Progressive Era, 1901-1918 Flashcards
Industrialization, immigration, and urbanization dramatically changed American society. This reform movement developed to deal with the unresolved issues that occurred during the Gilded Age between 1877-1900.
Progressive Movement/Progressivism (1901-1918)
Who were the Progressives?
- Use government to fix social problems.
- Use government to regulate industries.
- Use government to improve labor conditions.
- Progressives were middle-class citizens.
Who were some Republican progressives?
Theodore Roosevelt & Robert La Follette
Who were some Democratic progressives?
William Jennings Bryan & Woodrow Wilson
What were some goals of the progressives?
- Fight corruption in politics.
- Limit the power of big business
- Temperance movement
- Women’s suffrage
- Help immigrants.
- Help labor/unions.
What were some of the political reforms of the progressives?
- Secret ballot.
- Direct election of U.S. senators. (17th Amendment)
- Initiative, influence the legislature to consider a bill.
- Referendum, allowed citizens to vote on laws.
- Recall, remove a corrupt politician from office.
- Women’s suffrage.
What were some of the economic reforms of the progressives?
- Child labor laws.
- Antitrust legislation.
- Pure Food and Drug Act.
What were the progressive constitutional amendments?
16th-Congress can collect income taxes.
17th-Senators elected by popular vote.
18th-Prohibition banned alcohol.
19th-Granted women the right to vote.
Who became the 26th president of the U.S. and would become the first progressive president?
Pres. Theodore Roosevelt (1901-1909)
Which progressive issues did Teddy Roosevelt address?
- Breakup trusts (monopolies).
- Regulate unsanitary meatpacking industries.
- Require truthful labels on products.
- Conservation of natural resources.
Presidents in the 19th century had consistently taken the side of business in its conflict with labor. How was Teddy Roosevelt different?
Roosevelt insisted on a “Square Deal” for both labor and business.
In 1902, Roosevelt successfully intervened in this strike between miners and the mine owners?
Anthracite Coal Strike (1902)
Workers got a 10% wage increase and a 9-hour day.
In 1903, this progressive Wisconsin governor allowed citizens to choose their candidates by majority vote. This direct primary overthrew boss rule.
Gov. Robert La Follette
In 1904, Roosevelt broke up the power of powerful railroad monopolies and took action against Standard Oil and 40 other large corporations. What was this called?
Trust-busting (breakup the bad trusts and keep the good trusts)
These two acts attempted to regulate railroads.
Elkins Act (1903) - strengthened the powers of the Interstate Commerce Commission. Hepburn Act (1906)-ICC could fix "just and reasonable" rates.
In 1905, the Industrial Workers of the World formed, which promoted violence and socialism. What was the nickname given to this group.
“Wobblies”
In 1905, W.E.B. Du Bois met with black intellectuals to discuss equal rights for blacks. Where was the meeting held and what did this movement become?
Niagara Movement (Niagara Falls, Canada)
These were early 20th century journalists who exposed illegal business practices, social injustices, and corrupt urban political bosses.
Muckrakers
Henry Demarest Lloyd wrote this book where he attacked the practices of the Standard Oil Company and the railroads. Failed to suggest how to control these companies.
Wealth Against Commonwealth (1881)
Jacob Riis wrote this book about American industry and the poor living conditions in tenements.
How the Other Half Lives (1890)