Progressive Movement Flashcards
Why did the Progressive Movement occur?
- Industrialization
- Urbanization
- Immigration
all created challenges that needed to be fixed
What was the Progressive Movement?
An effort to use government power to regulate and improve society
What was the main demographic of people involved in the Progressive Movement?
Middle-Class men and women but was overall a very diverse group of reformers
What are some specific examples of different reform movements in the Progressive Movement?
- Protestant church leaders demanding temperance
- Politicians regulating monopolies & trusts
- Union leaders addressing workers rights
- Women demanding right to vote
- African Americans demanding greater equality
Who are Muckrakers? (Definition of the group)
People who attempted to expose problems in American society
Who are some important examples of Muckrakers?
- Ida Tarbell “History of Standard Oil”
- Jacob llRiis “How the other Half Lives”
- Lincoln Steffens “ The Shame of the Cities”
- Upton Sinclair “ The Junge”
What were two specific examples of progressive reform committees led by women?
- The National Child Labor Committee fought for laws banning child labor
- National Consumer’s League headed by Florence Kelley advocated for the rights of women in the workplace , laws against child labor etc
What was Muller vs Oregon (1908)?
Court ruled that laws protecting women to 10 hour days were constitutional
What were 3 main problems in cities that led to calls for urban reform?
- Poverty & Slums
- Political Corruption
- Alcoholism
What is Municipal Government Reform?
Voters electing heads of city departments such as fire, police, and sanitation
What was one specific example of a progressive governor who fought against corporate control of state politics and initiated other reforms in their state?
Governor Robert La Follete in the state of Wisconsin
What was Robert La Follete’s reform policies nicknamed?
The Wisconsin Idea
What were reform policies included in Robert La Follette’s Wisconsin Plan?
- Regulated public utilities
- Took on the powerful railroad company
- Adopted tax reforms
- Political Reforms
What were 6 specific examples of political reform during the Reform Movement?
- Australian or Secret Ballot
- Direct Primary
- Recall
- Initiative (Voters could introduce laws)
- Referendum
- 17th Ammendment
What was the 17th Amendment?
Rather than the state legislatures; voters could directly vote for senators
What were the two sides of the Temperance Movement Debate and what were they nicknamed? Which type of people typically championed each side?
“Wet” - Against prohibition
“Dry”- Supporters of prohibition
“Wet” typically included Catholic Immigrants and City people
“Dry” typically included Protestant native born and rural people
What were groups who advocated for temperence?
Women’s Christian Temperance Union: Large organization of women advocating for temperance
Anti-Saloon League: leading organization advocating for legal prohibition
What strike showed Roosevelt’s policy towards labor relations and what did his response illustrate?
The Pennsylvania Coal Miners Strike of 1902. He attempted to mediate the dispute and when the land owners didn’t agree he threatened to send federal troops. This was a change from previous presidencies and shows him regulating businesses somewhat
What was Roosevelt’s series of progressive reforms known as and what were the three main categories?
The Square Deal
1. Corporations: Control of corporations
2. Consumers: Consumer protection
3. Conservation: Conservation of the environment and its natural resources
What was an example of a trust broken up by Teddy Roosevelt?
The Northern Securities Companies (railroad monopoly)
What were three specific examples aside from trust-busting that show Roosevelt limiting the power of “bad” trusts?
- He increased the power of the Interstate Commerce Commission
- Elkins Act
- Hepburn Act
What was the Elkins Act?
Increased penalties for rate rebates created by TR
What was the Hepburn Act (1906)?
Gave the ICC the power to set maximum rates for railroads
