The Progressive Era - USA Flashcards
What was the Progressive Era?
The Progressive Era was a time of political and social reform which led to major changes in the United States by the late 19th century and early 20th century. It was a time of strengthening the national government addressing the people’s economic, social and political demands.
Once such focus was ending the extreme concentration of wealth among elite and enormous economic and political power of big businesses.
What was Capitalism?
It is an economic and political system in which a country’s trade and industry are controlled and owned by private individuals. It is where the market, not the state determines the distribution and prices of goods and services.
Who was Andrew Carnegie?
Andrew Carnegie was an American industrialist who led the enormous expansion of the American steel industry from the late 19th century to the early 20th century.
His policies would focus on imposing long hours along with cutting staff wages in order to build up his profits. By the year 1900, Carnegie sold more steel than the whole of Great Britain, a year later he sold his business to JP Morgan for $480 million.
Along with his poor policies, Carnegie believed that capitalists, not the state should manage wealth, and that the poor should not receive charity as it encouraged idleness.
Who was John Pierpoint (JP) Morgan?
During the late 19th century he was involved in consolidating and reorganising railway lines. He would be bought stock in railroad companies eventually controlling one-sixth of the America’s rail lines.
He would also go on to form General Electric which became the largest electrical manufacturing firm in the US.
His strong economic influence helped stabilise the economic business crisis of 1907, but was criticised for having too much power over the financial markets.
Who was John Davidson (JD) Rockefeller?
John D. Rockefeller formed the Standard Oil Company on January 10, 1870 along with the rest of the Rockefeller family would control almost all oil production, processing and marketing and transportation in the United States.
By 1900, he had controlled 90% of all oil in the United States at the peak of his Oil trust empire. He would also develop over 300 oil-based products from tar to petroleum jelly.
Because of the company’s competitive practice of Standard Oil, which many regarded ruthless along with the growing public hostility toward monopolies caused many industrialized states to enact antimonopoly laws such as the Sherman Anti-trust Act in 1890.
What was the Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire? (1911)
The Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire was a fatal conflagration that occurred on the evening of March 25, 1911, in a New York City, sweatshop which triggered national movement in the United States for safer working Conditions.
The incident was assumed to have been caused by a discarded cigarette which likely sparked the fire.
What workplace safety rules were placed after the Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire?
After the events of the Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire labour unions would continue to fight for certain policies, laws and restrictions some still being in play to this day.
- Shorter working hours along with higher wages
- Elimination of child labour
- Implementation of sanitary conditions in workplaces.
What Acts/Policies were implemented during the Progressive Era?
- Sherman Anti-Trust Act
- Clayton Anti-Trust Act
- Meat Inspection Act
- Pure Food and Drug Act
The Sherman Anti-Trust Act (1890)
The first legislation enacted by the U.S Congress (1890) to curb concentrations of power that interfere with trade and reduce economic competition.
The act’s first key provision enforced prohibitions not only to formal cartels but also to any agreements to fixed prices, limit industrial output, share markets or excluding competition.
While its second key provision makes any attempts to monopolize any part of trade or commerce in the United States illegal.
Clayton Anti-Trust Act (1914)
The act was enacted in 1914 by the United States Congress for the purpose of clarifying and strengthening the Sherman Anti-Trust Act. Due to the Sherman Anti-Trust acts vague language it provided large corporations with loopholes.
As a result the Clayton Act defined certain business practices as illegal especially those conducive to the formation of monopolies of anything that result from them.
Meat Inspection Act (1906)
The Act signed by President Theodore Roosevelt on June 30, 1906, prohibited the sale of unadulterated or misbranded livestock and derived products as food ensuring that livestock were slaughtered and processed under sanitary conditions.
The law reformed the meatpacking industry mandating the U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) to inspect all cattle, swine, sheep, goats and horses before and after slaughter.
Pure Food and Drug Act (1906)
Along with the Meat Inspection Act of 1906, the Pure Food and Drug Act ensured the sanitary preparation of consumable goods. The act required accurate ingredient labelling and prohibited the sale of unadulterated and misbranded food and drugs in interstate commerce.
This ensured the safeguard of the health and well-being of American consumers and laid the foundation of the first consumer protection agency in the U.S.
President Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt (1901 - 1909)
Theodore Roosevelt was the 26th president of the United States and a writer, naturalist, and soldier. During his presidency he expanded the powers of president and of the federal government in support of the public interest in conflicts between businesses and labour.
He would also assume the title of “Trust-buster” as he aggressively enforced antitrust laws, initiating 43 lawsuits against large corporations to break up monopolies.
He also pushed for consumer protection as he aimed to improve food safety standards by utilizing the Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Acts of 1906.
President Woodrow Wilson (1913 - 1921)
