History Chapter 27

Social Gospel

A reform movement that applied Christian ethics to social problems caused by industrialization, arguing that society had a moral responsibility to help the poor, improve working conditions, and reduce inequality.

Muckrakers

Progressive-era journalists who exposed corruption, unsafe working conditions, and abuses by big business and government in order to promote reform.

Initiative

A Progressive reform that allowed voters to propose laws directly by collecting enough signatures, bypassing state legislatures.

Referendum

A process that allows voters to vote directly on laws passed by legislatures, increasing direct democracy.

Recall

A Progressive reform allowing voters to remove elected officials from office before the end of their term.

Australian Ballot

A secret ballot system printed and distributed by the government to reduce voter intimidation, bribery, and corruption.

Muller v. Oregon (1908)

Supreme Court case that upheld limits on women’s working hours, arguing that women needed special protection due to their role in society.

Lochner v. New York (1905)

Supreme Court case that struck down a law limiting bakers’ working hours, ruling it violated freedom of contract.

Triangle Shirtwaist Company Fire (1911)

A deadly factory fire in New York City that exposed unsafe working conditions and led to major labor safety reforms.

Elkins Act (1903)

Law that strengthened the Interstate Commerce Act by prohibiting railroad rebates and requiring railroads to publish shipping rates.

Meat Inspection Act (1906)

Law that required federal inspection of meat products to ensure sanitation and safety, passed after public outrage from The Jungle.

Pure Food and Drug Act (1906)

Law that banned the sale of contaminated or mislabeled food and drugs and required accurate labeling.

Newlands Reclamation Act (1902)

Law that funded irrigation projects in western states to encourage settlement and agriculture.

Hetch Hetchy Valley

A valley in Yosemite National Park flooded to provide water to San Francisco, sparking a major debate between conservationists and preservationists.

Panic of 1907

A financial crisis caused by bank failures and stock market instability that exposed weaknesses in the U.S. banking system and led to banking reform.

Dollar Diplomacy

Foreign policy under President Taft that promoted U.S. economic influence abroad through investment rather than military force.

Payne-Aldrich Bill (1909)

A tariff law that failed to significantly lower tariffs, angering Progressives and splitting the Republican Party.

New Nationalism

Theodore Roosevelt’s political program calling for strong federal regulation of big business and social justice reforms.

New Freedom

Woodrow Wilson’s reform program that emphasized small government, competition, and breaking up monopolies.