for those under 12 to 16 years old, a significant step forward from no regulations.

As progressive women actively worked for reform through legislation, they realized the limitation of not having the right to vote. This period saw a revival of the women's suffrage movement, with women traveling nationwide, holding rallies and lobbying for electoral rights. Although not immediately granted, their efforts, combined with events like World War I, led to the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920, granting women the right to vote.