AICE US progressive era

The Social Gospel Movement

called on governments, churches and private charities to

work together to help people in need. They especially wanted to educate the poor to

help themselves. Members of the movement also promoted temperance.

Socialists

believed that government should take over basic

industries.

Anarchists

desired that the country should break up into self-governing

communities

Communists

believed that workers should seize control of the means of

production through violent revolution and abolish private property

Muckrakers

first influential Progressives were journalists, writers and social scientists

who exposed the abuses and corruption of industrial society.

Jacob Riis

How the Other Half Lives

Living‑conditions of urban poor.

Ida Tarbell

The History of the Standard Oil Company

Rockefeller’s monopolistic tactics.

Upton Sinclair

The Jungle

Unsanitary practices in meat‑packing; spurred food‑safety legislation.

Jane Addams

formed “Settlement Houses” in Chicago known as Hull House

Settlement Houses

situated in slum neighborhoods and provided services to immigrants and

the urban poor, such as classes, English lessons, childcare, nursing of the sick, and help in obtaining naturalization

Municipal reform

Replaced “boss” rule with Progressive mayors and city commissions

Secret ballot

Private voting to prevent intimidation.

Initiative

Voters could directly introduce bills to state

legislature.

Referendum

Voters could repeal a law already passed by

legislature.

Recall

Ability to remove elected officials before term end.

Direct Primary

Party members selected nominees via popular vote.

16th Amend.

permits the federal government to collect

income taxes on individuals

17th Amend.

Direct election of U.S. Senators.

18th Amend.

Nationwide ban on alcoholic beverages.

19th Amend.

Women’s suffrage nationwide.

Square Deal

fair play and

equality of opportunity – control of corporations and the protection of consumers

Expedition Act of 1903

mployed more lawyers to work for the government so that

more legal action could be taken under the Sherman Anti-Trust Act.

Elkins Act of 1903

started the process of regulating the railways

Pure Food and Drug Act

prohibiting the adulteration of foods or

the use of poisons as preservatives. Medicine containers were required to bear labels

indicating their contents.

Department of Commerce and Labor Act 1903

cabinet reporting directly to the president. They had the power to

collect data from businesses that dealt with interstate commerce in order to regulate

businesses if there were evidence of monopoly or price-fixing

National

Conservation Commission.

conserving and preserving the natural

environment and wildlife.

William Howard Taft

Trust buster but against nature conservation

New freedom

attacking the “triple wall of privilege” (the tariff, the banking

system, and the trusts) with less government intervention

Underwood Tariff of 1913

high tariffs only benefited the

rich monopolists →lowered tariff

duties by 25%

Graduated Income Tax

direct tax on incomes in which the wealthier

people are taxed higher rates than others.

The Federal Reserve Act

created the Federal Reserve System that regulates

banks and serves as “a bank to the banks”. It also sets U.S. Monetary Policy –

which determines the amount of money circulating in the economy

The Clayton Anti-Trust Act 1914

prohibited certain unfair business practices

and said that the antitrust laws could not be used against labor unions or

farmers cooperatives

The Federal Trade Commission 1914

regulatory agency with powers to

investigate corporate activities and to issue orders forcing a corporation to

discontinue its business practice.

Federal Child Labor Act 1916

made a start in dealing with children under the age of 16 who were

known to be in work and often deprived of an education.