7.4 Reading Quiz

Urban middle class

A social class characterized by middle-income earners living in urban areas.

Progressives

Middle class reformers seeking to address social and political issues caused by industrialization and urbanization.

White collar workers

Employees engaged in jobs that do not involve manual labor, often seen in offices.

Professional associations

Organizations formed by professionals to collaborate on standards and practices.

Civic responsibility

The duties and obligations of citizens to be active, constructive members of society.

Protestant churches

Religious institutions that promoted social responsibility and morality.

Older stock

Families from established elites who felt replaced by industrialists and political machines.

Pragmatism

Philosophy advocating for experimentation and results as the basis of truth.

William James

A philosopher who argued for pragmatic approaches in assessing truth.

John Dewey

An educational reformer who believed in testing ideas through public experimentation.

Scientific management

A method developed to improve efficiency in industrial operations.

Frederick W. Taylor

Pioneer of scientific management who studied the efficiency of worker tasks.

Henry Demarest Lloyd

Muckraking journalist known for criticizing monopolistic practices.

Lloyd's Wealth Against Commonwealth

A publication attacking the corrupt practices of industries like Standard Oil.

Lincoln Steffens

Muckraker known for exposing corruption in local governments.

Ida Tarbell

Investigative journalist famous for her work on the Standard Oil Company.

Jacob Riis

Photojournalist who documented living conditions of the urban poor.

Theodore Dreiser

Author known for his realistic portrayals of industrial society's vices.

Secret ballot

Voting method adopted to ensure voter privacy and reduce intimidation.

Direct primary

Election system that allows voters to directly select party nominees.

Direct election of U.S. senators

Process allowing citizens to vote for their senators rather than state legislators.

17th Amendment

Constitutional change mandating the direct election of U.S. senators.

Initiative

Voter-driven process to propose legislation.

Referendum

Public vote on proposed laws as part of the legislative process.

Recall

Procedure allowing voters to remove an elected official from office before term ends.

Municipal reform

Local government improvements aimed at increasing efficiency and reducing corruption.

Commission plan

Local governance model where heads of departments are elected by voters.

Manager-council plan

City management system where an expert manager is appointed by an elected council.

Charles Evans Hughes

Reformer who combated insurance company fraud.

Hiram Johnson

Politician who fought against the Southern Pacific Railroad's power.

Wisconsin Idea

Robert La Follette's policy framework promoting progressive reforms.

Regulatory commissions

State entities established to oversee and regulate business practices.

Temperance movement

Social movement aimed at curbing alcohol consumption.

National Child Labor Committee

Group advocating for laws to protect children from labor exploitation.

Compulsory school attendance

Mandatory education requirements to keep children out of the workforce.

Florence Kelley

Reformer who fought for labor laws protecting women and children.

Lochner v. New York

Supreme Court case that invalidated a law limiting working hours.

Muller v. Oregon

Court case that upheld laws protecting women from long work hours.

Triangle Shirtwaist fire

Disaster leading to increased safety regulations in factories.

Square Deal

Roosevelt's policy ensuring fair treatment for both labor and business.

Trust-busting

Government actions to break up monopolies and regulate trusts.

Elkins Act (1903)

Law strengthening regulations against railroad rebate practices.

Hepburn Act (1906)

Legislation granting the ICC authority to regulate railroad rates.

The Jungle

Upton Sinclair's novel exposing unsanitary conditions in the meatpacking industry.

Pure Food and Drug Act (1906)

Legislation enforcing food and drug safety standards.

Meat Inspection Act (1906)

Law mandating sanitary inspections of meatpacking plants.

Conservation

Movement to protect natural resources and manage land sustainably.

Newlands Reclamation Act (1902)

Legislation to fund irrigation projects in western states.

White House Conference of governors

Event promoting coordinated conservation efforts at the federal and state levels.

Gifford Pinchot

First director of the U.S. Forest Service, championing conservation.

Mann-Elkins Act (1910)

Expanded the ICC's oversight to include telephone and telegraph companies.

16th Amendment

Constitutional change allowing for federal income tax.

Firing of Pinchot

Controversial dismissal sparking accusations of Taft's betrayal of progressives.

Payne-Aldrich Tariff (1909)

Taft's tariff that raised existing rates, disappointing reformers.

Socialist Party

Political party advocating for public ownership and workers' rights in early 1900s.

Eugene V. Debs

Socialist leader who emerged from labor union activities.

Bull Moose Party

Progressive Republican faction led by Roosevelt in 1912.

New Nationalism

Roosevelt's progressive platform promoting social welfare and business regulation.

New Freedom

Wilson's plan focusing on limiting government and business power.

Underwood Tariff (1913)

Significant tariff reduction coupled with a graduated income tax.

Federal Reserve Act (1914)

Established the U.S. central banking system to regulate economic stability.

Federal Reserve Board

Supervisory board overseeing the 12 district Federal Reserve Banks.

Clayton Antitrust Act (1914)

Enhanced protections against monopolistic practices for unions.

Federal Trade Commission

Agency tasked with enforcing unfair trade practice laws.

Federal Farm Loan Act (1916)

Established banks to provide low-interest loans to farmers.

Child Labor Act (1916)

Banned interstate commerce of goods produced by child labor.

Racial segregation

Institutional separation of races, upheld by Plessy v. Ferguson.

Lynchings

Racially motivated killings by mobs, often targeting Black Americans.

Ida B. Wells

Activist who campaigned against lynching.

Booker T. Washington

Leader advocating for vocational education for African Americans.

W. E. B. Du Bois

Civil rights activist demanding immediate equal rights for African Americans.

NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People)

Civil rights organization founded to combat racial discrimination.

National Urban League (1911)

Organization assisting Black migrants adapting to urban environments.

Carrie Chapman Catt

Suffrage leader who advocated for women's voting rights.

NAWSA (National American Woman Suffrage Association)

Organization advocating for women's suffrage and increased civic participation.

Alice Paul

Women's rights activist who founded the National Woman's Party.

National Woman's Party

Group focused on obtaining women's suffrage through federal amendment.

19th Amendment

Constitutional amendment granting women the right to vote.

League of Women Voters

Post-suffrage organization aimed at educating voters.

Margaret Sanger

Activist promoting birth control awareness and women's reproductive rights.