Progressive Reform Era Flashcards
What was the spoils system?
Practice of rewarding supporters with government jobs. Abused it
Patronage
Control of appointment to government jobs.
Merit
Based on ability not politics.
Who was Charles Guiteau?
A disappointed office seeker shoots and kills President James Garfield.
What was the Pendleton Act?
Created the Civil Service Commission to conduct exams for federal jobs.
Civil Service
Includes all federal jobs except elected officers and the military.
Regulate
Control
Interstate commerce
Business that crossed state lines.
Interstate Commerce Act
Forbid practices such as pools and rebates. Also set up a Interstate Commerce Commision (ICC) to oversee railroads.
What did cities need to do when they grew?
Needed to expand services such as sewers, garbage collection, and roads.
What did politicians do when reforming city governments?
Accepted money to give away these jobs.
Political Bosses
Powerful politicians, gained power in many cities.
Who were bosses popular with?
The poor, but especially with immigrants.
What did Tweed do during the 1860’s and 1870’s?
He cheated the city out of more than $100 million.
How was Boss Tweed exposed?
Thomas Nast’s cartoons.
What empowered voters?
Wisconsin Idea and Primary.
What was the Wisconsin Idea?
Robert La Follete, Wisconsin introduced a series of progressive reforms.
Primary
Election in which voters choose their party’s candidate for the general election.
Initiative
Gave voters the right to put a bill before a state legislature.
Recall
Allowed voters to remove an elected official from office.
Referendum
Voters can vote directly on a bill.
What is the 16th Amendment?
Gave congress the power to pass an income tax.
