Let the Progressives Run the Show - Part 2

What fostered an unregulated environment for businesses to grow into monopolies and trusts by the 1900s?

The Second Industrial Revolution.

What were trusts?

Trusts were monopolies and cartels that consolidated to control a specific product or industry.

How were monopolies protected by the Constitution?

The Constitution protected monopolies that held copyrights, patents, and trademarks.

What allowed the growth of monopolies and trusts during the Gilded and Progressive Eras?

The government’s laissez-faire economic policy.

How many companies were merged into corporate firms between 1897 and 1904?

Over 4,000 companies were merged into 257 corporate firms.

What were "robber barons" known for?

Predatory consolidation practices, cutthroat competition, mistreatment of workers, and political corruption.

Who were some of the most notable "robber barons"?

Jay Gould and Cornelius Vanderbilt.

Who were the prominent business leaders that utilized monopolies and trusts?

John D. Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie, and J.P. Morgan.

What strategy did Rockefeller use to dominate the oil industry?

Horizontal integration, buying out competing oil refineries.

How did Carnegie expand his business?

He used recessions to his advantage and bought out weakened competition, using vertical integration strategies.

How did J.P. Morgan influence the industry?

He merged his firm with rival firms and influenced company policy by sitting on their board of directors.

What was the reformers' view on the inequality of wealth from unregulated growth of industry?

Reformers believed it weakened American democracy.

Who were the first to oppose the growth of corporations during the Agrarian movement?

Farmers.

What laws were passed by many states to regulate railroads and new companies?

Granger Laws.

What acts did Congress enact to regulate monopolies?

The Interstate Commerce Act of 1887 and the Sherman Anti-Trust Act of 1890.

How were these laws used after being enacted?

They were used against their intended purpose until they were revised in 1914.

What was Roosevelt’s stance on regulating trusts?

Roosevelt favored an aggressive approach and used his moral judgment to determine which monopolies to regulate.

What was Roosevelt’s first instance of federal regulation?

The Northern Securities Company in 1902.

What did Roosevelt propose to regulate business?

A "Square Deal" regarding business regulation.

What significant political event occurred in 1912 related to Roosevelt?

Roosevelt formed the Progressive Party after losing the Republican nomination.

What were the two primary arguments over how to pursue environmental protection?

Preservation (setting aside lands for aesthetic value) and Conservation (efficient use of resources).

What were the two primary goals of environmental protection policies?

Preservation of lands and conservation of resources for societal benefit.

Who was a key supporter of environmental conservation?

Theodore Roosevelt.

What actions did Roosevelt take to support conservation?

He endorsed the appointment of Gifford Pinchot and established the Forest Reserve Act of 1891 and the Reclamation Act of 1902.

How much land did Roosevelt set aside for national forests?

Over 234 million acres of land in 11 western states.

What racial issues were prominent in the South during the Progressive Era?

Disfranchisement and segregation of African Americans.

What was the purpose of the "grandfather clause" and "understanding clause"?

To protect whites from discriminatory voting laws like literacy tests and poll taxes.

What significant case legally established segregation in the South?

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896).

What was the response of African Americans to southern racism during the Progressive Era?

They refused to comply by nurturing their own culture and racial pride.

Who was an outspoken African American activist during the Progressive Era?

Ida B. Wells, who used journalism to criticize racial injustice.

Who were pivotal civil rights leaders during the 20th century?

Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois.

What were Washington's views on combating segregation?

He believed blacks should first establish an economic base before tackling segregation.

What was Du Bois's approach to combating segregation?

He argued for ceaseless agitation and demanded equality for African Americans.

What was the key difference between Washington and Du Bois in their views on civil rights?

Washington promoted conciliation and economic opportunity, while Du Bois advocated for militancy and social justice.

What is the significance of the Progressive Era?

It addressed many social and industrial issues, including government corruption, business regulation, labor rights, and civil rights.

How did Theodore Roosevelt contribute to anti-trust activities?

Roosevelt took an active role in regulating trusts but only to a certain extent.

How did Southern racial relations suffer during the Progressive Era?

White supremacists exploited political loopholes to establish and enforce segregationist policies.

What was the role of early civil rights activists during the Progressive Era?

They inspired African Americans to pursue equality with their efforts to combat racial injustice.