The Progressives

The Progressives: APUSH Study Guide

Get ready for a wild ride through early 20th-century America, where the Progressives showed up to clean the mess left by the Gilded Age—a time so shiny on the outside yet so dirty on the inside that it’s practically the history student’s version of reality TV. The Progressives were like a team of elite cleaners, coming in with mops, brooms, and occasionally a flamethrower, to tackle issues ranging from corruption to social justice. 🚿🔍

The Progressives had a flair for drama! Scores of them were writers and reporters, collectively known as "muckrakers" because they loved digging up the dirt (figuratively, of course). These muckrakers wrote exposés in magazines and newspapers to highlight the need for reform. It was like investigative journalism meets soap opera—and boy, did people read it.

Some notable muckrakers included:

• Ida M. Tarbell (take that, Standard Oil!): She went after Rockefeller and his monopolistic maneuvers like a detective in a noir film.
• Lincoln Steffens (Busting Boss Tweed): His focus was on political corruption, showing that sometimes the biggest crooks wear suits.
• Upton Sinclair (Gross-out Factor 101): While aiming to highlight the evils of capitalism, his book The Jungle grossed people out so much that food safety laws had to change.
• Jacob Riis (The Original Instagrammer): His book How the Other Half Lives was full of photos showing the deplorable conditions of New York City tenements. Spoiler alert: They were not pretty.
• Jane Addams (Mother of Social Work): Established Hull House to help immigrants adapt, essentially making her the social media influencer of her time in the world of social work.
• Margaret Sanger (Birth Control Crusader): Pushed for women's reproductive rights and founded what would become Planned Parenthood.

These journalists didn't just report the news; they made the news by forcing society to confront its flaws like an intervention on a family drama show. 📸📰

The Progressives were the OG social justice warriors. They believed in "government by the people," but more like "government by people who actually know what's going on." They pushed for reforms that read like a cheat sheet for increased democracy:

1. The 16th Amendment brought income tax, making sure the wealthy couldn't just swim in gold coins like Scrooge McDuck.
2. The 17th Amendment established the direct election of Senators. No more backdoor deals—at least, in theory.
3. The 18th Amendment—Prohibition—turned drinking into a rebellious act until it was repealed in 1933.
4. The 19th Amendment granted women the right to vote, giving half the population the keys to the democracy.

They also introduced more measures to increase transparency and reduce corruption, such as the Pure Food and Drug Act, which basically told the food industry, "Cut the yucky stuff out!" You can thank Upton Sinclair's The Jungle for that one.

The State Level: Wisconsin's Masterclass with Robert La Follette

In Wisconsin, Robert La Follette (aka "Fighting Bob") led a sweeping set of reforms known as the "Wisconsin Idea." This was early 20th-century innovation at its finest, incorporating tax reforms and regulatory commissions to make business more, well, less shady.

The National Level: Theodore Roosevelt's "Square Deal"

Teddy Roosevelt—a.k.a. TR—wasn’t just the youngest U.S. President; he was also the most likely to bring a big stick to a management meeting. His "Square Deal" aimed to balance interests among business, labor, and consumers.

• Consumer Protection: Think of it as wearing elbow pads to ride a tricycle—just keeping the public safe.
• Regulation of Business: TR was like the Principal who finally showed up to break apart the bully ring, thanks to his trust-busting efforts.
• Conservation: TR was all about preserving America's natural beauty, like a 19th-century Captain Planet.

Take the United Mine Workers Strike: TR didn't hesitate to call both the workers and the mine owners to the White House, offering mediation and even threatening to send the army if the companies wouldn't negotiate. Spoiler: He got things done. ✊

And don't get us started on Trust Busting! Under TR, the government clamped down on monopolies, enforcing the Sherman Antitrust Act like a referee in the world's most convoluted wrestling match. He targeted over 40 companies, not just for fun, but to prove that no one was above the law.

Woodrow Wilson's "New Freedom" program picked up where TR left off:

1. Tariff reduction to make imported goods cheaper.
2. Banking reform, creating the Federal Reserve—basically America’s piggy bank, but with way more rules.
3. Business regulation through the Clayton Antitrust Act, which was like the older, cooler sibling of the Sherman Act.

Progressives were complicated—like that annoying puzzle that's missing a piece. While they fought for things like labor rights and clean food, they also had less savory sides regarding race and immigration. 🎭

Some Progressives were champions of African Americans and immigrants, but others supported segregation and restrictive immigration policies. Think of this era as a complicated family reunion where not everyone gets along.

• Booker T. Washington advised African Americans to accept segregation and work hard for economic progress—a bit like "keep calm and carry on" in tough conditions.
• W.E.B. DuBois, on the other hand, was more like, "Let's demand our rights now, thank you very much," advocating for full social equality.

Did you know that Theodore Roosevelt completed a speech after being shot in the chest? Talk about dedication—he delivered his speech with the bullet still lodged in him, saying, "I have a message to deliver, and I will deliver it as long as there is life in my body." 💪📜

The Progressive Era was a whirlwind of reforms, bustling with lively debates, activism, and political change. It was a time when America looked at itself in the mirror, spat out mouthwash, and said, "We can do better." So, whether it's tackling corruption or promoting social justice, remember that the spirit of Progressivism is all about striving for a better tomorrow.

Now go forth and ace that AP US History exam! 💼📚