Identifiers period 7

Mark Twain

What - An American writer, humorist, entrepreneur, publisher, and lecturer When - November 30, 1835 Why - He was lauded as the "greatest humorist the United States has produced,"[2] and William Faulkner called him "the father of American literature". His wit and satire, in prose and in speech, earned praise from critics and peers, and he was a friend to presidents, artists, industrialists, and European royalty How - Twain's written works challenged the fundamental issues that faced the America of his time; racism, evolving landscapes, class barriers. He brought to light several issues in society in a humorous way

Triangle Shirtwaist factory

What / Who - A shirtwaist sweatshop located in Manhattan, New York When - 1901 Why - In 1911, a horrible accident occurred in the Triangle shirtwaist factory which led to major factory reforms. A fire spread quickly and many workers died due to the lack of fire exits and because everything was so cramped in the factory How - The tragedy that occurred at the Triangle Shirtwaist factory led to the government pushing out policies that would make factories safer. Sprinklers were forced to be installed and multiple fire exits must be present

Jacob Riis How the Other Half Lives

What / Who - A series of photos documenting the lives of those who live in the slums When - 1890 Why - Riis often took pictures of the cramped tenant houses, dilapidated structures of the buildings, nasty streets perfect for brewing disease, and sick children. They often touched the hearts of many and helped people see the horrors of the slums How - After Riis published "How the Other Half lives" many people realized the horrors of living in the slums. This pushed many people to advocate for reforms and also pressured governments to do something

William Howard Taft

What / Who - 27th president of the United States and the tenth chief justice of the United States When - September 15, 1857 Why - Taft signed the first tariff revision since 1897; established a postal savings system, formed the Interstate Commerce Commission, and prosecuted over 75 antitrust violations, far more than pursued by the "trust-buster" Theodore Roosevelt. He also set aside a great deal of land for conserving How - Despite Taft's accomplishments, a great deal of it was lost over the Ballinger-Pinchot controversy. He was often criticized for his actions because of this despite being a more rational president that Theodore

Underwood Tariff Bill (Revenue Act of 1913)

What / Who - A bill that lowered the tariff rates that previously existed When - 1913 Why - The Revenue Act of 1913 lowered average tariff rates from 40 percent to 26 percent. It also established a one percent tax on income above $3,000 per year; the tax affected approximately three percent of the population. How - Revenue Act of 1913 marked an important shift in federal revenue policy, as government revenue would increasingly rely on income taxes rather than tariff duties. However, this policy was later changed during WW1 due to the need for more money

Alfred Thayer Mahan The Influence of Sea Power Upon History

What / Who - A book about the history of naval warfare When - 1890 Why - In this book, Mahan argued for the paramount importance of sea power in national historical supremacy. The book, which came at a time of great technological improvement in warships, won immediate recognition abroad. How -Mahan argued that British control of the seas, combined with a corresponding decline in the naval strength of its major European rivals, paved the way for Great Britain's emergence as the world's dominant military, political, and economic power. This made America want to build a strong navy

John Spargo The Bitter Cry of Children

What / Who - A book exposing horrific working conditions of child laborers When - 1906 Why - He discusses the works of the children he saw very emotionally as he says, "boys sit hour after hours, picking at the pieces of slate and other [trash]. Through the description of the working conditions, he was able to touch the hearts of many How - This book opened people's eyes to the horrors of child labor. It pushed many people to push for the abolition of child labor. This did indeed happen later on as child labor became illegal

Ballinger-Pinchot Controversy

What / Who - A conflict that occurred between Richard Ballinger and Gifford Pinchot over some accusations When - 1909 Why - The Ballinger-Pinchot scandal erupts when Colliers magazine accuses Secretary of the Interior Richard Ballinger of shady dealings in Alaskan coal lands. Ballinger was accused of disturbing the conservation movement How - Taft ended up firing Pinchot over this controversy and favored Ballinger. This soured his relationship with Theodore Roosevelt as Pinchot was TR's best friend. Roosevelt then decided to tarnish Taft's reputation because of it

Referendum

What / Who - A direct vote by the electorate on a particular proposal or issue When - 20th century Why - By allowing citizens to vote directly for officials, it promotes democracy as well as reduces corruption. This is because there would often be voter fraud caused by the bribery of powerful officials. If citizens themselves vote, corporations may not be able to bribe everyone How - This promoted democracy in America as it allowed citizens themselves more control over the government. They have the power to directly influence the government and society as a whole. This is direct representation

Muller v. Oregon

What / Who - A landmark decision that posed the question of whether women's liberty to negotiate a contract with an employer should be equal to a man's When - 1908 Why - Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of a 1903 Oregon statute prohibiting employment of women in industrial jobs for more than ten hours per day. Muller was convicted for making women work for more than 10 hours How - This shows women receiving the same rights as men, at least in terms of working conditions. Because men were not required to work for more than 10 hours, women shouldn't either

De Lome Letter

What / Who - A letter written by Señor Don Enrique Dupuy de Lôme, the Spanish Ambassador to the United States When - February 9, 1898 Why - Enrique Dupuy de Lôme, criticized American President William McKinley by calling him weak and concerned only with gaining the favor of the crowd. In other words, De Lome called McKinely a coward How - This letter increased the likelihood of war with Spain. Insulting the president of the United States would definitely anger many Americans who would feel that Spain is trying to disrespect their country. it was like a personal attack to them

Upton Sinclair The Jungle

What / Who - A novel that portrays the horrors of the meat industry When - November 4, 1905 Why - Sinclair said this in connection to the popularity of his book "I aimed at the public's heart, and by accident I hit it in the stomach." He exposed the horrors that workers had to face in the meat industry as well as how unsanitary meat production was How - The Jungle grossed out many and made them think differently about the food they consumed. This expose paved the way for several policies that would later make food packaging and manufacturing safe to eat and safe to produce

