The Progressive Era

what does reform mean?

change

what are the breaker boys?

kids who worked in coal mines

3 facts about the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Company Fire?

146 women were killed, ranging from ages 14-43. High fatality rate caused by unsafe working condtions; mostly new immigrants (jewish and italian) 

why was the Progressive Reform Movement successful (unlike populism)?

focused on the cities, focused on the middle class (more money and education than farmers), and a more moderate/gradual change, which resulted in both parties embracing it.

what were goals of the progressives?

bigger role for common people in the government, secret ballot and direct election of senators, regulate big businesses, better wages and working conditions, better health and medical care, and conservation of the environment. 

who was Jane Addams and what did she do?

“mother of social work” whp was a wealthy woman who became a suffragette and community activist; founded the Hull House in chicago 1889 which was one of the nation’s first community center and first woman to earn the nobel peace prize in 1931.

who was Robert LaFollete and what did he do?

first progressive governor, senator in wisconsin, established direct primaries, corporate taxes, and strict business regulations.

what are the Muckrakers?

name originated from TR’s insult, but they are reform minded journalists (known as investigative reporters today)

3 examples of Muckrakers

Upton Sinclair, “The Jungle”; Ida Tarbell, “The Rise of Standard Oil Company”; Jacob Rils “How the other Half Lives”; William Temple Hornday, “Our Vanishing Wildlife”

who was the first progressive (and youngest) president?

Theodore Roosevelt at 42 years old (1901-1908); progressive NY governor at first who angered the conservative republican party bosses, then became VP in 1900 election, later becoming president after McKinley’s assassination.

What are some legends of TR?

Dinner with Booker T. Washington; Teddy Bear named after bear story; TR’s Domestic Policy: the Square Deal.

SQD 1: Pennsylvania Coal Strike (1902)

workers demanded an 8 hr work day and 20% wage increase with collective bargaining, owners wanted no change made. TR abritration and created a compromise (first thing workers got smth)

SQD 2: Regulation of Big Businesses

TR referred to as “Trust Buster” (anti-monopoly), passed the Sherman Anti-Trust Act (1980) which was already a law but never enforced. Examples are Northern Security Companies owned by J.P. Morgan and Standard Oil.

SQD 3: Public Health laws

passed the Meat Inspection Act (1906), Pure Food and Drug Act (1906), and FDA which is inspection of food and testing over the counter drugs

runners of election of 1904? and winner?

republican: TR (winner); democrat: Alton Parker (from NY as well)

SQD 4: conservation

TR set aside more land for national parks than any other president; established 5 national parks, 55 wildlife sanctuaries, and 150 national forests (ex: Glacier Point Yosemite in CA with the help of John Muir - founder of Sierra Club)

TR’s Foreign Policy

created the “Great White Fleet” where TR put the U.S. on a path towards a modern, “speak softly but with a big stick” meaning peace thru strength; look powerful with no conflcit. 

whats the panama canal?

artifical waterway from caribbean sea to pacific ocean; construction from 1904-1914, one of gthe greatest, engineering achievements in the history of the world.

who won the nobel peace prize and why?

TR because he meditated an end to the Russo-Japanese War in 1904; he was the very first person to earn this.

who ran in the election of 1908?

repub: William Howard Taft (hand picked by TR bc he was TR’s secretary of War) dem: WIlliam Jennings Bryan (3rd time running, not smth that would happen present time)

what tariff did Taft pass?

payne-aldrich tariff: raised the tariff which is pro business and anti-consumer

who was Taft’s support?

“uncle” Joe Cannon: ultra conservative speaker of the house and opponent of TR

what was the Ballinger-Pichot Contrversey?

A dispute between Taft's Secretary of the Interior, Richard Ballinger, and Chief Forester, Gifford Pinchot (TR’s buddy), regarding land use and conservation policies, such as Ballinger’s pro private development of public land and Pinchot’s public land for the public only.

what was one thing admirable of Taft after his presidency?

only president to become a supreme court justice.

who ran the election of 1912?

repub: William Taft; Dem: Woodrow Wilson; Progressive: Theodore Roosevelt; Socialist: Eugene Debs

why was the election of 1912 unsuccessful for TR?

he spilt up the republican vote when he created his own party, guarenteeing a win for the Dems (Wilson).

who was Woodrow Wilson?

only president who was once governor of NJ, raised in the south and had a southern (racist) mentality.

what was Wilson’s Federal Trade commission?

investigates companies and oversees illegal business practices subject to court.

what was the federal reserve act by wilson?

created a national banking currency with 12 reserve banks and a federal reserve board with a chairman (a 4 yr term)

What was wilson’s Clayton Anti-Trust Act?

Wilson continued to go after monopolies, defining an illegal business practice

what was wilson’s underwood simmons tariff?

reduced tariffs for more competitionand aimed to lower prices for consumers; “rider” for income tax and debate over “line” item veto

who ran in the election of 1916?

repub: Charles Hughes (NY) dem: Woodrow Wilson (NJ + “he kept us outta war”)

whats an initative?

a petition signed by voters to force a public vote on an issue.

what’s referendem?

the voting electorate is asked to vote by the legislature on a key issue

what is recall?

petition to remove an elected official (not president); ex: gov gavin newson in 2021

whats the 16th amendment?

Gov’t has the right to tax your income (bc expanded gov needs to be paid).

whats the 17th amendment?

direct election of senators (1913)

whats the 18th amendment?

prohibition of alcohol (1919)

whats the 19th amendment?

women gain the right to vote; long struggle based on civil disobedience and result of role in the great war

who was WEB DuBois?

African American born in MA, who became a harvard graduate (edu: clark atlanta university) and a writer for “The Soul of a Black Folk” he was a founder of the NAACP, an editor of crisis and mroe radical than Booker T. Washington. very critical of the U.S. and radical polices. He moved and dies in Ghana 1963)