Progressivism
A movement whose adherents were united by the beliefs that if people joined together and applied human intelligence to the task of improving the nation, progress was inevitable. Advocated government intervention, yet sought change without radically altering capitalism or the democratic political system.
Pragmatism
A philosophy that holds that truth can be discovered only through experience and that the value of ideas should be measured by their practical consequences. It had a significant influence on the progressives.
Muckrakers
Investigative journalists who specialized in exposing corruption, scandal, and vise. Helped build public support for progressive causes.
Hull House
The settlement house is based on Toynbee Hall in England. It served as the center of social reform and provided educational and social opportunities for working-class poor and immigrant women and children
Segregation
The purposeful separation of people into ethnic or racial groups. It was often actively perpetuated and enforced through “Black codes” and Jim crow legislation.
National Association of Colored Women
Largest federation of black local women’s clubs in 1896. Designed to relieve the suffering among poor black people, defend black women, and promote the interests of all black people.
Muller v. Oregon
1908 Supreme Court ruling that upheld an Oregon law establishing a 10-hour workday for women.
Feminist
Someone who believes that women should have access to the same opportunities as men.
National American Women Suffrage Association
Contributed to the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment in 1919, which guaranteed women the right to vote.
Suffragists
Supporters of voting rights for women
Nineteenth Amendment
Granted women the right to vote.
Tuskegee Institute
African American educational institute that focused on teaching industrious habits and practical job skills.
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
An organization that fought for racial equality. Focused on fighting discrimination through the courts.
Womeans Christian Temoerance Union
Created in protest following the Brown v. Board decision. Consisted primarily of businessmen and professionals who intimidated black members of the community by threatening their jobs, and denied bank loans to African Americans.
Eighteenth Amendment
Banned the production and sale of alcoholic beverages.
Mann Act
Banned the transportation of women across a state line for immoral purposes.
Eugenics
The pseudoscience of producing a genetic improvement of the human population through selective breeding.
Alice Paul
Asserted that women deserved the vote on the basis of their equality with men as citizens. Founded the Nationa; Woman’s Party. Proposed that Congress adopt an Equal Rights amendment.
Booker T. Washington
Promoted an approach that his critics called an accommodator but that he defended as practical. Was a black leader who founded the Tuskegee institute.
W.E.B Du Bois
Urged blacks to demand first-class citizenship wrote “The souls of Black Folk” arguing that African Americans need liberal education. Became involved in the NAACP.
Frances Willard
Led the Women’s Christian Temperance Union. Built this movement around the need to protect the home.
Margaret Sanger
Leading advocate of Birth control. Bellived in contraception.
Triangle Shirtwaist Fire
Fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist factory in NYC in 1911. Inadequate fire safety, provisions led to the deaths of 146 workers.
Conservationism
Progressive era political and social movement whose supporters worked for the preservation of America’s wildlife and natural lands.
Rough Riders
The nickname of Theodore Roosevelt's regiment of the 1st United States volunteer Calvalry.
Bully Pulpit
Used to describe the Presidency. Roosevelt believed that the president should use his office as a platform to promote his programs and rally public opinion.
Square Deal
Theodore Roosevelts plan ro provoke economic and palitical stabability to the nation by uarenteeing the rights of everyday workers and protecting business intrests.
Elkins Act
1903 Act outlawing railroad rebates. Designed ti protect smaller busnissess and shippers who were paying higher rates than large federal customers such as Standard Oil.
The Jungle
Muckraking novel by Upton Sinclair that potrayed the poor working and liveing conditions in the Chicago MeatPacking district, as well as unsainitary practices.
Pure Food and Drug Act
1906 law to prevnt the manufacturing, sale and transportaion of harmful “foods, drugs, medicenes and liquors”.
Progressive Party
Third-Party was formed by Theodore Roosevelt in 1912. The party split the Republican vote, allowing democrat Woodrow Wilson to win the election. Promoted an income tax, 8 hour workday, unions, woman suffrages and end to child labor.
New Nationalism
Roosevelt called for an increased regulation of large corporations, a more active role for the president, and the extension of social justice using the power of the federal government.
New Freedom
A term used by Woodrow Wilson to describe his limited-government, progressive agenda. It was offered as an alternaitive to Theodore Roosevelts New Nationalism.
Sixteenth Amendmend
Provided a legal basis for a graduated income tax, which had been previously deemed unconstitutional.
Clayton Antitrust Act
Strengthen the Sherman Antitrust Act banning certain corporate operations, such as price discrimination and overlapping membership on company boards, and protecting labor unions.
Adamson Act
Established an 8-hour workday and overtime for workers in private industry-in this case railroad workers.
Keating Owen Act
Prevented the interstate sale of goods made by children under the age of 14, among protections for children.
Workmens Compensation Act
Guaranteed the rights of federal employees to receive financial compensation or pursue legal action for any injury occurring on the job.
Theodore Roosevelt
Formed Roughriders. Considered his office a bully Pulpit. Sought to provide economic and political stability known as the square deal.
Robert La Follette
The Republican governor of Wisconsin led the Progressives by initiating a range of reforms to improve to performance of state government and increase its accountability to constituents. Dismantled the statewide political machine.
Gifford Pinchot
Chief forester in the development of agriculture emphasized the efficient use of resources and sought ways to reconcile the Public interest with private profit motives. Supported Hetch Hetchy Hydroelectric dam.
John Muir
He campaigned to save Hetch Hetchy from “ravaging commercialism” and warned against choosing economic gains over spiritual values.
William McKinley
President in 1900 assasinated a year later.
Upton Sinclair
Published the Jungle, a novel that portrayed the impoverished lives of immigrant workers.
William Jennings Bryan
A democratic candidate who lost to Taft. William was running for presidency for the third and final time.
William Howard Taft
When Roosevelt did not seek another term for the presidency in 1908 he left Taft as his successor. He easily beat William Jennings Bryan. He didn’t have the charisma or energy and proved a weak leader.
Eugene Debs
The socialist party candidate who had been once imprisoned for his leadership in the Pullman Strike. He finished 4th in the election and did not win any electoral votes, but he gathered around a million popular votes.