Social Studies- Progressive Era Vocabulary

Muckrakers

Journalists who exposed corruption and problems in society to push for reform.

Progressivism

A movement that wanted to fix social, political, and economic problems in the early 1900s.

Suffragist / Suffrage

someone who fought for suffrage, which means the right to vote.

Square Deal

Theodore Roosevelt’s plan to treat workers, businesses, and consumers fairly.

Trustbuster

A person or president who worked to break up large, unfair business monopolies.

Conservation

Protecting natural resources and the environment for future use.

Temperance Movement

A movement that encouraged people to stop drinking alcohol.

Prohibition

A period when making, selling, or transporting alcohol was illegal in the United States.

Segregation

The forced separation of people based on race.

Discrimination

Unfair treatment of people because of their race, religion, gender, or other differences.

Civil Rights

The basic rights and freedoms that all citizens should have.

Monopoly

A company that controls an entire industry with no competition.

Ku Klux Klan

A violent hate group that targeted African Americans, immigrants, Catholics, and Jews.

Anti‑Semitism

Prejudice or discrimination against Jewish people.

Initiative

A process that allows citizens to propose new laws directly.

Referendum

A vote by the public to approve or reject a law.

Recall

A process that allows voters to remove an elected official from office.

Political Machines

Groups that controlled city politics by trading favors for votes.

Spoils System / Patronage

Giving government jobs to supporters instead of qualified people.

Trusts

Large groups of companies controlled by a single board to reduce competition.

Tariff

A tax on imported goods.