Lecture on 20th Century Progressivism and Chapter 13

Introduction

• Speaker: Dr. Carl Campbell
• Duration: Approx. 15 minutes
• Topic: Introduction to the 20th Century, Focus on Progressivism, and Chapter 13 of the textbook
• Utilizes a PowerPoint presentation to enhance understanding

Overview of the 20th Century

• Historians categorize by decades:
  • Progressive Era: 1900s
  • Roaring 20s: Post-WWI, flappers, "The Great Gatsby"
  • 1930s: Starts with 1929, Great Depression
  • Post-WWII 1950s and 60s: Social movements and tumult
  • Post-Vietnam 70s, 80s, 90s: More conservative era

North Carolina's Image and Stereotypes

• Question: What is North Carolina's state image?
• Common perceptions:
  • Beaches (Outer Banks)
  • Rural areas (Piedmont)
  • Big cities (Charlotte, Raleigh)
  • Mountains
• Famous North Carolinians:
  • Reverend Billy Graham
  • Michael Jordan
• Statutory Hall Representatives:
  • Current: Zebulun Vance
  • Future Replacement: Billy Graham, replacing Charles Aycock

Progressivism in North Carolina

• Common Descriptor: Progressive Southern state
• Progressive Movement (1900 - WWI):
  • National Tenets:
    • Government efficiency
    • Active government
    • Democratization
    • Corporate regulation
    • Social justice
  • North Carolina's Focus:
    • Government efficiency
    • Extending state power for public services
• Southern Progressivism:
  • More limited, sometimes called "business progressivism"
  • Nicknamed "Wisconsin of the South"

Progressive Paradox

• Key Theme: Progressive yet conservative and rural
• Examples:
  • Industrialized state with high education institutions (UNC Chapel Hill, Duke)
  • Moderate response to civil rights movements
  • Large rural population and high school dropout rate
  • Least changed of former Confederate states

Charles Aycock and the Progressive Paradox

• Nickname: Education Governor
• Contributions:
  • Started 599 schools for whites, 91 for blacks (segregated schools)
  • Advocated for public education and modernization
• Controversies:
  • 1900 election campaign supported a suffrage amendment to disenfranchise African-Americans and poor whites
  • Introduced Jim Crow segregation laws
  • Involved in 1898 racist election and Wilmington uprising
• Modern Reactions:
  • Removal of Aycock's name from dorms and statutory hall

Progressive Reforms in North Carolina

• Government Role: Active in solving state problems
• Education:
  • Public school movement
  • Graded schools
• Child Labor and Prohibition: Limited success
• Public Health and Welfare:
  • Assisted hospitals for deaf, mentally ill, blind
  • First full-time county health workers
  • Anti-hookworm campaign (1909-1915) funded by Rockefeller

Conclusion

• Ongoing Question: What kind of state is North Carolina?
  • Progressive, conservative, reactionary, or liberal?
• Preparation for next chapter: 1920s (Chapter 14)
• Advice: Read Chapter 13, then proceed to Chapter 14
• Closing Remark: Be safe and careful

These notes summarize Dr. Campbell's lecture on the introduction to 20th-century progressivism, focusing on the paradoxical nature of North Carolina's history and the influence of Charles Aycock.