Clayton Anti-Trust Act

What / Who - A part of United States antitrust law with the goal of adding further substance to the U.S. antitrust law regime When - 1914 Why - The Clayton Act seeks to prevent anti-competitive practices in their incipiency. The Clayton antitrust act made it so that there would need to be constant investigations in companies to make sure they had good and safe working conditions. It also made sure to dissolve any existing monopolies How - The Clayton anti-trust act was by far one of the most effective bills passed by the presidents which destroyed monopolies in the United states. it made sure there was no chance for monopolies to form as well as made sure the existing ones would be destroyed

Good trusts/Bad trusts

What / Who - A phrase coined by Theodore Roosevelt which differentiated between different trusts When - 20th century Why - good trusts were efficient but bad ones took advantage of workers and cheated the public. Roosevelt did not oppose all trusts but sought to regulate trusts that he believed harmed the public How - This idea of good trusts and bad trusts was what made Roosevelt allow for some monopolies to stay. However, that may have been the downfall of Roosevelt's presidency, it raises the question of whether to not there really is such thing as a good trust

William Hard

What / Who - A social reformist and journalist who started a neighborhood magazine called The Neighbor When - 1878-1962 Why - One of his most popular publications was "Making Steel and Killing Men" which exposed the conditions workers had to deal with in steel companies. They often had to work in really hot temperatures damaging to their health and was always at the risk of being injured How - Hard, like many other muckrakers of his time, exposed the horrible conditions of those working in factories. His magazine inspired reforms that sought to improve these conditions as well as bring a safer workplace

Meat Inspection Act

What / Who - Act that prohibited the sale of adulterated or misbranded livestock/meat and derived products as food When - 1906 Why - The law reformed the meatpacking industry, mandating that the U.S. Department of Agriculture inspect all cattle, swine, sheep, goats, and horses both before and after they were slaughtered and processed for human consumption. How - This act was created after Upton Sinclair published his book "The Jungle" which exposed the horrors of the meat industry. With this act, meat consumption was made a lot safer and sanitary

Workingman's Compensation Act

What / Who - Act that provides financial assistance to federal employees who have been injured at work When - 1915 Why - This act allowed workers to be compensated for injuries that may have been caused by the negligence of the company itself. This means companies were being held accountable for their actions and unsafe conditions How - Before this law, individuals severely disabled by injuries suffered while at work needed to prove a "negligence" claim against their employer to be entitled to any type of compensation. It may have motivated some companies to create a safer work environment so as to not cause any accidents requiring paying their employees

Desert Lands Act

What / Who - Act was passed by Congress to encourage and promote the economic development of the arid and semiarid public When - March 3, 1877 Why - Through the Act, individuals may apply for a desert-land entry to reclaim, irrigate, and cultivate arid and semiarid public lands. This act amended the Homestead Act of 1862 and gave 640 acres of land How - There were much fewer restrictions for the desert land act compared to the homestead act. As a result that led to a significant amount of fraud, and land speculation companies acquired tens of thousands of acres of California land by hiring "dummy entrymen" to make false claims of settlement.

Women's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU)

What / Who - Active international temperance organization that promoted abstinence from alcohol When - 1874 Why - The WCTU also campaigned for women's right to vote, though its support posed problems for suffragists as the alcohol industry became a powerful opponent of the movement. How - The WCTU further pushed the women's suffrage movement because advocates for temperance wanted women to have the vote because it was believed they would vote for prohibition due to their moral superiority.

George Dewey

What / Who - Admiral of the Navy, the only person in United States history to have attained that rank When - December 26, 1837 Why - He was assigned to the Asiatic Squadron and began preparing for the war with Spain. He is best known for his victory at the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War, with the loss of only a single crewman on the American side How - After the battle, his fleet assisted in the capture of Manila. Dewey's victory at Manila Bay was widely lauded in the United States, and he was promoted to Admiral of the Navy. His victory allowed America to ultimately win the war in the Spanish American war

Alice Paul

What / Who - Alice Stokes Paul was an American Quaker, suffragist, feminist, and women's rights activist When - January 11, 1885 Why - Alice Paul advocated for and helped secure passage of the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution, granting women the right to vote. She joined the NAWSA in order to campaign for women's rights How - Paul was an important contributor to the passing of the 19th amendment. It officially allowed women to vote which marks an important accomplishment in the history of women's rights. They were one step closer to becoming more recognized and equal to men

Platt Amendment

What / Who - Amendment passed as part of the 1901 Army Appropriations Bill When - March 2, 1901 Why - It stipulated seven conditions for the withdrawal of United States troops remaining in Cuba at the end of the Spanish-American War. It said that all treaties with Cuba had to be approved by the U.S. Senate and the U.S. had the right to interfere in Cuba's affairs if order broke down within Cuba. How - The Platt Amendment was the US's indirect way of taking over Cuba. Although they did not have complete control over Cuba, they made it so that they have some jurisdiction and control over Cuba

17th amendment

What / Who - Amendment that provided for the direct election of U.S. senators by the voters of the states. When - 1913 Why - The direct election of senators was also the goal of the populist party. They felt that by allowing people to directly elect their senators, there would be less corruption. Often senators would be bribed by political machines and would therefore be biased towards them How - The 17th amendment helped reduce corruption in society. This is because it lessened the degree of influence of political machines. They now had a tougher time trying to bribe senators because even if they did, the people may elect them

Josiah Strong

What / Who - American Protestant clergyman, organizer, editor, and author. When - April 14, 1847 Why - He was a leader of the Social Gospel movement, calling for social justice and combating social evils. He supported missionary work so that all races could be improved and uplifted and thereby brought to Christ; civilizing the inferior How - Strong's idea of civilizing the people whom they deemed to be inferior was definitely a popular idea that existed in the United states. In fact, it was one of the main arguments for why the Americans should imperialize and expand to other continents

George Frisbie Hoar

What / Who - American attorney and politician who represented Massachusetts in the United States Senate When - August 29, 1826 Why - Hoar was an American politician who was one of the leading organizers of the Republican Party and a lifelong crusader for good government. He even argued in the Senate in favor of women's suffrage as early as 1886 How - Hoar fought for civil-service reform, and he was an outspoken opponent of the American Protective Association—an anti-Catholic, anti-immigrant organization. He helped to bring many reforms to fruition

