The Progressives : Activism and Reform in American Society, 1893 - 1917

__The Progressives__ offers comprehensive coverage of the origins, evolution, and notable events that came to define the pivotal period of American history known as the Progressive Era.* Offers a rich, in-depth analysis of who the progressives were and the process through which they identified and attacked social, economic, and political injustices * Features an up-to-date synthesis of the literature of the field including comprehensive treatment of the role of women in the Progressive Movement * Considers the movement’s enduring impact – and how its vision for a better society became transfixed in the American social consciousness and helped to create the modern welfare state * Part of the well-respected American History series * Integrates themes of class, race, ethnicity, and gender throughout, offering a concise and engaging account of a fascinating era in U.S. history that forever changed the relationship between a democratic government and its citizens Cover 1 The American History Series 4 Title page 5 Copyright page 6 Contents 7 Acknowledgments 11 Introduction 13 1: Setting the Stage: The Birth of the Progressive Impulse, 1893–1900 25 On the Farm 25 City Life 30 Hard Times: The Depression of 1893 36 Businesses: Small to Large 38 Small businesses evolve 38 Big business 46 Mergers and monopolies 49 Labor 50 The workplace in transition 52 The struggle to organize 54 Working women 58 African American workers 61 Immigrant workers 62 A New Era Dawns 63 2: Saving Society: Who Were the Progressives? 68 The Muckrakers 69 From Religious Roots to Secular Salvation 76 Fundamentalists 77 The Social Gospelers 78 Intellectual inspiration 79 From Charity Cases to Social Work 80 Women Progressives 82 Club women 82 Settlement workers advocate to social justice 85 Professionalization in the Progressive Era 92 Social workers 93 The medical field 95 The legal profession 100 Engineering 101 Academia 101 The female professions: teaching, nursing, and librarianship 103 Businessmen 105 Labor Unions and Radical Movements 108 Other Special Interest Groups 110 Politicians and early reform 110 The “immigrant problem” 111 African Americans 112 Nativists 113 Farmers and Rural Reform 115 3: “Constructing the World Anew”: Progressive Agency, 1900–1911 118 Stepping into a New World: The Industrial City 118 Settlement Workers Transform the Neighborhoods 121 Women’s Political Culture Emerges 126 Jane Addams elevates settlement activism 128 Workers on the Move 130 Health and safety in the workplace 132 Florence Kelley and the Push for Protective Legislation 139 Child labor 141 Educational Reform 145 Social Centers 147 The Chautauqua movement 150 Country Life Commission 151 Political Pathways to Reform 153 Mugwumps, machine politics, and municipal reform 153 The Good Government movement 155 Beautiful cities and urban planning: from aesthetics to efficiency 157 State Level Reform 160 LaFollette and the Wisconsin Idea 160 Beyond Wisconsin 162 Businessmen Left Behind 163 The Radical Political Reaction 164 Socialists 164 Industrial Workers of the World 165 Labor Leans Political 167 Labor’s Bill of Grievances 168 Workplace activism 172 Progressivism Takes Center Stage 173 4: The Shape of Things to Come: Progressivism and the Transition to Modern Life, 1912–1917 177 The Rise of Consumerism 177 Impact of the automobile 180 Corporate America Takes Control 182 Scientific management 183 Welfare capitalism 185 The Triangle Waist Factory Fire 186 The legacy of Triangle 188 The Election of 1912 190 Theodore Roosevelt and the Progressive Party platform 192 The incumbent: William Howard Taft 196 Eugene Debs and the Socialists 197 Woodrow Wilson and the Democratic platform 197 Wilson in the White House 198 The election of 1916 201 Progressivism in the National Consciousness 203 Conclusion: The Progressives’ Progress 206 Bibliographical Essay 223 Introduction 223 Literature of the field 223 Chapter 1: Setting the Stage: The Birth of the Progressive Impulse, 1893–1900 227 Urban life 227 Corporate history 228 Robber barons 229 General business history 230 Biographies of business personalities 231 Technology 232 Managerial revolution 232 Labor history 233 Primary sources for labor history 234 Labor organizations 235 Labor conflicts 236 Labor leaders 236 Male workers 237 Women workers 237 African American workers 238 Racism 238 Working-class life 239 Immigrant family life 240 Worker autobiographies 240 Leisure time and recreation 240 Chapter 2: Saving Society: Progressive Reformers Advance Their Causes 241 Muckraker exposés 241 Social Gospel 241 Settlement movement 242 Biographies of settlement leaders 243 Progressive thought 244 Professionalization 244 Women in the professions 245 Businessmen and reform 246 Politics 246 Biographies of progressive personalities 247 Chapter 3: “Constructing the World Anew:” Progressive Agency, 1900–1911 248 Women’s activism 248 Women’s suffrage 249 Societal reform 250 Education and reform 250 Origins of progressivism 250 Business and politics 251 Radical labor 252 Labor and politics 253 Politics and reform 253 Civic concerns and citizenship 254 Chapter 4: The Shape of Things to Come: Progressivism and the Transition to Modern Life, 1912–1917 254 Consumerism 254 Welfare capitalism 255 Corporate policies and labor 255 Government policy and labor 256 Country life 256 Conservation 257 Social welfare policy 257 Index 259 The Progressives offers comprehensive coverage of the origins, evolution, and notable events that came to define the pivotal period of American history known as the Progressive Era. Integrating themes of class, race, ethnicity, and gender throughout, it provides a concise, engaging account of a fascinating era in U.S.