Progressive Era Key Figures, Legislation, and Reforms in U.S. History

Muckrakers

Enterprising editors who financed extensive research and encouraged aggressive writing by their bright younger reporters, branded by Roosevelt.

Theodore Roosevelt

The 26th President of the United States, known for strong leadership, progressive reforms, and expanding America's role in world affairs.

Robert La Follette

Governor of Wisconsin who emerged as the most militant of the progressive Republican leaders, he snatched control from the corporations with monopolies and returned it to the people.

Social Welfare

Government programs and services designed to help people meet basic needs like food, housing, healthcare, and financial support.

Municipal Reform

Changes made to improve city governments, especially by reducing corruption and making services more efficient and fair.

Conservation

The Progressive Era effort—especially under Theodore Roosevelt—to protect natural resources by setting aside land as national parks, forests, and wildlife reserves.

Gifford Pinchot

Progressive Era leader who promoted conservation and helped manage U.S. forests as the first head of the U.S. Forest Service under Theodore Roosevelt.

New Nationalism

Theodore Roosevelt's political plan that favored strong federal government to regulate business, protect workers, and promote social justice

New Freedom

Platform of reformers advocated by Woodrow Wilson including stronger antitrust legislation to protect small business enterprises from monopolies.

Underwood Tariff (1913)

Provided for a substantial reduction of rates or import fees.

Niagara Movement

An early civil rights group founded in 1905 by W. E. B. Du Bois that demanded full political, civil, and social rights for African Americans.

Jacob Riis

Immigrant reporter for the New York Sun who wrote 'How the Other Half Lives,' an account of the dirt, disease, vice, and misery of New York slums.

Lincoln Steffens

NY reporter who launched a series of articles titled 'The Shame of Cities' which unmasked the corrupt alliance between big business and municipal government.

Ida B. Tarbell

Pioneering journalist who published a devastating but factual exposé of the Standard Oil Company.

John Muir

A naturalist and conservationist who helped preserve wilderness areas and played a key role in creating national parks like Yosemite.

Upton Sinclair

Wrote 'The Jungle,' which described the filth and disease in Chicago's slaughterhouses, focusing attention on the plight of workers.

William Howard Taft

27th President of the United States, known for trust-busting, expanding conservation, and later serving as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

Richard Ballinger

Secretary of the Interior under Taft who favored business use of public lands, angering conservationists and hurting Taft politically

Initiative

A progressive reform measure allowing voters to petition to have a law placed on the general ballot.

Referendum

A progressive reform procedure allowing voters to place a bill on the ballot for final approval.

Recall

A progressive ballot procedure allowing voters to remove elected officials from office.

16th Amendment

Gave Congress the power to collect a federal income tax.

17th Amendment

Established the direct election of US senators.

18th Amendment

Prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages.

19th Amendment

Gave women the right to vote over seventy years after the first organized calls for women's suffrage.

Elkins Act

A law that made it illegal for railroads to give secret rebates to favored customers, helping promote fairer rates

Hepburn Act

A law that gave the federal government power to regulate railroad rates, strengthening the Interstate Commerce Commission

Northern Securities Case

A Supreme Court case in which President Theodore Roosevelt successfully broke up a large railroad monopoly.

Women's Trade Union

An organization founded in 1903 that supported women workers and fought for better working conditions.

Muller v. Oregon

A landmark Supreme Court case where Louis D. Brandeis persuaded the court to accept limiting the hours of women workers.

Lochner v. New York

The Supreme Court invalidated a NY law establishing a ten-hour day for bakers.

Triangle Shirtwaist Fire

Lethal fire in 1911 at the Triangle Shirtwaist Company in NYC, leading to stronger laws regulating working hours and conditions.

Meat Inspection Act

Decreed that the preparation of meat shipped over state lines would be subject to federal inspection.

Pure Food and Drug Act

Designed to prevent the adulteration and mislabeling of foods and pharmaceuticals.

Sierra Club

Dedicated itself to preserving the wildness of the western landscape.

Yosemite National Park

A protected natural area in California, preserved for its scenic beauty and was a key focus of early conservation efforts.

Dollar Diplomacy

Name applied by President Taft's critics to the policy of supporting US investments and political interests abroad, used American money and investments to gain influence overseas.

Payne-Aldrich Act

While intended to lower tariff rates, this bill was revised, retaining high rates on most imports.

Ballinger-Pinchot Affair

A political scandal during Taft's presidency involving criticism of Secretary of the Interior Richard Ballinger.

Federal Reserve Act

Created the Federal Reserve System, the central bank of the U.S., to regulate the money supply and stabilize the economy.

Clayton Act

Lengthened the Sherman Act's list of business practices deemed offensive, including price discrimination.

Workingmen's Compensation Act

Granted assistance to federal civil-service employees during periods of disability.