Margaret Sanger

What / Who - American birth control activist, sex educator, writer, and nurse When - September 14, 1879 Why - Sanger popularized the term "birth control", opened the first birth control clinic in the United States, and established organizations that evolved into the Planned Parenthood Federation of America. She also distributed information about contraptions which led her to become arrested How - Sanger believed that the right for women to choose when they want to have children was very important. It would allow them to be on more equal footing with men as it allows them to have more control over their lives

William Randolph Hearst

What / Who - American businessman, newspaper publisher, and politician When - April 29, 1863 Why - Hearst acquired the New York Journal and fought a bitter circulation war with Joseph Pulitzer's New York World. Hearst sold papers by printing giant headlines over lurid stories featuring crime, corruption, and innuendo. He sensationalized Spanish atrocities in Cuba while calling for war in 1898 against Spain. How - Hearst along with Pulitzer could be seen as the founding fathers of yellow journalism as they were the ones who popularized it. Yellow journalism definitely played a role in the Spanish American war as it's exaggerated stories allowed resentment to foster in Americans towards Spain

Dr. Harvey Wiley "The Poison Squad"

What / Who - American chemist who fought for the passage of the landmark Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 When - October 18, 1844 Why - Wiley spent years researching mislabeled food, and realized that consumers had no idea what they were consuming and no one knew the long-term effects of these additives. So he gathered "the Poison Squad," a group of young men who voluntarily consumed poison so that Dr. Wiley could examine the effects. How - It was through the efforts of Wiley and his poison squad that the pure food and drug act was passed. He helped people determine just what kind of foods would be safe for consumption to the public, otherwise, people might spend years consuming poison unknowingly

Frances Willard

What / Who - American educator, temperance reformer, and women's suffragist When - September 28, 1839 Why - An excellent speaker, a successful lobbyist, and an expert in pressure politics, she was a leader of the National Prohibition Party. During her lifetime, Willard succeeded in raising the age of consent in many states as well as passing labor reforms including the eight-hour workday How - Due to Willard's work, the government ended up passing the 8 hr workday. Another reform the government passed was the 18th amendment which officially prohibited the producing, buying, and sale of alcohol. This was however, less successful as it was overridden later on

Gifford Pinchot

What / Who - American forester and politician who served as the 4th Chief of the U.S. Division of Forestry, as the 1st head of the United States Forest Service When - August 11, 1865 Why - Pinchot became the first chief of the U.S. Forest Service after it was established in 1905. Pinchot enjoyed a close relationship with President Theodore Roosevelt, who shared Pinchot's views regarding the importance of conservation. He believed in conserving land to improve the environment How - During the Ballinger-Pinchot controversy, Pinchot was fired. His close relationship with Theodore Roosevelt meant that Roosevelt would take his anger out on the president who fired him, Taft. This essentially ruined Taft's presidency. Other than the scandal, Pinchot was able to accomplish a lot for the conservation movement

Albert Beveridge

What / Who - American historian and US senator from Indiana. When - October 6, 1862 Why - He was an intellectual leader of the Progressive Era and supported the progressive legislation sponsored by President Theodore Roosevelt. He first attracted national attention by his eloquent speeches defending the increasing power of the federal government and advocating U.S. territorial expansion overseas How - Berverige paved the way for imperialism because he was one of the most famous defenders of imperialism. Using arguments such as how the US is the superior country and should assert dominance, and also how other countries need to be civilized

Charlotte Perkins Gilman

What / Who - American humanist, novelist, writer of short stories, poetry, and nonfiction, and a lecturer for social reform When - July 3, 1860 Why - She was a utopian feminist and served as a role model for future generations of feminists because of her unorthodox concepts and lifestyle. Gilman was also famous for writing "The Yellow Paper" How - The Yellow Paper highlighted the struggles of women and women's mental health issues. Much like Dorothy Dix's reforms for mental asylums during the antebellum reforms, she wanted more people to pay attention to the mental and physical health of people

Ray Stannard Baker

What / Who - American journalist, historian, biographer, and author When - April 17, 1870 Why - Ray Stannard Baker was a leading national journalist whose belief in social reform led to a close personal and professional relationship with Woodrow Wilson. In his journal, Following the color line, Baker explores the life and experience of Black Americans How - Baker was the first prominent journalist to examine America's racial divide; it was extremely successful. It exposed just how harmful the idea of segregation was and the conditions that Black Americans often had to deal with

Nellie Bly

What / Who - American journalist, industrialist, inventor, and charity worker When - May 5, 1864 Why - Bly was widely known for her record-breaking trip around the world in 72 days, in emulation of Jules Verne's fictional character Phileas Fogg, and an exposé in which she worked undercover to report on a mental institution from within. How - Bly was sent to the mental asylum for a few days and she ended up writing about the horrifying and degrading conditions in it. This was very similar to Dorothy Dix's asylum and prison reform

Robert LaFollette

What / Who - American leader of the Progressive movement who, as governor of Wisconsin When - June 14, 1855 Why - He was the unsuccessful presidential candidate of the League for Progressive Political Action. As governor of Wisconsin, La Follette compiled a progressive record, implementing primary elections and tax reform. How - La Follette embraced progressivism and built up a coalition of disaffected Republicans. During his time as governor, he was able to push out many reforms, changing the corruptness from the Gilded age

Lillian Wald

What / Who - American nurse, humanitarian, and author. She was known for her contributions to human rights When - March 10, 1867 Why - Wald was the founder of American community nursing. She founded the Henry Street Settlement in New York City and was an early advocate to have nurses in public schools. How - Lillian D. Wald helped to bring health care to the residents of New York's Lower East Side. Wald fought for public health care, women's rights, and children's rights while running the Henry Street Settlement. it was similar to settlement houses which aimed at bringing more opportunities to the less fortunate

John Dewey

What / Who - American philosopher, psychologist, and educational reformer whose ideas have been influential in education and social reform. When - October 20, 1859 Why - Dewey that complete democracy was to be obtained not just by extending voting rights but also by ensuring that there exists a fully formed public opinion, accomplished by communication among citizens, experts, and politicians, with the latter being accountable for the policies they adopt. How - Dewey's publications on education inspired major reforms that sought to mandate education. Education allowed for people to form their own opinions which is why it was so important for people in a democratic society to be educated

