Chapter 23 - Progressive Era

progressive era

roughly 1900-1917, included gilded age corruption, bad economy, activists

4 tenements of progressive era

democracy, efficiency in government, regulation of business, social justice for the poor, opposite of laissez-faire government

muckrakers

journalists who exposed corruption and scandals

promote genera welfare

people want more basic services like disability, revolution act

henry demarest lloyd

wrote wealth against commonwealth criticizing monopolies, prominent muckraker like james muckraker during the progressive era

Lincoln Steffens

wrote The Shame of the Cities against political machines

Jacob Riis

wrote How the Other Half Lives, exposing slums, tenements, and conditions of the poor

4 themes of progressive era

democracy, efficiency, regulation, social justice

ballot initiative

anyone can propose laws

referendum

anyone can vote on a specific law

recall

people can vote people out of office

17th amendment

people can nominate senators rather than state legislation choosing them

frederick taylor

father of taylorism - scientific management, no more spoils system!

Sherman Anti-trust Act

put some regulations in place against big businesses, loopholes

Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire

doors latched shut to keep out union workers, people trapped inside, leads to numerous reforms

Muller vs Oregon

maximized 10 hour workdays for women

prohibition

banned alcohol, Roosevelt was a prohibitionist

square deal

Roosevelt, fair to business and to labor, use Sherman anti trust act to regulate big business, called the “trust thruster”

Coal strike

1902, miners wanted 20% increase in pay, 9 hr workdays, management recognition of union. Company shuts down to try and break strike

Coal strike resolution

Roosevelt forces a deal by saying company will become federally owned if it can’t compromise, miners receive 10% pay increase and decrease in hours but no union recognition

Upton Sinclair

Wrote The Jungle, exposing lack of refrigeration in meat industry and unsafe standards

Meat Inspection Act

1906, federal inspection of meats

Pure food and drug act

1906, restriction on food and medicine, must be healthy

Conservation

Roosevelt sets aside 5 national parks and starts the national park system to protect the environment and frontier

Taft

Roosevelt’s successor, attempted tariff reform, congress disagreed. Set aside land, protected children in the workplace, supported 16 and 17 amendments

Progressive party

Aka bull moose party after Roosevelt got shot and said “feel fit as a bull moose”

Wilson

President after Taft, progressive party, president during WWI

16th amendment

Income tax

19th amendment

Women’s suffrage

Federal Reserve

Wilson, banks to regulate commerce

child labor

Wilson abolishes this

18th amendment

Prohibition

Underwood Tariff Act

Wilson 1913, lowers tariffs and introduces first income tax

Clayton Anti-trust act

Wilson, fixed Sherman anti trust loopholes, fighting against monopolies and trusts

Federal Trade Comission

Wilson, created in 1914 and had the power to investigate unfair trade practices