progressive era

Question 1

what was it

Answer 1

• It was a time of widespread social activism and political reform across the US, from the 1890s to the 1920s
• Broad based populist movement

Question 2

labour unions

Answer 2

• American federation of labour (AFL) created in 1885
• Protects worker from exploitation
• Organise strikes

Question 3

Populist party

Answer 3

Formed in 1892 by farmers in South and West (US) in response to –
o Fall in agricultural prices (due to competition with other nations)
o High tariffs (make it hard to sell overseas)
o High interest rate (farmers had to borrow, pay back)

Question 4

aims of populist party

Answer 4

o Government ownership of railways = lower fees
o Wanted an 8-hour working day
o Lower interest rates
o They got the ideas because they were influenced by the Democrat Party (chose Bryan as candidate)
o Bryan’s adoption of populist aims led us into progressive movement (era)

Question 5

anti-trust legislation

Answer 5

o 1890 congress passes Sherman anti-trust act
o Banned ‘every contract’, combination in the form of a trust or conspiracy in restraint of trade or commerce
o Standard oil took to court + lost lawsuit in Ohio in but later was able to incorporate = all was largely ineffective

Question 6

Mann act 1903 and Hepburn Act 1906

Answer 6

o Made it illegal for railway companies to make secret deals with big businesses for lower railway fees

Question 7

interstate commerce act 1885

Answer 7

o All fees charged by railway companies had to be ‘reasonable and just’. Railway companies had to publish their fees, but the Interstate Railroad Commission could not set fees