Woodrow Wilson

What / Who - American politician and academic who served as the 28th president of the United States from 1913 to 1921 When - December 28, 1856 Why - His first major priority was the Revenue Act of 1913, which lowered tariffs and began the modern income tax. Wilson also negotiated the passage of the Federal Reserve Act, which created the Federal Reserve System. Two major laws, the Federal Trade Commission Act and the Clayton Antitrust Act, were enacted to promote business competition and combat extreme corporate power. How - Woodrow Wilson was a successful progressive and definitely contributed to many of its successes of it. He was the most effective president when it came to destroying monopolies as he was more strict which them and showed no mercy to any of the trusts

Theodore Roosevelt

What / Who - American politician, statesman, conservationist, naturalist, historian, and 26th president of the United States When - October 27, 1858 Why - Roosevelt was a leader of the progressive movement and championed his "Square Deal" domestic policies, promising the average citizen fairness, breaking of trusts, regulation of railroads, and pure food and drugs. He was also an environmentalist who wanted to preserve the environment How - Throughout the presidency, Roosevelt passed the Pure Food and Drug Act, which established the Food and Drug Administration to regulate food safety, and the Hepburn Act. All of these acts sought to bring down the power of political machines and reduce corruption in society

Eugene V. Debs

What / Who - American socialist, political activist, trade unionist, one of the founding members of the Industrial Workers of the World When - November 5, 1855 Why - Debs led his union in a major ten-month strike against the CB&Q Railroad in 1888. Debs was instrumental in the founding of the American Railway Union, one of the nation's first industrial unions. He was also one of the main organizers of the Pullman strike How - Debs was arrested several times for leading workers to strike but during his time in prison, he indulged himself in socialist readings. He was able to gather a group of people who believed in the same things as him and formed the Socialist Party of America

Lewis Hine

What / Who - American sociologist and muckraker photographer famous for pushing people towards ending child labor When - September 26, 1874 Why - Hine was similar to Jacob Riis as he exposed the poor conditions of the lower class through the use of photography. It made people feel horrible about the current conditions of factories How - The photos that Hine took convinced many to try to abolish child labor. It hurt the people's hearts to see children suffering in factories and working in life-endangering situations

National Women's Party

What / Who - American women's political organization formed in 1916 to fight for women's suffrage. When - 1916 Why - It played an important role in the passing of the 19th amendment. NWP not only advocated for women's rights, but they also started promoting the Equal rights Amendment. which ended up being approved in the later years How - The NWP was extremely important for guaranteeing rights for women during the progressive era. They were successfully able to pass the 19th amendment essentially allowing women to vote. Later on the Equal rights Amendment allowed for equal rights no matter the gender

Samuel Hopkins Adams

What / Who - American writer, best known for his investigative journalism and muckraking When - January 26, 1871 Why - Adams contributed to Collier's, the National Weekly in 1905 a series of articles exposing quack patent medicines, followed by The Great American Fraud, which furthered the passage of the Pure Food and Drug Act in 1906. How - Adams was widely known for his writings on public health and patent medicines and he was given much credit for the passage of the 1906 Pure Food and Drug Act. By exposing the harmful industry, it brings more awareness to it thus inciting change

Theodore Dreiser

What / Who - An American novelist best known for writing "Sister Carrie" When - August 27, 1871 Why - Dreiser provided a strong critique of American society through his representation of consumerism. Sister Carrie went against social and moral norms of the time, as Dreiser presented his characters without judging them. How - Sister Carrie was the first masterpiece of the American naturalistic movement in its grittily factual presentation of the vagaries of urban life and in its ingenious heroine. It was one of the first series to portray a slice of life kind of series

Payne-Aldrich Act

What / Who - An act passed by the U.S. Congress in response to a call from Republican Pres. William Howard Taft for lower tariffs When - 1909 Why - The Payne-Aldrich Tariff Act dropped rates in general only by about 5 percent, and it raised rates on such items as iron ore and coal. Overtime the reduction became greater and greater due to congress How - The Payne Act, in its essence a compromise bill, had the immediate effect of frustrating both proponents and opponents of reducing tariffs. In particular, the bill greatly angered Progressives, who began to withdraw support from President Taft. It also ended up splitting the republicans who argued over the advantages of the tariff

Jones Act

What / Who - An act regarding the government of the Philippines When - 1917 Why - The Jones act guaranteed that America would have full access to the Philippines. It also promised that the Filipino citizens would be guaranteed universal male suffrage and independence once their government was stable How - The Jones act represents US's first attempt at foreign affairs and imperialism. Before this, the US was generally practicing a policy of Neutrality largely due to Washington's farewell address saying America should always remain neutral in foreign affairs

Keating-Owen Child Labor Act

What / Who - An act that restricted child labor through its power to regulate interstate commerce When - 1916 Why - The act prohibited the interstate shipment of goods produced in factories or mines in which children under age 14 were employed or adolescents between ages 14 and 16 worked more than an eight-hour day. How - This was essentially the government's attempt at banning child labor in America. You also see the government becoming less and less laissez-faire and finally starting to manage the corruption in factories and societies

18th amendment

What / Who - An amendment imposing the federal prohibition of alcohol When - 1919 Why - In short, the 18th amendment represented the success of the temperance movement. Whereas alcohol was now completely being banned by the government. This, however, angered many people in society, especially since a large number of people consumed alcohol How - Despite this victory for the temperance reformers, the amendment was later on repealed. The 21st amendment basically overrode this amendment and alcohol was back for sale

Spanish American War

What / Who - Armed conflict between Spain and the United States When - Apr 21, 1898 - Dec 10, 1898 Why - Hostilities began in the aftermath of the internal explosion of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor in Cuba, leading to U.S. intervention in the Cuban War of Independence. Spain was accused of purposely setting a bomb off on the ship but it turned out to be an accident How - The Spanish America war ended up working in America's favor and they were able to spread their agenda of imperialism. After the war, they gained several new territories such as the Philippines and semi-control over Cuba

