The Progressive Era
What did the late 1800’s call for?
Reform for the abuses that existed in society
What were the goals of the Progressives?
Improve gov., regulation of business, fix urban problems
What were the reformers called?
The progressives
What did the progressives believe?
The gov. And businesses were taking advantage of “normal” people
What were political machines?
Powerful groups linked to political parties. They controlled many important local govs. In big cities
What did political machines control?
Jobs and services
For political machines, there was often one ________.
Powerful political boss (they were corrupt and dishonest, took bribes, campaign money, kickbacks, etc)
Who was a famous political boss?
Boss Tweed
What did Boss Tweed do?
He was a powerful political leader in New York City during the late 1800s. He ran Tammany Hall, the city’s Democratic political machine, and controlled city politics through bribery, corruption, and rewarding supporters with jobs and favors.
What is the spoils system?
Elected officials gave gov. jobs and other favors to political supporters. Jobs could go to people who were unqualified. Sometimes, people got paid by the government who never showed up for work.
Some _______ tried to change the spoils system.
Reformers
What happened to James Garfield?
Killed by someone who looked for a job from him and did not receive
What is the Pendleton Act?
Established at the civil service of commission. The commission would give tests for federal jobs. Eventually, state and local govs adopted this practice.
What were some ways businesses controlled competition?
Pools, rebates, etc
What was the Sherman Anti Trust Act?
First law written in attempt to control trusts. It was a weak piece of legislation.
Late 1800’s, railroad industry was an ______.
Oligopoly
What is an Oligopoly?
Industry that is controlled by a few powerful companies. These businesses agreed to limit competition and raise prices to make larger profits
What is a Monopoly?
Industry controlled by 1 big business.
What is the Interstate Commerce Act?
Major piece of legislation. It required railroads to change and publish “reasonable” and “just” rates.
What did the Interstate Commerce Act set up?
Interstate Commerce Commission (regulates trucking industry)
What is the Tariff Bill of 1890?
Raised taxes greatly. It was sponsored by Republicans. Supporters set it helped struggling companies, and opponents thought it made goods too expensive.
_____ were in favor of lower taxes.
Democrats
Who were the Socialists?
Reformers who believed that gov. should own the resources and operate major industries on behalf of the people.
What was a concern of the progressives?
A small number of people had most of the nation's wealth and power
The progressives wanted gov to ________ rather than own them.
Regulate businesses
The progressives believed it was the ________ responsibility to protect the people.
Governments
Who were the Muckrakers?
Reporters + writers who “dug up” or raked the “muck” to expose dirt and corruption
A famous Muckraker was ______.
Upton Sinclair
What did Upton Sinclair write?
“The Jungle” - exposed the horrors of Chicago's meat packing industry
What did the Meat Inspection Act and Pure Food and Drug Act do?
Medicine had to be labeled and food that may cause harm couldn’t be sold
What did the passage of the 17th amendment do?
Federal senators were elected by state legislatures
The 17th amendment provided for __________ of the states to elect their senators.
“The people”
The 17th amendment was supported by the __________.
Progressives
What did the 17th amendment do?
Gave people more say in gov
As industries grew, people moved from _______ to _______.
Farms to cities
_______ class grew.
Middle
Women started to attend ____.
Colleges
Women entered the workforce as _____,________,_______.
Teachers, nurses, business women
________ is a term used to describe educated women who pursued interests outside their homes.
“New Women”
Who set up “Hull House?”
Jane Addams
What is Hull House?
Chicago settlement house where the urban poor can get help with a variety of issues: finding houses, jobs, etc.
Who is Elizabeth Candy Stanton?
Organized women's rights convention in Seneca Falls, NY. This convention launched the women's rights movement.
What is the most important women's suffrage?
Right to vote
Who is Susan B. Anthony?
American social reformer and women's rights activist
Who are the suffragists?
Active supporters of women's votes
What was the first election women voted in?
Presidential Election of 1920
_______ were included in many social reform movements.
Women
What did women do in social reform movements?
Improve lives of others
Staffed libraries, schools
Ran settlement houses
Ran and worked at charities
Women sponsored laws to improve the working environment for _________.
Women and children
Women wanted better support for ______.
Widows and abandoned women with children
Women led crusades against the use of _________.
Alcohol
What is prohibition?
Support of laws banning the production and use of alcohol
Women formed _______ unions.
Labor (LGWU)
Supporters of prohibition believed that the use of alcohol caused_________.
Crime, break up of families, abuse, and poverty
18th amendment- reversed by _______ amendment.
21st
What is the 18th amendment?
established Prohibition, banning the manufacture, sale, or transportation of alcoholic beverages in the United States from 1920 to 1933, though it didn't outlaw consumption
Who was Theodore Roosevelt?
Born in NY
Cousin to Franklin R
Head of NYPD
Gov. of NY
Assistant Secretary of the Navy
Rough Rider
Progressive
Conservationist
Trust Buster
VP+P of US
As a “Trust Buster”, president Roosevelt was in favor of _________.
Regulating business
Roosevelt ordered the ________ to take legal action against certain companies whose practices violated Sherman's anti trust act.
Justice Department
Which industries did Roosevelt bring legal action against trusts?
Meet industry, railroad, and tobacco
For the new industries Roosevelt wanted to _________ not necessarily break them up.
Regulate business
As a conservationist, Roosevelt created the ________.
National Forest Service.
What are other things Roosevelt created?
National Parks
National Conservation Commission
The ______ was named after Roosevelt.
Teddy bear
What made Roosevelt President?
He was VP when McKinley was assassinated so he became POTUS at 42
He also ran for POTUS in ______.
1904
What was Roosevelt's campaign promise?
Square Deal
What did the Square Deal promise?
Everyone from farmers to consumers and workers to owners will have same opportunity to succeed. It called for gov. regulation of business.
Who did Roosevelt support?
William Howard Taft
What did Roosevelt believe about Taft?
He would carry on his progressive programs
Taft supported the _____ amendment.
16th
What is the 16th amendment?
Congress has the power to impose income taxes
Roosevelt wasn’t happy with Taft after income tax and ran against him in ____.
1912
Roosevelt did not win the Republican so he created his own party, The _______ party.
Bull Moose Party
In effect, he split the party and the democrat, _________ won the election.
Woodrow Wilson
What happened with the Bull Moose Party?
The Bull Moose Party, officially the Progressive Party, was a short-lived but influential American political party formed in 1912 by former President Theodore Roosevelt after he lost the Republican nomination to President William Howard Taft. Known for its strong progressive platform advocating for social welfare, business regulation, women's suffrage, and direct democracy, it became the most successful third party in U.S. history, though it faded after Roosevelt's defeat by Woodrow Wilson that year.