The Progressive Era

Question 1

Who is Robert La Follette and what was his Wisconsin Idea?

Answer 1

Robert La Follette was a Progressive Wisconsin governor. He was very influential among the Progressives and decreased the power of political machines. La Follette believed that the will of the people should be the law of the land. His plan, the Wisconsin plan brought many Progressive reforms into law by using university professors and other experts to write the laws. The Wisconsin Plan became the model for other Progressive plans in other states.

Question 2

Referendum

Answer 2

allowed voters to put a bill on the ballot and vote it into law. The recall allowed voters to remove an elected official from office

Question 3

Initiative

Answer 3

gave voters the right to put a bill before a state legislature

Question 4

Northern Securities

Answer 4

a trust that had been formed to control competition among railroads

Question 5

Which president put the Sherman Antitrust Act to use?

Answer 5

President Theodore Roosevelt did. He used it by filing a lawsuit against the railroad company Northern Securities claiming it violated the Sherman Antitrust Act. In 1904, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Roosevelt, and he then started to use the Sherman Antitrust Act to bust up trusts.

Question 6

Trustbusters

Answer 6

a person who wanted to destroy all trusts (Roosevelt was one of the more famous of these people)

Question 7

The Sherman Antitrust Act

Answer 7

In 1890, President Benjamin Harrison signed the Sherman Antitrust Act. The act prohibited businesses from trying to limit or destroy competition. Enforcing the act proved difficult. At first, judges ruled in favor of trusts. Instead of regulating trusts, The Sherman Antitrust Act was often used against labor unions. The courts said union strikes blocked free trade. Later, the courts began to use the Antitrust Act against monopolies.

Question 8

President Theodore Roosevelt (Pre-Presidency)

Answer 8

In 1898, Roosevelt led a unit of troops in some daring exploits in the Spanish American War. He came home to a hero’s welcome and was elected governor of New York. As governor he continued to work for Progressive reforms. New York Republican bosses were relieved when Roosevelt resigned from the office of governor to become Vice President.

Question 9

President Theodore Roosevelt (Presidency)

Answer 9

After President McKinley was shot in September of 1901. Roosevelt became President. Roosevelt promised to continue McKinley’s pro-business policies. He wasn’t against big business. He believed business was a positive force and that giant corporations were here to stay. He became known as a trustbuster however.

Question 10

What was the difference between good and bad trusts?

Answer 10

Good trusts were efficient and fair and should be left alone.
Bad ones took advantage of workers and cheated the public.

Question 11

William Taft’s Presidency

Answer 11

Taft’s approach to the presidency was far different from Roosevelt’s. He was quiet and careful. Roosevelt was hard-driving and energetic. Taft supported many Progressive causes. He broke up even more trusts than Roosevelt had. He favored graduated income tax, approved new safety rules for mines, and signed laws giving government workers an 8 hour day. The Commerce Department set up an office to deal with the problems of child labor. Taft lost Progressive support. He signed a bill that raised most tariffs. Progressives opposed the new law, arguing that tariffs raised prices for consumers.

Question 11

The Election of 1912

Answer 11

Even though Roosevelt was a Republican, he still ran against Taft during this election. He ran for his own party, the Bull Moose Party. Woodrow Wilson ran for the Democratic party. Taft and Roosevelt had more votes than Wilson, but because the Republican party’s votes were split Wilson ended up winning.

Question 12

The Gentleman’s Agreement

Answer 12

In 1907, Japan agreed with Roosevelt that they would stop Japanese workers coming to the US while the US would allow the Japaneses wives to reunite with their American husband.

Question 13

the New Freedom

Answer 13

Wilson tried to break up trusts into smaller companies. By doing so, he hoped to increase competition in the American economy

Question 14

Federal Reserve Act in 1913

Answer 14

Congress created an organization that controlled the supply of money to the US financial system; It has the power to raise or lower interest rates

Question 15

Federal Trade Commision

Answer 15

In 1914, Wilson created this to ensure fair competition (after the Federal Reserve Act)

Question 16

Square Deal

Answer 16

In 1904, Roosevelt ran for president. During the campaign, he promised Americans a Square Deal. This meant that everyone from farmers and consumers to workers and owners should have the same opportunity to succeed. Railroads were a main target of the Square Deal. Roosevelt urged Congress to outlaw rebates. In 1906, Congress gave the ICC the power to set railroad rates

Question 17

Mexican-Americans

Answer 17

They lived in areas acquired by the United States from Mexico under the Treaty of Guadalupe- Hidalgo and the Gadsden Purchase. In 1910, revolution and famine swept Mexico. The immigrants came from all levels of society.They got paid less than white workers and were denied skilled jobs.They faced harsh conditions in factories.

Question 18

Interstate Commerce Act

Answer 18

After a railroad tycoon, Collin Huntington bribed various members of Congress to shoot down a bill, Grover Cleveland signed the act; It forbade practices such as pools and rebates. It also set up the Interstate Commerce Commission to oversee the railroads

Question 19

Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony

Answer 19

Leaders of the National Women’s Suffrage Association

Question 20

What were the first four states to allow women to vote?

Answer 20

Wyoming, Utah, Idaho and Colorado

Question 21

Carrie Chapman Catt

Answer 21

created a detailed plan to fight for suffrage, state by state

Question 22

Florence Kelley

Answer 22

investigated conditions in sweatshops and campaigned for child labor to stop

Question 23

The Women’s Christian Temperance Movement

Answer 23

recognized alcohol as a threat to their families; campaigned for Prohibition

Question 24

Who was the president of the Women’s Christian Temperance Movement?

Answer 24

Frances Willard; she spoke tirelessly about the evils of alcohol. She called for state laws to ban the sale of liquor

Question 25

Carrie Nation

Answer 25

a more radical temperance crusader. She would storm into saloons swinging a hatchet

Question 26

What was the 16th Amendment?

Answer 26

It gave Congress the power to pass an income tax in 1913.

Question 27

What was the 17th Amendment?

Answer 27

It allowed for the direct voting of senators in 1912 and ratified a year later

Question 28

What was the 18th Amendment?

Answer 28

It made it illegal to sell any alcoholic beverages in the United States after 1917

Question 29

What was the 19th Amendment?

Answer 29

It gave women the right to vote in 1919.

Question 30

This created the civil service commission to conduct exams for federal jobs. What was it?

Answer 30

The Pendleton Act