History Assessment

Laissez-faire

Government should have a 'hands-off' approach

Progressive (1900-1910)

Grassroots movement. Change/reform initiated with people that is focused on public, social, and economic issues. Political issue: corrupt, run by businesses. Economy: widespread poverty. Monopolies were broken up, labor unions formed

GI Bill of Rights

Provided WWII veterans with funds for college education, unemployment insurance, and housing

Explain the relationship between people, business, and government during the 1920s, 1930s, 1960s. How does the relationship change over time?

- 1920s: There was a boom in consumer spending because of all the new inventions, this was a time of prosperity for the people and for businesses. Examples include Henry Ford mass producing cars and assembly lines increasing their efficiency, magazines connected to advertisers, businesses created advertisements, stock markets were opened for public trade while businesses extended credit. The government changed women's rights which led to an increase in job opportunities. - 1930s: Stock market crashes and causes the Great Depression due to overuse of credit, overproduction, unequal distribution of wealth, and tariff trade policies that increased their prices. The government tried non-intervention but it was not working. FDR promises a new deal to provide relief, recovery, and reform with his radical approach. - Many people lost their jobs and homes and had a sense of guilt while losing all their funds - Poverty rates heavily increased and many unemployed President Hoover had a conservative approach with a Laissez Faire mindset that the economy will self correct, but this was not the case - 1960s: Suburban and civil rights issues arise: Lyndon Johnson steps up after JFK is assassinated and focuses on creating a Great Society by addressing civil rights programs (Civil Rights Act 1964), Voting Rights Act, Medicare Programs for elderly and people with low income, poverty, right to free education, etc

How did progressive reformers and president's challenge or regulate monopolies?

- 8 hour work day for more productivity - New child labor laws - demanded that states pass anti-trust laws to make monopolies illegal and regulate the rates charged for some goods - progressives thought that monopolies were hurting competition, consumers, and the employees - Progressive Era reformers sought to harness the power of the federal government to eliminate unethical and unfair business practices, reduce corruption, and counteract the negative social effects of industrialization - during the progressive era, protections for workers and consumers were strengthened, and women finally achieved the right to vote - trustbusters: Roosevelt targeted bad trusts vs. good trsuts - Economy: federal reserve: bank oversight, income tax came with lower tariffs. Income tax was progressive or graduated. Depending on how much you make a year, that depends on how much tax you pay. More money one makes = higher percentage of tax they pay - called for major social reforms for an expanded role of the government to regulate businesses

Teddy Roosevelt and conflict with JP Morgan, other progressive reforms

- Roosevelt believed America's greatest evil was too much power in the hands of corporations - Teddy Roosevelt thought that JP Morgan had too much money after running banks - Teddy Roosevelt trust busts him

What was the socio-economic impact of suburban development?

A growth of affordable automobiles and highways contributed to the growth of suburbs by allowing wealthier white families to still keep their jobs in the inner city, but not have to live there. They could now live in nicer, safer areas outside of the city and commute to work.

Upton Sinclair

A muckraker who exposed labor abuses in the meatpacking industry by publishing the truth of poisoned food to expose the hazards. He exposed the appalling and unsanitary conditions to raise awareness to society. He wrote 'The Jungle' to expose the appalling conditions in the meatpacking industry which shocked the public. The food was rotten, diseased, and contaminated.

New Deal

A series of programs and projects instituted during the Great Depression by President FDR with a goal to restore economic and financial prosperity to reform American living standards

Racial Covenants

Banks only gave funds to people living in suburbia, not people living in minorities

What child labor reforms were achieved by progressives?

Efforts expanded at the state level to outlaw the employment of small children - How did they address social issues for children? Lewis Hine and Jacob Riis, both photographers and reporters, helped raise awareness during the Progressive Era by showing dramatic photographs to spark emotions and guilt from society - How did they address economic issues for children? Outlawed employment of children and abolished child labor. They knew that children should not be working in dangerous factories for poor wages and climbing on big machines while in harmful environment

3 examples of ND programs that helped the government meet the goals of relief, recovery, and reform and alleviate the struggles of the Great Depression

Example 1: The Civil Works Administration was a relief program that provided regular jobs on public works for the unemployed people who needed a source of income. This overall reduces poverty rates which can support our economy. Example 2: The Securities Act of 1933 regulated stock transactions. This protects people's banks and helps avoid issues like Fraud. Example 3: The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insured private bank deposits in order to protect consumers. Extra: - the farm credit administration provided low interest mortgages for farm owners - civilian conservation corps employed young men - homeowners loan corporation gave government mortgages for people to keep their homes

Pure Food and Drug Act

Forbade the manufacture or sale of mislabeled or poisonous food or drugs. A new requirement was that drugs should be labeled with adequate directions for safe use and should not be mixed in with other daily necesites.

Muckraker

Journalists and novelists of the Progressive Era, who had a goal to expose corruption in big businesses and government such as crime, bad working conditions, monopolies, etc. Example: Jacob Reese took pictures of poor working conditions to expose the reality of poverty

Great Society

Lyndon Johnson thought that we did not have a great society yet, but we could build one. There are too many people living in poverty. Requires lots of government regulation. Johnson would support: government support, civil rights, medicare, education financing and eduction reform, job corps, environment, war on poverty

Lewis Hine

Lewis Hine was an American muckraker photographer who used his camera as a tool for social reform. He helped reform child labor laws in the United States to promote the issues of society living in poverty.

Trust Busting/Trust Buster

One who seeks to break up business trusts. For example, Theodore Roosevelt. He preferred government regulation of monopolies.

Lyndon Johnson

President after JFK's assassination, wanted to create a Great Society by reducing poverty rates and equality for all races and genders

Franklin Roosevelt (FDR)

President during the Great Depression. Had a radical approach because Laissez Faire was not working - 1929-1933 unemployment = 25% of the working class - promised a new deal - government would provide: relief, recovery, reform - deficit spending: spending money you do not have - FDR wanted to put the money forward, establish recovery, and once the people are recovered, he will get the money back —> Germany loses WWI, they owe 33 billion dollars and don't have that — U.S. gave money to Britain and France to wage war — Nobody is paying each other back, debt increases — Worldwide collapse, Great Depression is now a world issue As a result, in 1929, the stock market crashed. Beginning a decade of economic crisis

Meat Inspection Act

Prohibited the sale of unsanitary meat. The meat inspection act ensured that meat products are slaughtered and processed under strict sanitary conditions

Consumerism

Promoting the interests of consumers in order to improve services

What were the 3 goals of the New Deal?

Relief, recovery, reform

National Child Labor Committee

Sought to end child labor, harsh hours, and harsh working conditions with efforts to provide free education for all children

Levittown (s)

Suburban homes that looked exactly the same. Refusal to sell Levittown homes to POC. Each Levittown was a segregated community due to racial covenants. Ex: Magill Drive

Tariffs

Taxes on imported goods by the government