Unit 3 The Gilded Age and Progressive Era

Progressive Presidents

Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, Woodrow Wilson

Coal Strike of 1902

Strike by the United Coal Workers of America, threatening to shut down the winter coal supply. Theodore Roosevelt intervened federally, and resolved the dispute

Forest Reserve Act of 1891

First national forest conservation policy, authorized the president to set aside areas of land for national forests.

Square Deal

Economic policy by Roosevelt that favored fair relationships between companies and workers

Hepburn Act (1906)

This Act tightened existing railroad regulation. Empowered the Interstate Commerce Commission to set maximum railroad rates and to examine railroad's financial records.

Mann-Elkins Act (1910)

Signed by Taft, it bolstered the regulatory powers of the Interstate Commerce Commission and supported labor reforms. It gave the ICC the power to prosecute its own inquiries into violations of its regulations.

Payne-Aldrich Act

Signed by Taft in March of 1909 in contrast to campaign promises. Was supposed to lower tariff rates but Senator Nelson N. Aldrich of Rhode Island put revisions that raised tariffs. This split the Republican party into progressives (lower tariff) and conservatives (high tariff).

Gifford Pinchot

head of federal Division of Forestry, contributed to Roosevelt's natural conservation efforts

1912 Election

4 candidates (Wilson, Roosevelt, Taft, Debs), Progressive Party (Roosevelt) took votes from Republican (Taft) allowing Democrats (Wilson) to win, big influence of Progressive ideas

Underwood-Simmons Tariff Act

the 1913 reform law that lowered tariff rates and levied the first regular federal income tax

Federal Reserve Act 1913

This act created a central banking system, consisting of twelve regional banks governed by the Federal Reserve Board. It was an attempt to provide the United States with a sound yet flexible currency. The Board it created still plays a vital role in the American economy today.

Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

An agency that regulates a variety of business practices and curbs false advertising, misleading pricing, and deceptive packaging and labeling

New Nationalism

Roosevelt's progressive political policy that favored heavy government intervention in order to assure social justice

Farm Loan Act (1916)

made credit available to farmers at low interest rates

Child Labor Act of 1916

Federal ban on the interstate shipment of goods manufactured by children under the age of 14. The culmination of Progressive efforts since 1904 and of state laws, this was designed to reduce the use of young children in factories for long hours and low pay.

Workmen's Compensation Act 1916

This act granted assistance to federal civil service employees during periods of disability.

Adamson Act

1916 law that established 8 hour workday for railroad workers in order to avert a national strike

Espionage Act of 1917 and Sedition Act of 1918

Brought forth under the Wilson administration, they stated that any treacherous act or draft dodging was forbidden, outlawed disgracing the government, the Constitution, or military uniforms, and forbade aiding the enemy.

City Manager Plan, Commission Plan

Legislation designed to break up political machines and replace traditional political management of cities with trained professional urban planners and managers.

Tom Johnson of Cleveland

one of the most successful reform mayors; set new rules for the police, released debtors from prison and supported a fairer tax system

Samuel "Golden Rule" Jones (of Toledo)

effectively challenged local party bosses to bring the spirit of reform into city government with help from Hazen Pingree of Detroit. 7: 1934-1941

Robert La Follette (Wisconsin Idea)

A Progressive Republican governor that introduced a new idea to run state government, with normal citizens and academicians in universities offering advice and running regulatory agencies in tandem with politicians in office.

Oligopoly

a state of limited competition, in which a market is shared by a small number of producers or sellers.