GML: The Politics of Progressivism

Social Legislation
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Terms in this set (15)
Social Legislation
Governmental action to address urban problems and the insecurities of working-class life originated in Germany but soon entered the political vocabulary of the United States.
Progressivism
International movement in late 1800s which centered around the belief that the modern era required a fundamental rethinking of the functions of political authority, whether to combat the power of giant corporations, protect consumers, civilize the marketplace, or guarantee industrial freedom at the workplace. Sought to reinvigorate the idea of an activist, social conscious government, and rejected the idea of powerful governments being a threat to freedom
Effective Freedom
Concept of "the power to do specific things"; dependent on "the distribution of powers that exists at a given time".
Pragmatism
A school of philosophy that emerged in the 19th century that influenced Progressive thinkers. Belief that institutions and social policies must be judged by their concrete effects, not their longevity or how well they comport religious doctrine or traditional political beliefs. (Experience > Doctrine)
Initiative
Also known as direct legislation, which enabled citizens to propose and veto directly on laws, bypassing state legislatures. (Part of Oregon system created by William U'Ren)
Referendum
A state-level method of direct legislation that provides a popular vote to approve or disapprove public policies. (Part of Oregon system created by William U'Ren)
Recall
Allowed for removal of public officials by the use of a popular vote. (Part of Oregon system created by William U'Ren)
Direct Primary
A primary where voters directly select the candidates who will run for office. (wasn't in reading so I had to improvise).
Literacy Test
A test given to persons to prove they can read and write before being allowed to register to vote, which limited the voting rights for the African-Americans and the poor. Supported progressive view that the "fitness" of the workers determined a functioning democracy, not absolute numbers.
Settlement House
A house devoted to improving the lives of poor immigrants. A popular example is Jan Addams' Hull House in Chicago, which was founded in 1889. By 1910, there were over 400 settlement houses across the United States.
"Drift and Mastery"Influential work of social commentary written by Walter Lippmann in 1914. "Drift" meant continuing to operate according to the outmoded belief in individual autonomy. "Mastery" required applying scientific inquiry to modern social problems. Lippmann also believed that the new generation of educated professionals could be more trusted fully than regular citizens to solve America's social problems, and that political freedom was made up of more qualified people devising the best public policies rather than direct government participation.National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA)A mass movement for woman suffrage made up of women from all social classes. Membership grew from 13,000 in 1893 to 2 million in 1917, and as a result by 1900 more than half of the states allowed women to vote in local elections regarding school issues. Wyoming, Colorado, Idaho, and Utah adopted full woman suffrage.Maternalist ReformThe assumption that the government should encourage women's capacity for bearing and raising children and enable them to be economically independent at the same time (Ex. Mothers' Pension). Supported by feminists and believers in conventional domestic roles, who believed that the reforms would lead women to be dependent on men and strengthen traditional families and the mother-child bond.Muller v. Oregon (1908)A landmark case in 1908 filed by Louis D. Brandeis that cited scientific and sociological studies stating that women had less strength and endurance than men, therefore long hours of labor would be dangerous for them and that their ability to bear children gave the government a legitimate interest in their working conditions. Supreme Court was persuaded by Brandeis's argument and unanimously upheld the constitutionality of an Oregon law setting maximum working hours for womenEconomic CitizenshipAn idea envisioned by Louis D. Brandeis which described a different welfare state from that of maternalist reformers, rooted less in the idea of a healthy motherhood than in universal economic entitlements, including the right to a decent income, protection against unemployment, and work-related accidents.