The Progressive Era

Progressive Era

1890-1920 Power to the voters-Democracy

Wing 1) initiative

Wing 2) Working and Living conditions

Wing 3) Recall

Initiative

You (the citizen) draw/write up the bills you want and the congressmen vote on YOUR idea

Referendum

Let the people decide basically POPSOV “What could be more democratic” Allowed citizens vote directly on a specific law or policy to either approve or reject.

Recall

Allowed citizens to remove their cities governers if they didn't live up to their promises.

17th Amendment

1913 Allowed citizens to Directly elect of senators

18th Amendment

1919 As a thank to Women after holding down the fort in WW1 Women were given the right to vote. And since women are less evil than men they figure we might make good voting decisions

Jacob Reese

Invented dumbbell tenements Wrote a book called “how the other half lives”

Triangle Shirtwaist company/fire

Young immigrant Women working in a factory when a fire breaks out on floor 8 message was sent out to evacuate but 9th and 10th floors didn’t get the message and they couldn’t get out. The only way out was a old elevator. So they jumped out the building.

Muckrackers

Journalists that expose problems in politics and social inewualities. Made the country “stink” for bringing up old shit (problems)

Upton Sinclair

Wrote “the Jungle” thesis of his book was to expose the terrible working conditions were in the meat packing industry. Most men (even the healthiest) couldn’t survive the job for over 6 months. Teddy was so pissed (but also sent people to go undercover and work to proove if its true or not) “I am for the countrie’s heart but end up hitting the stomach.” None cared abt the workers they cared abt what their eating

Results of The Jungle

Roosevelt comes up with the FDA and making them describe what’s in our food.

Pure Food and Drug Act

Made by Teddy Roosevelt our Modern Food and Drug Administration. Forces food/drink companies to list the ingredients,reccomendation for cooking and serving size etc.

Square Deal (Domestic Policy)

Winter 1901 everything was powered/heated by coal. Famous strike occurs in PA this very winter. Roosevelt was like if the owners don’t behave he will consfiscate their land and replace the workers with the US Army. ANd workers if they don’t behave they will be replaced with the US Army. So they make an agreement in the Oval Office. Loose-Loose

The 3 C’s

Control Corporations

Consumer Protection

Conservation of Natural Resources

Trust Buster

Pioneered Trust Busting (breaking up Monopolies) Teddy Roosevelt, believed there were good trusts that provided good services and bad one that just wanted money. More of a Trust Regulator. Took JP.Morgan to court. And Broke down Rockefeller’s company into small ones.

Didn’t take down Carnegie because he donated to the Navy and used his steel for the Navy while he was prez. Taft was the true trust buster