Progressive Era

US History

Progressive Era

Early 20th century reform movement seeking to return control of the government to the people, to restore economic opportunities, and correct injustices in American Life.

Goals of Progressivism

Protecting social welfare

Promoting moral improvement

Creating economic reform

Fostering efficiency

Initiative

A bill originated by the people rather than the lawmakers

Recall

Voters may request a revote of elected officials if enough voters ask for it

Referendum

citizen’s vote on the issues

17th amendment

Direct election of senators: force senators to be more responsive to thee public, progressives pushed for the popular election of senators

18th amendment + prohibition

The banning of alcoholic beverages

Suffrage

The right to vote

19th amendment

Women having the right to vote

Triangle shirt factory fire and effects

Tragic fire - workers were locked in; no fire escapes

Teddy Roosevelt as President (Republican

Gained war fame from the Spanish American war of 1890

Trustbusting /trust regulator

Sherman anti trust act

Conservation

Bull moose party

Muckrackers

Journalists who wrote about the corrupt side of business and public life in mass circulation magazines during the early 20th century, brought all of the negative things about the country to light.

The jungle

Novel about immigrant workers in chicago’s meatpacking industry , danger to workers safety and danger to consumers

Meat inspection act of 1906

Dictated strict cleanliness requirements for meatpackers and created the program of federal meat inspection

pure food and drug act of 1906

Stopped the sale of contaminated foods and medicines and called for truth in labeling

Trustbusting

Combat current trusts and prevent future ones from happening

Breaking up large businesses and monopolies

Conservation

To limit use of natural resources

William Howard taft

Cautious progressive agenda

Hesitated using the media for public opinion arousal

Payne Aldrich tariff

Woodrow Wilson (Democrat)

Demanded stronger anti trust legislation baking reform, and reduced tariffs. Endorsed progressive platform called New Freedom
Clayton Anti trust act of 1914
FTC - Federal Trade Commission

Busy with WW1
Federal reserve system

Bull moose party of 1912

1912, Roosevelt wanted to run again

direct election

all states adoption of initiative, recall, and referendums

Women’s suffrage, 8 hour work day, work compensation, laws against child labor

Clayton anti trust act 1914

strengthen the Sherman antitrust act of 1890

prohibited corporations from acquiring the stock of another if doing so would create a monopoly

FTC

W.E.B Dubois

Upset by racial injustice

1905 AA held civil rights conference in Niagra Falls

1909 Joined with AA and white reformers, formed the NAACP

NAACP

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People