Chapter 21 responses

1. Muckrakers, settlement houses, and socialists played a key role in the development of the progressive movement by exploiting the flaws of U.S. economy, society and government and sought ways to reform it. Muckrakers were investigative journalists who exposes the repugnant aspects of American life. Muckrakers such as Ida Tarbell, Lincoln Steffens and George Kibbe exposed the corruption of Local governments, corporations and the horrible states of family life. During this time when the middle-class people were drawn to the concepts of realism were inspired by the Muckrakers and started to take action.
Settlement houses established by young college-educated, protestant women were intended to help the largely immigrant urban poor. Of the many settlement houses, the first was the Hull House. The Hull house provided economic and social needs for the immigrants. The Hull house consisted a nursery, an employment bureau, and various social clubs. In addition to helping immigrants establish a stable life, the leader of the Hull house such as Jane Addams fought against Alcoholism and prostitution.

Bigger issues such as the control over industry were dealt by socialists. Socialists goals were much like the progressives. Socialists fought for regulating capitalism and reforming the economic system. Socialists came from many different parts of the country. Socialists were predominately German working-class immigrants and Jewish immigrants.

2. Before the 1890's municipal transportation networks and utilities of a city were controlled by corporation who charged unfair rates to the public, but the corporation managers received generous reductions. The city Commission Plan and the City Manager Plan were reforms which limited corruption and improved services. The city commission plan shifted municipal power form the mayor to 5 city commissioners, each responsible for a different department of city government. The city commission plan brought great success to Galveston, Texas and other cities that adopted this plan. The Galveston commissioners were able to restore the city's credit, harbor and build a sea wall to protect from future floods. Even though the city commissioners brought great improvements it was still flawed. The city manager plan was created to overcome those flaws. Under the city manager plan, the commissioner still made the policies but a chief executive or city manager implemented the plans. The city manager also made sure that commissioner's plans were always impartial.
Just a corruption existed in Local government, corruption existed in state governments too. One way the progressives saw they could reform the state governments was by restoring power into the people and protect individual's rights. In order to shift the power to the people, the progressives introduced reforms such as the direct primary, which allowed voters rather than party bosses to elect presidential candidates. Other reforms were the initiative, referendum and recall. The progressives also established government regulation of voting rather than political parties. By 1890's every states adopted the Australian Ballot. The Australian ballot allowed voters to vote in private. These reforms allowed the public to have a true say in government without any manipulation from political parties.
During the Progressive movement, much of the national reform centered around decreasing the power of the trusts, protection of workers, and quality of consumer goods. The biggest progressive leader was Theodore Roosevelt.

3. Initially Progressivism began with protestant middle-class Americans. These young Americans felt that it was their job to right the moral wrongs. They wanted to correct the corruption and immoralities they saw in the American government and decrease the gap between the rich and the poor. From this large group of protestants emerged groups such as the Muckrakers, leaders of the settlement houses, and the socialist.

4. Even though progressives believed that governmental power should be controlled by the public, they did not believe that every person was eligible to have that power. The Progressives felt that the "unfit" groups of people should be disenfranchised. One of the biggest groups they believed should disenfranchised were immigrants. Progressives created election laws and made becoming a citizen very difficult.

5. Women during the progressive era achieved many reform such as the settlement houses, the Mann Act and temperance reforms, but one of the most important victories was the 19th amendment which enfranchised women. The movement for Woman's suffrage began with the Seneca falls Convention and progressed so much that Wyoming became the first state to grant women the right to vote. The woman's suffrage movement gained great momentum during the progressive era because the view of women had changed. Women now were viewed as being gentler, possessing a moral sense and nurturing quality that men lacked. During the progressive era, instead to stating that a woman's capabilities were equal to a man's, they argued that women were different from and because of this difference they qualified to vote. Also, Americans believed that a woman's experience ans a mother and household manager would enable them to reform local and state government, which the progressives essential goal.

6.

Roosevelt

Vision: A
Roosevelt's ability to look beyond the here and now and wee what the future should be was great. Most of Roosevelt's reform policies were based on how he wanted the future to be. For example, the actions Roosevelt took as a conservationist were to preserve American lands and forestry for the future.

Accomplishments: A-
Roosevelt had achieved many things in various categories. Roosevelt broke up numerous monopolies, regulated the banking system and railroads, supported pieces of legislation such the pure food and drug Act, Meat Inspection Act and the Hepburn Act. Although Roosevelt's accomplishment did not completely erase the corruption businesses, railroads and banks but his accomplishments were the beginning to improvement.

Taft

Vision: C
William Howard Taft was handpicked by Roosevelt as his successor, but Taft was never able to achieve as much success or praise as Roosevelt. During his presidency Taft spent most his time trying to live up to the reputation of Roosevelt and gaining support. So, Taft did not have the ability to see what the future should be.

Accomplishment: C-

Compared to Roosevelt Taft did not accomplish much at all his only piece of legislation was the Payne-Aldrich Tariff which helped very little. It incluced a 2% corporate income tax but did not reduce tariff.

Wilson: A

Vison:
I would give Wilson's political view an A because throughout his presidency, Wilson fought with Congress for the passage of various reform such as the Underwood-Simmons Tariff. Also, during his presidency Wilson showed what an ideal and fair president should be like. For his cabinet he chose talented, wise members who were worthy of holding a position of authority and he displayed a public image where the president was in charge of his party and faithful to the public. In addition, many of his policies still remain today such the Federal Reserve.

Accomplishment: A+

Underwood-Simmons Tariff: reduced tariffs
Federal Reserve Act: strengthen the nation's financial structure.
Established the Federal Trade commission: managed the regulation of businesses
Kern-McGillicuddy Act: first workmen's compensation law
Keating Owens Act: outlawed child labor
The Adamson Act: guaranteed an eight hour work day