Lincoln Steffens The Shame of the Cities

What / Who - Collection of articles on corrupt political machines When - 1904 Why - Steffens was a muckraker who wanted to expose the political corruption that was occurring in society. in his book, The Shame of the Cities, he describes the ways political machines use their power in unfair ways that corrupt society How - Steffens and his book inspired people to ask for social reforms in order to combat corruption in society. Muckrakers like Steffens created a lot of pressure on the federal government to create policies that would end corruption in America

Northern Securities Case

What / Who - Court case between the Northern security company in which they claimed to be falsely seen as a bad trust When - 1904 Why - The Court ruled 5 to 4 against the stockholders of the Great Northern and Northern Pacific railroad companies, who had essentially formed a monopoly, and to dissolve the Northern Securities Company. How - The Northern Securities case was significant because: It overturned the previous decision of United States vs E. C. Knight Co. in which the Court ruled that the Sherman Antitrust Act was insufficient in regulating that

Francis Galton

What / Who - English Victorian era polymath: a statistician, sociologist, and a proponent of social Darwinism, eugenics, and scientific racism When - February 16, 1822 Why - Galton was the first to apply statistical methods to the study of human differences and inheritance of intelligence and coined the term eugenics. Galton, later on, went to discover psychometrics and discovered significant accomplishments in meteorology How - Galton's inventions and discoveries were extremely important to society. However, his idea of Eugenics might've done more harm than food. It only promoted racial discrimination and white superiority in America

Sierra Club

What / Who - Environmental organization with chapters in all 50 United States When - May 28, 1892 Why - The sierra club was founded by John Muir and its goal was to preserve nature and forests. It wanted to prevent the complete devastation of the ecosystem and promote ways to use Earth's resources in a less economically harmful way How - The Sierra Club still exists today and its goals still haven't changed in the past years. Now they also seek to improve the air quality as well as decrease the rate at which climate change and global warming occur. They protect more than 157 million acres of public lands in Alaska.

John Muir

What / Who - Environmental philosopher and early advocate for the preservation of wilderness in the United States of America When - April 21, 1838 Why - Muir wrote essays documenting his adventures in nature and also founded the Sierra Club, a conservation organization. In his later life, Muir devoted most of his time to the preservation of the Western forests. How - Muir's activism helped to preserve the Yosemite Valley and Sequoia National Park, and his example has served as an inspiration for the preservation of many other wilderness areas. Many people took the same action as him in order to preserve nature and forests

Elkins Act

What / Who - Federal law that amended the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887 When - 1904 Why - The Act authorized the Interstate Commerce Commission to impose heavy fines on railroads that offered rebates, and upon the shippers that accepted these rebates. People could no longer use their status in order to bribe railroad companies How - The Elkins Act prohibits railroad companies from giving rebates to businesses that ship large quantities of goods and giving power to those businesses to artificially lower shipping prices. This greatly helped reduce corruption in society because before this, railroads were mainly dominated by political machines

Newlands Act (Reclamation Act of 1902)

What / Who - Federal law that funded irrigation projects for the arid lands of 20 states in the American West When - 1902 Why - The Newlands act appropriated the receipts from the sale and disposal of public lands in certain States and Territories to the construction of irrigation works for the reclamation of arid lands. It was a way to bring water towards How - This was a part of the conservation movement and Roosevelt. Roosevelt was one of the very first presidents who decided to care for the environment and use his power to protect the land

Emilio Aguinaldo

What / Who - Filipino revolutionary, statesman, and military leader who is officially recognized as the first and the youngest president of the Philippines When - March 22, 1869 Why - Aguinaldo led Philippine forces first against Spain in the Philippine Revolution, then in the Spanish-American War, and finally against the United States during the Philippine-American War How - Aguinaldo is an extremely important figure for Philippine history but that doesn't mean he's not relevant to American history. Aguinaldo helped the Filipinos gain independence from America and allowed them to break free and rule themselves

dollar diplomacy

What / Who - Foreign policy created by U.S. Pres. William Howard Taft and his secretary of state, Philander C. Knox When - 1909-1913 Why - This policy was meant to ensure the financial stability of a region while protecting and extending U.S. commercial and financial interests there. It was also a form of American foreign policy to minimize the use or threat of military force and instead, further its influence into Europe through loans How - This is one of the first signs of America trying to establish a presence outside of the United States. Because they are industrializing, they would of course want to spread their market towards the rest of the world to ensure a profit

Social welfare

What / Who - Healthcare, empowerment, housing, and other programs geared towards assisting the poor, unemployed and marginalized in society When - 20th century Why - During the progressive era, there were some efforts at improving and bringing more social welfare to America. There was the temperance movement which ended in a failure but also the 8-hour workday which really helped workers How - Social welfare is an important component of society because it allows the lower class to climb up from their ranks. Without any help, they may stay at the bottom, forever fated to suffer a cycle of destitution

Joseph Pulitzer

What / Who - Hungarian-American politician and newspaper publisher of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and the New York World When - April 10, 1847 Why - In the 1890s the fierce competition between his World and William Randolph Hearst's New York Journal caused both to develop the techniques of yellow journalism, which won over readers with sensationalism,, crime, and graphic horrors. How - Pulitzer was one of the main founders of yellow journalism which remained a very popular form of journalism. To the creators, it was less about delivering facts and more about the money.

Ida Tarbell The History of the Standard Oil Company

What / Who - Ida Tarbell was an author famous for writing a report and book about the horrors of the standard oil company When - November 5, 1857 (Tarbell), 1904 (book) Why - The history of the standard oil company exposed the poor and dangerous conditions that were occurring in the standard oil company. This was the norm for many companies yet not many tried to expose them How - Tarbell's report helped to spur new legislation and litigation to regulate interstate commerce and counter monopoly. The government became warier of monopolies because of Tarbell.

