The Progressives - 7.4 APUSH Topic Review

What four constitutional amendments were passed during the Progressive Era?

1. Graduated income tax

2. Direct election of senators to reform Congress

3. The right to vote for women

4. An effort to improve society through the prohibition of alcohol

Pragmatism

The idea that truth should be able to pass the public test of observable result in an open, democratic society

William James & John Dewey

Advocates of pragamatism

Fredrick W. Taylor

Scientists who’s studies came to support the Progressive idea of implementing a scientific management system to organize people more efficiently. This idea is known a Taylorism.

Standard Oil Company

Founded by John D. Rockefeller in 1870, came to symbolize the trusts and monopolies of the Gilded Age

Who were some major muckrakers during this period?

• Henry Demarest Llyod (Atlantic Monthly)l, focused on exposing oil monopoly

• Lincoln Steffens & Idea Tarbell (McClure’s Magazine), focused on Standard Oil Company

• Jacob Riis, focused on exposing the corruption of big city politics through his books

• Theodore Dreiser, focused in the ruthlessness of industrialist thinking through his books

Secret ballot

In order to prevent voting intimidation, the U.S. adopted the secret ballot in which people voted secretly in private booths

Robert La Follette

Progressive governor of Wisconsin, introduced the direct primary

Direct Primary

Introduced by La Follette as a way of overthrowing boss rule and placing the candidate nomination process directly in the hands of voters

17th Amendment

implemented the direct election of U.S. senators

Initative. referendum. & recall

• Initiative: allows voters to propose a law

• Referendum: allows citizens to vote on proposed laws.

• Recall: allows voters to remove an elected official from office.

Municipal reform

Changes in city governments made to encourage greater efficiency, honesty, and responsiveness.

Commission plan

A form of city government under which a board of city commissioners is popularly elected (often on a nonpartisan ballot). The commissioners make policy as a city council, but they also run city departments

Manager-council plan

Ultimately replaced comission plan

Wisconsin Idea

Developed by Robert LaFollette, created by the state's progressives to do away with monopolies, trusts, high costs of living, and predatory wealth. Reforms in labor and worker's rights were one of the major aspects of the Wisconsin Idea.

Square deal

Roosevelt economic policy that favored fair relationships between companies and workers. Embraced the three C's: conservation of natural resources, control of corporations, and consumer protection.

Trust-busting

Elkins Act

Gave ICC power to more closely regulate railroad companies

Hepburn Act

A 1906 United States federal law that expanded the jurisdiction of the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) and gave it the power to set maximum railroad rates.

Newlands Reclamation Act

A United States federal law that funded irrigation projects for the arid lands of 20 states in the American West

Gifford Pinchot

A notable conservationist who headed the federal Division of Forestry, criticized William Taft and was fired because of it causing division within the Progressive party

Manns-Elkin Act

Strengthened the authority of the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) over railroad rates. The law also expanded the ICC's jurisdiction to include regulation of telephone/telegraph communications

Payne-Aldrich Tariff

Signed by Taft and caused controversy since it raised taxes on imports in contrast to his campaign promise to lower tariffs

Eugene V. Debs

Leader within the Socialist party in this period

New nationalism

Proposed by Teddy Roosevelt, favored heavy government intervention in order to assure social justice. It was heavily influenced by Herbert Croly's The Promise of American Life

New freedom

Proposed by Woodrow Wilson, Wilson wanted to improve the banking system, lower tariffs, and, by breaking up monopolies, give small businesses freedom to compete

Underwood tariff (1913)

Pushed through Congress by Woodrow Wilson, this 1913 tariff reduced average tariff duties by almost 15% and established a graduated income tax

19th amendment

Gave all women the right to vote

Muller v. Oregon (1908)

Case that upheld protective legislation for women’s working conditions on the grounds of women's supposed physical weakness

Federal Farm Loan Act (1916)

Passed by Wilson in 1916. Was originally a reform wanted by the Populist party. It gave farmers the chance to get credit at low rates of interest.

Clayton Antitrust Act

New antitrust legislation constructed to remedy deficiencies of the Sherman Antitrust Act, namely, it's effectiveness against labor unions

William Howard Taft (1908-1912)

He was endorsed by Roosevelt because he pledged to carry on progressive program, then he didn't appoint any Progressives to the Cabinet and actively pursued anti-trust law suits