Progressive Era

Progressive Era

Late 19th–early 20th century reform movement challenging Social Darwinism and promoting government intervention

Social Darwinism

Belief that success is based on survival of the fittest with limited government role

Reform Darwinism

Idea that society can solve problems through government action

Lester Ward

Sociologist who criticized Social Darwinism and supported reform

Richard Ely

Economist who supported government intervention

Muckraking

Journalism exposing corruption and social issues

Political Machine

Organization controlling politics through favors and corruption

Initiative

Citizens propose laws

Referendum

Citizens vote on laws

Recall Election

Remove elected officials

Secret Ballot

Private voting system

Theodore Roosevelt

Progressive president who regulated corporations

September 6 1901

McKinley shot

September 11 1901

McKinley dies Roosevelt becomes president

Northern Securities v United States

Allowed federal regulation of trusts

Meat Inspection Act

Ensured safe meat processing

Pure Food and Drug Act

Regulated food and medicine

Hepburn Act

Strengthened railroad regulation

Election of 1908

Taft defeats Bryan

William Howard Taft

President with limited government view

Election of 1912

Wilson wins after party split

Bull Moose Party

Roosevelt’s Progressive Party

Woodrow Wilson

President during WWI

Spanish American War

1898 war with Spain

February 15 1898

USS Maine explodes

Teller Amendment

US would not annex Cuba

Platt Amendment

US control over Cuba

Big Stick Diplomacy

Use of military power

Roosevelt Corollary

US acts as police in Western Hemisphere

Panama Canal

Completed 1914 connects oceans

Dollar Diplomacy

Taft uses economic influence

Moral Diplomacy

Wilson promotes democracy

June 28 1914

Archduke assassinated

World War I

1914 to 1918 global war

May 7 1915

Lusitania sunk

Zimmermann Note

Germany asks Mexico to attack US

April 2 1917

US enters WWI

Espionage Act

Against interfering with war

Sedition Act

Limits speech against government

November 11 1918

WWI ends

Fourteen Points

Wilson peace plan

Treaty of Versailles

Ends WWI punishes Germany

Henry Cabot Lodge

Opposed treaty

Election of 1920

Harding wins

Red Scare

Fear of communism

Immigration Act 1921

3 percent limit

Immigration Act 1924

2 percent limit

Teapot Dome Scandal

Oil corruption

Stock Market Crash 1929

Start of depression

Great Depression

Economic collapse

Overproduction

Too many goods leading to economic decline

1907 Standard Oil Case

Company fined for illegal rebates

USS Maine Explosion (1898)

Explosion of a U.S. battleship in Havana Harbor that helped spark the Spanish-American War

Teller Amendment

Statement that the U.S. would not annex Cuba after the Spanish-American War

Platt Amendment

Gave the U.S. the right to intervene in Cuba and control aspects of its government and economy

Spanish-American War (1898)

Short war in which the U.S. defeated Spain and gained overseas territories

Rough Riders

Volunteer cavalry unit led by Theodore Roosevelt during the Spanish-American War

Philippine Insurrection

Conflict between the U.S. and Filipino rebels after the Spanish-American War

Guam, Puerto Rico, Philippines

Territories acquired by the U.S. after the Spanish-American War

Open Door Policy

U.S. policy promoting equal trade access in China

Big Stick Diplomacy

Foreign policy using military strength to influence other nations

Roosevelt Corollary

Extension of Monroe Doctrine stating U.S. can intervene in Latin America

Panama Canal (1914)

Man-made canal connecting Atlantic and Pacific Oceans

Panama Revolt

U.S.-supported rebellion that led to Panama’s independence from Colombia

Dollar Diplomacy

Taft’s policy of using economic power to influence countries

Moral Diplomacy

Wilson’s policy promoting democracy and moral leadership abroad

Archduke Franz Ferdinand Assassination (June 28, 1914)

Event that triggered World War I

Alliances in WWI

Military agreements that pulled many countries into war

Neutrality (1914–1917)

U.S. policy of staying out of World War I initially

Lusitania (May 7, 1915)

British ship sunk by Germany killing Americans

Unrestricted Submarine Warfare

German policy of attacking ships without warning

Zimmermann Note

Telegram from Germany urging Mexico to attack the U.S.

U.S. Entry into WWI (April 2, 1917)

Date Wilson asked Congress for a declaration of war

Committee on Public Information

Government agency that promoted pro-war propaganda

George Creel

Head of the Committee on Public Information

War Effort Sacrifices

Measures like rationing food and planting victory gardens

National War Labor Board

Agency to prevent labor strikes during WWI

Espionage Act (1917)

Law prohibiting interference with war effort

Sedition Act (1918)

Law limiting speech critical of government during war

Armistice (November 11, 1918)

End of fighting in World War I

Fourteen Points

Wilson’s plan for peace and preventing future wars

League of Nations

International organization to maintain peace

Treaty of Versailles

Treaty ending WWI and punishing Germany

Henry Cabot Lodge

Senator who opposed the Treaty of Versailles

Article X

Part of League of Nations requiring collective security

Election of 1908

Taft defeats Bryan with Roosevelt’s support

Election of 1912

Wilson wins after Republicans split

Election of 1916

Wilson reelected with slogan “He kept us out of war”

Election of 1920

Harding wins in a landslide

Election of 1924

Coolidge wins presidency

Election of 1928

Hoover defeats Al Smith

Republican Party Split (1912)

Division between Taft and Roosevelt leading to Wilson’s victory

Bull Moose Party

Progressive Party formed by Roosevelt in 1912

Eugene V. Debs

Socialist candidate in multiple elections

Tariff Debate under Taft

Conflict over raising or lowering tariffs dividing Republicans

Trust Busting

Government actions to break up monopolies

Standard Oil Case (1907)

Company fined for illegal practices

Kenesaw Mountain Landis

Judge who fined Standard Oil heavily

Expansionism

U.S. policy of expanding influence globally