New Nationalism

What / Who - Idea that Roosevelt proposed in his speech When - August 31, 1910 Why - The central issue he argued was government protection of human welfare and property rights, but he also argued that human welfare was more important than property rights. He insisted that only a powerful federal government could regulate the economy and guarantee justice How - New Nationalism outlined Roosevelt's views of the policies that should be enforced during his term. it definitely made many progressive and reform-minded Republicans decide to vote for Roosevelt. Even better that Roosevelt was able to fulfill some of his policies

Imperialists and anti-imperialists

What / Who - Imperialists were a group of people who wanted US to imperialize while the anti-imperialists didn't When - Late 19th century Why - The debate over whether the US should imperialize became popular near the late 19th century because of the purchase of Alaska. America began to become more involved in foreign affairs and overseas trading after the topic of imperialism popped up How - This shows the reoccurring theme of manifest destiny where some thought it was the God-given right and goal for America to expand. However, there were many opposed to expanding and thought it was unconstitutional and immoral

Federal Trade Commission

What / Who - Independent agency of the United States government whose principal mission is the enforcement of civil U.S. antitrust law and the promotion of consumer protection When - September 26, 1914 Why - The FTC protects consumers by stopping unfair, deceptive, or fraudulent practices in the marketplace. They conduct investigations, sue companies and people that violate the law, develop rules to ensure a vibrant marketplace and educate consumers and businesses about their rights and responsibilities. How - The FTC was the group responsible for making sure that the companies are operating as they're supposed to and not enforcing unfair conditions onto their laborers. They are also responsible for preventing monopolies and unsafe working conditions from polluting the country

Mother Mary Harris Jones

What / Who - Irish-born American schoolteacher and dressmaker who became a prominent union organizer, community organizer, and activist When - May 1, 1837 Why - Mary Harris "Mother" Jones rose to prominence as a fiery orator and fearless organizer for the Mine Workers. Her charisma and fiery voice convinced many to join her cause How - It was through Jones that the Mine Workers were able to gain supporters. She managed to convince many women and daughters to join her cause. Not only strengthening the union but also giving women more active roles in the progressive era

Muckrakers

What / Who - Journalists who worked to expose the corruption occurring in societies When - 20th century Why - While business leaders and political machines went around corrupting society, muckrakers did their best to expose their actions. They did so by writing books about their actions or taking photos of the horrible things occurring in society How - It was because of the efforts of muckrakers that more reforms were able to occur. All the exposing only put more pressure on the federal government to term-137enforce labor laws to protect citizens and laborers

Hunger strikes

What / Who - Method of non-violent resistance in which participants fast as an act of political protest When - 20th century Why - This method was used to provoke a feeling of guilt in others, usually with the objective to achieve a specific goal, such as a policy change. The hunger strike is often terminated by the custodial entity through the use of force-feeding. How - There was a very important Hunger Strike involving Alice paul who went on a strike in order to protest the enfranchisement of women. The strike was ended later on but it influenced many to join the suffrage movement

Prohibition

What / Who - Nationwide constitutional ban on the production, importation, transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages When - Jan 17, 1920 - Dec 5, 1933 Why - Prohibition was difficult to enforce. The increase of the illegal production and sale of liquor, the proliferation of speakeasies and the accompanying rise in gang violence and other crimes led to waning support for Prohibition by the end of the 1920s How - The period of prohibition ended up being dropped due to the lack of support for it. The federal government also decided to give in and ended up passing the 21st amendment which essentially repealed the 18th amendment and ended prohibition

Rough Riders

What / Who - Nickname given to the 1st United States Volunteer Cavalry When - 1898 Why - The Rough Riders helped fight the Battle of San Juan Hill, which helped win the war. Many of the members were from Arizona and included cowboys, ranchers, and miners. They were called such due to their unorthodox exploits How - Despite some flak that the Americans might've thrown at the rough riders, they were definitely important for America's victory in the Spanish-American war. They dealt the decisive battle before Americans finally achieved their victory

Conservation

What / Who - Philosophy focused on protecting species from extinction, maintaining and restoring habitats, enhancing ecosystem services When - 20th century Why - Conservation became a popular topic during the progressive era, with Theodore Roosevelt being the first president to care about the government. The conservation movement is important for preserving ecosystems and maintaining a healthy environment How - If everyone remained indifferent to the environment, the Earth would be a lot warmer and close to devastation than it is today. Many don't realize how important the environment is and how important it was to preserve the ecosystem

Recall

What / Who - Power reserved to the voters that allow the voters, by petition, to demand the removal of an elected official. When - 20th century Why - If an official was found to be corrupt the citizens could vote to get that official kicked off and removed from their power. Before, if an official was found to be corrupt, nothing could be directly done about it How - This promoted democracy in America as it allowed citizens themselves more control over the government. They have the power to directly influence the government and society as a whole. This is direct representation

Initiative

What / Who - Power reserved to the voters to propose legislation, by petition, that would enact, amend or repeal a City Charter or Code provision When - 20th century Why - If the people themselves are unsatisfied with the current status of society, they themselves could propose laws that they believe would benefit them. At the same time, they had the power to remove any policies they found unfair or corrupt How - This promoted democracy in America as it allowed citizens themselves more control over the government. They have the power to directly influence the government and society as a whole. This is a direct representation

Civil Disobedience

What / Who - Professed refusal of a citizen to obey certain laws, demands, orders or commands of a government When - 1849 Why - The idea of civil disobedience was first introduced by Henry David Thoreau. It was a method of protesting and it was often known as peaceful protests or nonviolent resistance. It's meant to garner sympathy from the audience and allow change to happen How - Civil disobedience was a popular form of protesting during the progressive era. Another popular form of protesting was striking but it usually ended with violence so it's not generally associated with peaceful protesting.

eugenics

What / Who - Set of beliefs and practices that aim to improve the genetic quality of a human population When - 19th century Why - Eugenics inherently promotes the idea that some groups of people are superior to others. This leads to discrimination in society which will only strengthen the ideas of nativism and white supremacy in America How - Because of Eugenics, people who were not white were getting discriminated against even more. As mentioned before, it pushed even more racist tendencies and anti-immigrant sentiment ideas due to the belief that those groups did not have desirable genes

