He also sought to limit the power of trusts, or at least make sure that these large companies operated in the public interest. Roosevelt believed that the federal government should arbitrate conflicts between workers and industry. The politician who would come to represent the Progressive movement on the national stage was Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt The youngest president in American history, Roosevelt was only forty-two when the assassination of William McKinley elevated him to office in September 1901. The Rise of Teddy Roosevelt and Federal Power Progressives rejected Socialism but also rejected the notion that the private sector could regulate itself or that existing charitable organizations were sufficient to provide for the needy. They generally supported local government initiatives aimed at providing better schools, sanitation, roads, and municipal services like utilities and public transportation. They were generally well educated and shared a common faith in the power of public education to improve society and reform the political system. Still others championed the developing fields of social and political science, searching for ways to make government and society more efficient.Įven if they supported a diverse range of goals, the Progressives themselves usually had a few things in common. A small number also fought for more rights for women and minorities, although issues of race and gender often divided the Progressives.

By exposing the misdeeds of corrupt businesses and politicians and empowering voters to have more control over their government, the Progressives believed that voters would naturally support reform candidates and demand more accountability. Still others believed that the key to reform was to make the political system more democratic. Others focused on providing more services, such as public utilities and urban sanitation. Some sought social justice through anti–child labor laws, prison reform, workplace safety regulations, public health programs, or minimum wage laws. They sought reform rather than revolution, and feared that sweeping changes or retreat from Capitalism would disrupt the economic growth of the previous decades.ĭespite a number of similarities, the Progressives were as diverse as the issues they championed. In doing so, the Progressives were optimistic that government regulation could protect all members of society within the existing Capitalist system. They hoped to reduce government corruption and increase efficiency by appointing a new generation of college-educated experts to key government positions. In short, the Progressives were middle-class reformers who believed in the preservation of private property but opposed the laissez-faire policies of the past. They also hoped the government would be more active in promoting social justice and human welfare. Instead, the Progressives believed that government should use its powers to more actively regulate the financial system and prevent the growth of monopolies. They also rejected major changes to the monetary system, such as using both gold and silver to back the dollar. For example, they rejected the Populist idea of direct government control or ownership of railroads. They were often alarmed at the radicalism of the Populists and believed in reforming society and government rather than proposing sweeping changes to the Capitalist system. However, although they agreed with some of the ideas of the Populists, the Progressives were generally much more conservative. The Progressives believed government should be more active in promoting the welfare of the people. They also opposed Socialism, believing instead that the Capitalist system was efficient but had shortcomings that needed to be addressed by government regulations designed to protect workers and consumers. Progressives were typically middle class and well educated. Taken together, these predominantly middle-class reformers who emerged during the 1890s are known as the Progressives A diverse assortment of reformers who sought to improve the condition of certain groups or society as a whole through government action at the turn of the century.

These individuals and a wealth of others hoped to promote social justice and greeted the twentieth century with optimism and energy.

Hoar of Massachusetts that ruling these territories without the consent of the people was “contrary to the sacred principles” of the nation. Some US companies profited handsomely from the expansion of the navy and acquisition of overseas colonies, even if many Americans agreed with Senator George F. The economy had rebounded and farm prices stabilized. The depression of the 1890s seemed a distant memory by the early years of the twentieth century. Chapter 4 From Populism to the Progressive Era, 1900–1912

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