Progressive Reforms
Progressive Movement
(1901 -1917Formed by Midwestern Farmers, Socialists, and Labor Organizers -attacked monopolies, and wanted other reforms, such as bimetallism, transportation regulation, the 8-hour work day, and income tax
Newland's Reclamation Act
1902 act authorizing federal funds from public land sales to pay for irrigation and land development projects, mainly in the dry Western states
Elkin's Act
1903-Act that specifically targeted at the use of rebates by railroads. It allowed for heavy fining of companies who used rebates and those who accepted them.
Muckraker
1906 - Journalists who searched for corruption in politics and big business
Meat Inspection Act
1906 - Laid down binding rules for sanitary meat packing and government inspection of meat products crossing state lines.
Federal Reserve Act
1913.This act established the Federal System, which established 12 distinct reserve to be controlled by the banks in each district; in addition, a Federal Reserve board was established to regulate the entire structure; improved public confidence in the banking system.
Clayton Antitrust Act
1914 act designed to strengthen the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890; certain activities previously committed by big businesses, such as not allowing unions in factories and not allowing strikes, were declared illegal. no monopolies.
Margaret Sanger
1921 - founded American Birth Control League; which became Planned Parenthood in the 1940s. Advocated birth control awareness.
Jacob Riis
A Danish immigrant, he became a reporter who pointed out the terrible conditions of the tenement houses of the big cities where immigrants lived during the late 1800s. He wrote How The Other Half Lives in 1890.
19th Amendment
Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (1920) extended the right to vote to women in federal or state elections.
Beautification Campaigns
Make cities more pleasant and attractive. I.e. park, civic centers, transportation systems.
Anti-prostitution Campaign
Mann Act (1910). Outlawing prostitution.
Woman Sufferage
Movement to secure women the right to vote. Mainly led by middle and upper class women; WASP
Frank Norris
Muckraker during the Progressive Era; wrote "The Octopus" (1901) that described the power of the railroads over Western farmers
W.E.B. DuBoise
Opposed Booker T. Washington. Wanted social and political integration as well as higher education for 10% of African Americans-what he called a "Talented Tenth". Founder of the Niagara Movement which led to the creation of the NAACP. Harvard educated.
17th Amendment
Passed in 1913, this amendment to the Constitution calls for the direct election of senators by the voters instead of their election by state legislatures.
Recall
Procedure for submitting to popular vote the removal of officials from office before the end of their term.
18th Amendment
Prohibited the manufacture, sale, and distribution of alcoholic beverages
Booker T. Washington
Prominent black American, born into slavery, who believed that racism would end once blacks acquired useful labor skills and proved their economic value to society, was head of the Tuskegee Institute in 1881. His book "Up from Slavery."
City Commissioner
Cities hire experts in different fields to run a single aspect of government: Ex. Sanitation Commissioner
Hepburn Act
This 1906 law used the Interstate Commerce Commission to regulate the maximum charge that railroads to place on shipping goods.
The Jungle
This 1906 work by Upton Sinclair pointed out the abuses of the meat packing industry. The book led to the passage of the 1906 Meat Inspection Act.
Lincoln Steffans
Wrote muckraking articles in "Tweed Days in St. Louis" (1902). He wrote "The Shame of the Cities" (1904) which caused a sensation by describing in detail the corrupt that characterized big-city politics.
Anti-Trust Regulation
broke up monopolies on a product, government broke up big companies
Pure Food and Drug Act
the act that prohibited the manufacture, sale, or shipment of impure of falsely labeled food and drugs
Jane Addams
the founder of Hull House, which provided English lessons for immigrants, daycares, and child care classes
City Manager
used in the council-manger form of city government, this person is appointed by the city council to do things like recommend budgets and oversee city department. He is hired and removed by the city council.
Direct Primary
A primary where voters directly select the candidates who will run for office
Initiative
A procedure by which voters can propose a law or a constitutional amendment.
16th Amendment
Allows the federal government to collect income tax
Prohibition
..., the period from 1920 to 1933 when the sale of alcoholic beverages was prohibited in the United States by a constitutional amendment
Thomas Nast
A famous caricaturist and editorial cartoonist in the 19th century and is considered to be the father of American political cartooning. His artwork was primarily based on political corruption. He helped people realize the corruption of some politicians
Ida Tarbell
A leading muckraker and magazine editor, she exposed the corruption of the oil industry with her 1904 work A History of Standard Oil.
Referendum
A state-level method of direct legislation that gives voters a chance to approve or disapprove proposed legislation or a proposed constitutional amendment.
Secret Ballot
Anonymous voting method that helps to make elections fair and honest
Federal Trade Act
Created a watch dog agency; Gave the commission the power to investigate corporate violations and put an end to unfair practcies
Settlement House Movement
Creation of places that offered social services to urban poor - often food, shelter, and basic higher education - Hull House was most famous, relief to poor
Housing & Sanitation Reforms
Developed in cities to create better tenements: garbage pick up, sewer system. Hiring of inspectors to hold accountable.
Factory Safety Regulations
Improve working environment, hours, conditions, and benefits for employees.
Ida B. Wells
activist for anti-lynching laws and co-founder of the NAACP with W.E.B. Dubois.
Upton Sinclair
muckraker who shocked the nation when he published The Jungle, a novel that revealed gruesome details about the meat packing industry in Chicago. The book was fiction but based on the things Sinclair had seen.