changing relationships between the federal government and private business

federal reserve act

created the central banking system in the U.S. and granted legal authority to issue legal tender. he federal reserve acts to regulate U.S. monetary policy by regulating interest rates as well as buying and selling bonds

populism

demand for reform gave rise to populism. This movement grew out of protests by farmers in the West and South who felt the rich bankers and railroad owners were treating them unfairly. The goal of the movement was to make the government more response to the people by ending poverty, injustice, and unfair laws. Populist candidates who some state elections in 1892, however by 1900 the party and splintered and faded away. However, the populist party did leave it's mark on american history with the idea of a third party in presidential elections

antitrust acts

federal laws, such as the Sherman anti-trust act and the Clayton antitrust act were enacted to regulate unfair business practices including, monopolies, trusts, and price collusion -trust: an illegal grouping of companies that discourages the competition -price collusion: when companies work together to keep the price of a product or service at a high level

conservation- protecting the nation's resources

in the late 19th century Americans exploited their natural resources, business needs were almost always more important than the environment. Pioneer farmers leveled the forests and plowed up the prairies. Ranchers allowed cattle to overgraze the Great Plains. Coal companies cluttered the land with trash from the mines and lumber companies neglected to plant trees to replace those they cut down. Theodore Roosevelt condemned the view that America's resources were endless and drew attention to the need conserve forests, wildlife, and natural resources for future generations. He stopped the practice of selling public lands for development and added millions of acres to the national forests and parks. In 1908, John Muir a naturalist and writer persuaded Roosevelt to set aside 148 million acres of forest reserves including Yosemite National Park. In addition, Roosevelt established over 50 wildlife sanctuaries and several national parks. The national park service is a U.S. federal agency that manages all national monuments and parks

pure food and drug act and meat inspection act

passed in response to Upton Sinclair's work the jungle, this legislation was intended to protect consumers from harmful foods, drugs, medicines, and liquors

third parties

provide an outlet for minorities to voice their grievances or to voice new ideas that the main stream (democratic and republican) don't usually support. Many populist ideas were later adopted by the larger political parties, like graduated income tax and direct election of senators

social legislation

states also passed laws to overcome some of the worst effects of industrialization. -they abolished child labor and passed regulations that improved working conditions in the factories -passed regulations concerning the construction and safety of urban housing

introduction

the changing relationships between the federal government and private business has been characterized by a growing role of the government in regulating private business. The effects of industrialization and the lack of government intervention caused the need for regulation that protected the public good, consumers, and workers as well as promoting fair business practices. By passing various legislative acts, congress established the principal that government could regulate some business practices and still support the free enterprise system.

pendleton act

was part of civil service reform. It required that anyone seeking a government job had to pass the civil service examination to ensure only to those who were qualified could get government jobs