Populists and progressives

Farm overproduction

Excess crop production by farmers led to falling prices and contributed to rural economic struggles.

ICC (1887)

Interstate Commerce Commission created to regulate railroad rates and curb monopolistic practices.

Sherman Anti-Trust Act (1890)

First federal law to break up monopolies and limit anti-competitive business practices.

Granger laws

State laws pushed by farmers to regulate railroads and grain storage fees.

Populist platform

1890s political agenda calling for income tax, direct Senate elections, free silver, and regulation of big business.

Mary Lease

Populist speaker who urged farmers to “raise less corn and more hell.”

Election of 1896

Clash between pro-gold Republican McKinley and pro-silver Democrat Bryan; McKinley won, ending Populist influence.

William Jennings Bryan

Democratic candidate known for “Cross of Gold” speech advocating free silver to help farmers.

Political Machines

Powerful local party organizations that controlled votes and used patronage and corruption to stay in power.

Lincoln Steffens

Muckraker who exposed corruption in city governments through his book The Shame of the Cities.

Knights of Labor

Early labor union open to all workers; aimed for broad reforms but declined after violent strikes.

Homestead and Pullman Strikes

Major labor strikes that turned violent; weakened public support for unions.

Ida B. Wells

African American journalist who led anti-lynching campaigns and early civil rights activism.

Upton Sinclair

Muckraker who wrote The Jungle exposing unsanitary conditions in the meatpacking industry.

Jacob Riis

Photographer and journalist who exposed tenement living conditions in How the Other Half Lives.

Jane Addams

Founded Hull House, providing social services to immigrants and poor city residents.

Margaret Sanger

Advocate for birth control access and women’s reproductive rights.

John Muir

Environmentalist who promoted preservation of wilderness and helped establish national parks.

Gifford Pinchot

Conservationist who supported sustainable resource use; led U.S. Forest Service under TR.

Square Deal

Theodore Roosevelt’s policy of balancing labor, business, and public interests through regulation.

Anthracite Coal Strike

1902 strike where TR intervened to settle dispute, boosting federal role in labor conflicts.

Northern Securities Case

TR used Sherman Anti-Trust Act to break up a major railroad monopoly.

Election of 1912

Four-way race won by Democrat Wilson after Republican split between Taft and Roosevelt.

Federal Trade Commission

Government agency created to monitor and prevent unfair business practices.

Robert La Follette

Progressive Wisconsin governor and senator who pushed reforms like direct primaries and regulation.

16th Amendment

Allowed the federal government to collect an income tax.

17th Amendment

Established direct election of U.S. Senators by voters.

18th Amendment

Started Prohibition by banning manufacture, sale, and transport of alcohol.

19th Amendment

Granted women the right to vote in 1920.

Federal Reserve Act

Created a national banking system to regulate the money supply and prevent financial crises.

AFL

American Federation of Labor, a major union focused on skilled workers and bread-and-butter issues.

WCTU

Women’s Christian Temperance Union; pushed for Prohibition and other social reforms.