Florence Kelley

What / Who - Social and political reformer and the pioneer of the term wage abolitionism. When - September 12, 1859 Why - Florence Kelley dedicated her life to social reform, including racism in society and improving the conditions of laborers. She also helped win the passage of the Illinois Factory Act in 1893 which limited the hours women worked and banned child labor How - Kelley's work against sweatshops and for the minimum wage, eight-hour workdays, and children's rights is widely regarded today. She inspired many others to join the reforms which helped many of them to later come true

"Butcher" Weyler

What / Who - Spanish general and colonial administrator who served as the Governor-General of the Philippines and Cuba When - 1838 Why - In America, yellow journalism sensationalized Weyler's ruthless tactics and named him the "Butcher." They passionately denounced his cruel treatment towards Cubans How - Weyler's actions were one of the reasons why the Americans wanted to start a war with Spain. They felt that it would be inhumane for them to allow Spain to mistreat the Cubans any further and that it was about time Americans did something about it

Anthracite coal strike of 1902

What / Who - Strike by the United Mine Workers of America in the anthracite coalfields of eastern Pennsylvania When - 1902 Why - The strike threatened to shut down the winter fuel supply to major American cities which put a lot of pressure on the government to do something. President Theodore Roosevelt decided to support the strikers which resulted in a wage increase for the workers as well as hour reduction How - This was the first labor strike in which the government decided to support the laborers. This increased the popularity of labor unions as well as repaired the reputation of labor unions. Not only did they garner support from the president themselves, but they also managed to successfully reform their workplace

Yellow Journalism

What / Who - Style of newspaper reporting that emphasized sensationalism over facts. When - 20th century Why - Yellow journalism and the yellow press are American terms for journalism and associated newspapers that present little or no legitimate, well-researched news while instead using eye-catching headlines for increased sales. They often exaggerated stories How - Yellow journalism was what pushed many Americans to start a war with Spain. With many yellow journalists exaggerating Spain's treatment of Cubans as well as accusing them for bombing the USS Maine

Adamson Act

What / Who - The act sets an eight-hour workday and establishes overtime compensation for railroad workers When - September 3, 5, 1916 Why - This act marked the first time the U.S. government regulates the labor conditions of non-government workers. The act was mainly caused by a surge of railroad workers that said they would go on strike if they were not given an 8-hour workday How - This act greatly reduced the number of hours that workers had to work and it shows that labor unions and working together do pay off. They could no longer be exploited into working long hours with no pay or low pay

16th amendment

What / Who - The amendment that called for a graduated income tax When - 1909 Why - This was one of the populist political parties' goals and it ended up being passed as an amendment. The 16th amendment was an attempt at reducing the wealth gap you would be taxed more if you earned more How - The 16th amendment slightly helped stitch the wide wealth gap between the upper and lower class. The rich would have more money taken away from them in the form of taxes because of the 16th amendment. The opposite would occur for the poor

Federal Reserve Act

What / Who - The law created the Federal Reserve System, the central banking system of the United States. When - 1913 Why - The Federal Reserve Act created the Federal Reserve System, consisting of twelve regional Federal Reserve Banks jointly responsible for managing the country's money supply, making loans and providing oversight to banks, and serving as a lender of last resort How - This changed the United States as it changed it from the economy being backed up by gold, to the money system being backed up by the government. The federal reserve act updated the banking system as well as gave the federal government more power over banks

Queen Liliuokalani

What / Who - The only queen regnant and the last sovereign monarch of the Hawaiian Kingdom When - September 2, 1838 Why - During her reign, she attempted to draft a new constitution which would restore the power of the monarchy and the voting rights of the economically disenfranchised. However, her plan was ruined because she was overthrown by Americans who wanted to take over Hawaii How - After Liluokalani was overthrown, Hawaii was taken over by America and they were forced to destroy their system of Monarchy. Hawaii was one of the very first examples of American imperialism

Square Deal

What / Who - Theodore Roosevelt's domestic program, which reflected his three major goals: conservation of natural resources, control of corporations, and consumer protection When - 1902-1912 Why - It aimed at helping middle-class citizens and involved attacking plutocracy and bad trusts while at the same time protecting businesses from the most extreme demands of organized labor. Roosevelt believed that as long as something provides benefit to society it is okay for it to exist How - The square deal thought process by Roosevelt was what allowed many trusts to stay in business. They were perceived as good trusts who benefitted society more than harmed them.

Hawaii & Alaska

What / Who - Two territories that the US acquired in the late 20th century When - Late 20th century Why - Hawaii was acquired after America overthrew the Hawaiin monarch and made them independent. They annexed them later on. Alaska was purchased from Russia by William Seward How - Hawaii and Alaska marks the first sign of American imperialism. it was one of the very first territories that the US imperialized. Coming out of their isolationism hole

USS Maine

What / Who - United States Navy ship that sank in Havana Harbor When - February 15, 1898 Why - The sinking of Maine contributed to the outbreak of the Spanish-American War in April. American newspapers, engaging in yellow journalism to boost circulation, claimed that the Spanish were responsible for the ship's destruction. How - The USS Main created a lot of conflict between Spain and America which many Americans felt more resentment towards Spain. However, if it weren't for yellow journalism, the conflict would not be as bad as it was

Federal Farm Loan Act

What / Who - United States federal law aimed at increasing credit to rural family farmers When - 1915 Why - It provided capital for agricultural development, to create standard forms of investment based upon farm mortgage, to equalize rates of interest upon farm loans. Basically, giving more farmers more accessibility to loans and banking How - This is a success for the populist political group which has been long gone by the time this act was established. This helped the farmers who were constantly being ignored and trampled on before this act

19th amendment

What / Who - Vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. When - 1920 Why - The 19th amendment officially granted women the right to vote as they were not allowed to discriminate voting based on sex. They now had more rights and were one step closer to being equal to men How - The 19th amendment showed how the efforts of suffragettes did not go to waste. The government eventually caved in and gave women the right to vote. This means they were being less undermined by the men of society

