Progressive Movement: Key Reforms in U.S. History and Policy

The Progressive Movement

began in the late 1800s and early 1900s as a response to problems caused by industrialization, urbanization, and political corruption.

Big Business & Monopolies

Large companies (trusts) eliminated competition, leading to higher prices and poor working conditions (long hours, low pay, unsafe factories).

Corrupt Government

"Political machines" and "bosses" worked with rich industrialists to keep power and wealth in the hands of a few ("robber barons").

Poverty & Tenement Life

Immigrants and the poor lived in crowded, unsafe housing with little sanitation.

Moral Decline

Families suffered as mothers and children worked long hours. Alcohol abuse led to the Prohibition movement.

Populism

Farmers and workers formed a political movement calling for reform; it laid the foundation for the Progressive Movement.

The Muckrakers:

Journalists who exposed social, political, and business problems to the public.

Jacob Riis

How the Other Half Lives: Showed poor living conditions in NYC tenements.

Ida Tarbell

The History of Standard Oil: Exposed Rockefeller's oil monopoly.

Upton Sinclair

The Jungle: Revealed unsafe meatpacking conditions.

Progressives

wanted to correct injustices and restore economic opportunities.

Protect Social Welfare

Help people in need (women, children, poor). Create safer living and working conditions.

Promote Moral Development

Encourage self-improvement and temperance (Prohibition).

Create Economic Reform

Limit the power of big business. Support labor laws and fair wages.

Foster Efficiency

Make government and business more effective.

Government Reform

Initiative, Recall, Referendum, and Primary System gave people more power in government. 17th Amendment - direct election of senators.

Child Labor Laws

National Child Labor Committee and Keating-Owen Act restricted child labor.

Workplace Safety

Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire led to new safety regulations in factories.

Food & Drug Safety

Meat Inspection Act and Pure Food and Drug Act ensured safe food and medicines.

Sherman Antitrust Act

Broke up monopolies to restore competition.

Clayton Antitrust Act

Strengthened antitrust laws and protected workers' rights.

Federal Trade Act

Regulated unfair business practices and promoted fair competition.

Railroad Regulation

Elkins Act and Hepburn Act increased government control over railroads to prevent abuse.

National Parks & Forests

Led by John Muir and Gifford Pinchot; created National Parks, Forest Reserves, and Wildlife Sanctuaries.

16th Amendment

Established federal income tax to fund government programs.

17th Amendment

Allowed direct election of U.S. Senators by the people.

18th Amendment

Prohibition

Prohibition:

19th Amendment

banned the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcohol.

Women's suffrage

Women's suffrage

granted women the right to vote

Trust-Busting

Broke up monopolies such as Northern Securities to restore competition.

Conservationist

Protected forests and wildlife; supported creation of National Parks and Forest Reserves.

Health Reform

Pushed for the Pure Food and Drug Act to ensure safe food and medicine.

Square Deal

Program focused on fairness for workers, consumers, and businesses.

Big Stick Diplomacy

Used strong military presence, especially navy, to influence international affairs.

Roosevelt Corollary

Asserted that the U.S. would police the Western Hemisphere to prevent European intervention.

Panama Canal

Oversaw construction to connect Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, boosting trade and military strength.

Russo-Japanese War

Mediated peace and won the Nobel Peace Prize.

Trust-Busting

Broke up twice as many trusts as Roosevelt, continuing efforts to regulate monopolies.

Payne-Aldrich Tariff

Raised tariffs, which angered Progressive reformers.

Dollar Diplomacy

Used U.S. financial power to influence foreign governments and stabilize economies.

New Freedom

Program emphasizing that all monopolies were bad and the government should remain small.

Clayton Antitrust Act

Strengthened laws to break up monopolies and protect competition.

Federal Reserve Act

Created the U.S. banking system to control the economy and regulate credit.

Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

Regulated business and trade to prevent unfair practices.

Missionary Diplomacy

Denied recognition to undemocratic governments in Latin America.

Muckraking

Investigative journalism exposing corruption or social issues. Brought public attention to injustices and inspired reform. Modern journalists still investigate wrongdoing (e.g., environmental issues, corporate scandals). Examples: Riis, Tarbell, Sinclair.

Monopolies

Eliminated competition, controlled prices, and treated workers unfairly. Progressive Presidents Roosevelt, Taft, and Wilson all worked to break up trusts. Examples: Standard Oil (Rockefeller), Northern Securities (JP Morgan). Negative aspects: high prices, low wages, poor conditions, lack of innovation.

Progressive Movement

Reform movement (late 1800s-early 1900s) responding to industrialization, urbanization, and political corruption.

Big Business & Monopolies

Large companies (trusts) that eliminated competition, leading to higher prices and poor working conditions.

Corrupt Government

Political machines and bosses worked with wealthy industrialists to keep power in the hands of a few ("robber barons").

Poverty & Tenement Life

Immigrants and the poor lived in crowded, unsafe housing with little sanitation.