5 - Progressivism and Reform

Social Studies Final Review

Progressives

People whose goals were to:

• End government corruption

• Improve the life of factory workers

• End alcoholism

• Gain women’s suffrage

Theodore Roosevelt

• Increased regulation of many industries, including

  • Railroads

  • Food & Drug

  • Coal mining, etc.

• Conservation (protecting national resources, created national parks)

William Taft

• Federal Income Tax (16^th Amendment Passed)

• Increased federal regulations of businesses

• Direct Election of Senators (17^th Amendment Passed)

• Supported high Tariffs (forces Americans to pay more for imported goods)

Woodrow Wilson

• Lowered tariffs

• Federal Reserve Act passed

• Federal trade Commission

• Clayton Antitrust Act

Muckrakers

Journalists who exposed problems in politics and society. Their articles and books brought about important changes and improvements

Ida Tarbell

Muckraker - wrote magazine articles (“History of Standard Oil” about the cut-throat practices of Standard Oil (Rockefeller)). Helped bring about the breakup of the Standard Oil monopoly.

Upton Sinclair

Muckraker - Wrote The Jungle, which told about the unsanitary conditions in the meat factories. Led to the creation of food inspection laws.

Jacob Riis

Muckraker - Reporter/ photographer who described horrors of life in NYC slums. Published How the Other Half Lives.

Lincoln Steffens

Muckraker - Wrote The Shame of Our Cities. Exposed political corruption in local politics and law enforcement.

Temperance

Moderation of drinking (and sale, etc.) of liquor

Prohibition

The banning of the sale, manufacture, and transport of liquor

Woman’s Suffrage

Women’s right to vote

16^th Amendment

Federal Income Tax: the Government taxes workers’ wages.

17^th Amendment

Direct Election of Senators: (Senators are elected by the people. They used to be chosen by state legislatures)

18^th Amendment

Prohibition: banned of the sale, manufacture, and transport of liquor

19^th Amendment

Women’s Suffrage: gave woman the right to vote

Populists

A political party focused on reform. No populist ever became president, but their ideas were adopted by the Progressive Party.

Corruption

using a public office for illegal purposes

Political Machine

Organization of a political party that granted favors in return for votes (This is corrupt)

Spoils System

The practice of rewarding political supporters with government jobs (begun by Andrew Jackson—can lead to corruption)

Bull Moose Party

Party formed by Teddy Roosevelt when he tried to run for re-election (he lost).

NAACP

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People

Conservation

Protecting natural resources

Food and Drug Act

Law passed (under TR) requiring that ingredients be listed and truth be told about medicine

Square Deal

Roosevelt’s campaign platform—he promised that the American people would get “a square deal all around.” fairness

Meat Inspection Act

(TR) set sanitary standard for meat packing and required inspection of meats