Teller Amendment

What / Who - an amendment to a joint resolution of the United States Congress When - April 20, 1898 Why - It placed a condition on the United States military's presence in Cuba. Telle proposed an amendment to the U.S. declaration of war against Spain which proclaimed that the United States would not establish permanent control over Cuba How - Basically this was to make sure that the Cubans would allow America to help them fight because they could retain their independence this way. If Americans helped them without the amendment, by the end of the war they may just end up being an American territory

Municipal reform

What / Who - changes in city governments made to encourage greater efficiency, honesty, and responsiveness When - 1906 Why - This movement was particularly strong in cities controlled by political machines, the undemocratic and corrupt arrangements through which bosses could profit by controlling city governments. Reformers during the progressive era wanted to tackle the tricky issue with overpowered corporations How - There ended up being successful municipal reforms during the progressive era. For example the Clayton anti-trust act which tightened the regulation and destroying of trusts and monopolies in society

Hepburn Act

What / Who - created the federal government's first true regulatory agency When - 1906 Why - The Hepburn Rate Act was intended to give power to the Interstate Commerce Commission to regulate railroad shipping rates. Over the course of the next several months the bill was fiercely debated and pro-railroad Senators, intent on weakening the bill, tacked on amendment after amendment. How - The Hepburn act was similar to several other acts that Roosevelt passed during his presidency. In that, it was meant to reduce the corruption that was occurring in America.

Forest Reserve Act

What / Who - federal legislation signed by President Benjamin Harrison reversing previous policy initiatives When - March 3, 1891 Why - The Forest Reserve Act of 1891 had mixed purposes -- to protect watersheds from erosion and flooding and to preserve the nation's timber supply from over-exploitation. The law gives the President of the United States the authority to unilaterally set aside forest reserves from land in the public domain How - This was a continuation of the conservation movement that occurred during the progressive era. Basically, it made it so that land and forests would be reserved so that they would be safe from destruction. Trees are forests provide a great deal of oxygen as well as consumers of CO2 for the environment

jingoism

What / Who - nationalism in the form of aggressive and proactive foreign policy When - Why - Jingonists advocated for the use of threats or actual force, as opposed to peaceful relations, in efforts to safeguard what it perceives as its national interests. Often times they would push for war in the name of national interests How - Jingoism is closely related to imperialists who wanted America to expand and imperialize. Many imperialists were in fact jingoists who believed that America should expand for the sake of economic benefits and civilizing other countries

New Freedom

What / Who - political ideology of Woodrow Wilson, enunciated during his successful 1912 presidential campaign When - 1913 Why - Woodrow pledged to restore unfettered opportunity for individual action and to employ the power of government on behalf of social justice for all. It also refers to progressive programs enacted by Wilson during his first term as president from 1913 to 1916 How - This was very similar to Roosevelt's idea of New Nationalism. It was basically promoting the idea of reforming society and pushing progressive reforms. It allowed Wilson to garner many supporters

Pure Food and Drug Act

What / Who - prohibited the sale of misbranded or adulterated food and drugs and laid a foundation for the nation's first consumer protection agency When - January 1, 1907 Why - The act required that active ingredients be placed on the label of a drug's packaging and that drugs could not fall below purity levels established by the United States Pharmacopeia or the National Formulary. Anything that was too hazardous would be banned How - This was a step towards safer consumption of food for Americans. Now the government is actually trying to control and enforce laws to protect the safety of its citizens. Without this act who knows how many people would've been killed from eating dangerous and hazardous food

Carrie A. Nation

What / Who - radical member of the temperance movement When - November 25, 1846 Why - Nation is noted for attacking alcohol-serving establishments with a hatchet. Nation was also concerned about tight clothing for women; she refused to wear a corset and urged women not to wear them because of its harmful effects on vital organs. How - Though she was beaten and jailed many times for "smashing" saloons, she continued to spread her word and promoted abstinence. Her crusade against drinking contributed to the passing of the Eighteenth Amendment.

Booker T. Washington

What/Who - American educator, author, orator, and adviser to several presidents of the United States When - April 5, 1856 Why - 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." How - Washington was greatly opposed to the disenfranchisement occurring in the US but didn't change it in the traditional way. He challenged it by showing how African Americans can be just as accomplished as any other white person and through education

Ida B. Wells

What/Who - American investigative journalist, educator, and early leader in the civil rights movement When - July 16, 1862 Why - African American journalist. published statistics about lynching. She urged African Americans to protest by refusing to ride streetcars or shop in white-owned stores How - Wells was responsible for bringing the cruelty that African Americans dealt with in society to light. Though many people ostracized and criticized her, she continued to pursue her cause and bring awareness to discrimination in America

W.E.B. Dubois

What/Who - An American and Ghanaian sociologist, socialist, historian, civil rights activist When - February 23, 1868 Why - Dubois was the 1st black person to earn a Ph.D. from Harvard. He also encouraged blacks to resist systems of segregation and discrimination, helped create NAACP in 1910 How - Dubois disagreed with Brooker T Washington and believed that African Americans should receive more power and rights. He didn't like the idea of just submitting to white authority

Niagara Movement

What/Who - Black civil rights organization founded in 1905 by a group of activist When - 1905 Why - W.E.B. Du Bois and other young activists, who did not believe in accommodation, came together at Niagara Falls in 1905 to demand full black equality. Demanded that African Americans get the right to vote in states where it had been taken away, segregation be abolished, and many discriminatory barriers be removed. How - The Niagara movement served to make up for the shortcomings of the 14th and 15th Amendments. Even though they were supposed to give African Americans equal rights, they certainly didn't. Du Bois constantly advocated for civil and political rights for African Americans

NAACP

What/Who - Interracial organization that aimed to abolish segregation and discrimination and to achieve political and civil rights for African Americans. When - February 12, 1909 Why - The NAACP was first formed after a group of African-American leaders met to discuss the challenges facing African Americans and possible strategies and solutions. They hoped to reduce the disenfranchisement that exists most heavily in the South How - The NAACP organization still exists today and shares the same goal as it did in the 20th century. This is a little sad because it shows how there is still a great amount of discrimination in America despite 100 years passing by. Nonetheless, they bring light to issues such as police misconduct, the status of black foreign refugees, and questions of economic development