OUTLINE

Progressivism: A Search for Order

  I.  Progressivism at the national level: a search for order
      A.  the need for order in nation's cities
      B.  the need for order in nation's economy
      C.  the need for order in nation's politics
      D.  specific reforms of national progressivism
         1.  anti-monopoly (trust-busting)
         2.  pure food and drug laws
         3.  child labor laws and better working conditions
         4.  clean government reforms
            a.  woman suffrage (19th Amendment, 1920)
            b.  reforms in municipal govt.
            c.  direct election of U.S. senators (17th Amendment, 1913)
         5.  improving public morality
            a.  prohibition (18th Amendment, 1919)
            b.  immigration restriction
  II.  Progressivism in Texas: a search for order, Texas-style
      A.  what's different in Texas?
         1.  Texas still mostly rural and agricultural
         2.  unique economic conditions
            a.  the problems that oil brings
            b.  the agricultural situation
            c.  influence of northern capital
         3.  Texas's racial situation
         4.  functioning within a one-party political system
      B.  Categories of Texas progressivism
         1.  bringing order to government and politics
            a.  disfranchisement
            b.  Terrell Election Laws, 1903 & 1905
            c.  commission plan of municipal government: the great Galveston storm, 1900
            d.  support for direct election of U.S. senators:  Joseph Weldon Bailey & Waters-Pierce Oil Company
            e.  support for woman suffrage
         2.  bringing order to the economy
            a.  fighting economic colonialism
              (1)  State Banking Law of 1905
              (2)  Robertson Insurance Law of 1907
              (3)  Bank Deposit Guaranty Act of 1909
              (4)  keeping Standard Oil out, 1905
              (5)  railroad commission favors Texas independents
            b.  pro-business regulation
              (1)  conserving East Texas forests for timber industry
                 (a)  Texas Forestry Association/Texas Dept. of Forestry
              (2)  protecting water supplies (Railroad Commission)
              (3)  conserving oil supplies and boosting oil prices (Railroad Commission)
              (4)  the good roads movement
                 (a)  Texas Good Roads Association/Texas Highway Dept.
              (5)  improving public health
                 (a)  Pure Food and Drug Act, 1907
                 (b)  State Board of Health, 1909
              (6)  improving education
                 (a)  public school reforms
                     i)  consolidation of rural schools
                    ii)  compulsory attendance laws
                   iii)  Annie Webb Blanton and Better Schools Campaign
                 (b)  higher education improvements: normal schools
         3.  Improving public morality
            a.  segregation
            b.  ending convict lease system
            c.  prohibition
              (1)  Constitution of 1876 and local option
              (2)  statewide prohibition referendum of 1911
                 (a)  in support: Anti-Saloon League and WCTU
                 (b)  in opposition: Texas Brewerss' Association
                 (c)  support for 18th Amendment, 1919
   III. Making sense of Texas progressivism
      A.  things in common with national progressivism: the three broad categories above
      B.  the limits of progressive reform in Texas (Which reforms get the most attention?)
         1.  those that reinforce Democratic-party rule
            a.  political reforms like disfranchisement, Terrell Election laws, Commission Plan (see above)
         2.  those that are supported by Texas business interests
            a.  anti-colonial measures (see above)
            b.  measures supported by oil, timber, and agricultural interests (see above)
            c.  measures that make workers more healthy, more sober, better-educated
         3.  those that reinforce white supremacy
            a.  segregation
            b.  disfranchisement and other election reforms
            c.  prohibition
         4.  the legacies of Texas progressivism
            a.  pros:
              (1)  helped to clean up corrupt politics
              (2)  helped the economy modernize
            b.  cons:
              (1)  reinforced one-party rule
              (2)  reinforced white supremacy
  IV.  The progressive governors
      A.  Thomas M. Campbell, 1907-1911:  the strongest of the progressives
      B.  Oscar B. Colquitt, 1911-1915: considered less progressive because he opposed woman suffrage and prohibition
      C.  James E. Ferguson, 1915-1917: some progressive measures, but tainted by corruption
      D.  William P. Hobby (1917-1921) second to Campbell as a progressive
      E.  Patt Neff (1921-1925) and Dan Moody (1927-1931): known as "business progressives" because they emphasized pro-business reforms