Transcript The Progressive Era 1900-1917

4. 6 The Progressive Era
The Progressive Era 1900-1917
• A movement in the early 1900s to solve the problems that have been
created by industrialization. This was a reform movement led by
women, writers and some politicians. These “ evils” are:
• 1. child labor
6. racism
• 2. lousy working conditions 7. crowded ,dirty cities
• 3. women still cannot vote 8. Harsh treatment of immigrants
• 4. Political Corruption
9. unsanitary food production
• 5. monopolies
10. Anti-Labor activities
Muckrakers
Writers and journalist who wrote
books, newspaper articles and
magazine articles exposing social
and political evils.
Most famous was Upton Sinclair,
who wrote the book
“The Jungle”. He exposed the
horrible and unsanitary conditions
in the meat packing industry.
TR read the book and launched an
investigation.
Women’s Movement
• National Association of Colored Women- Worked to secure the rights
of African-Americans. Also worked to gain women’s suffrage.
• Carrie Chapman Catt-Founded the American Women’s Suffrage
Association.
• Alice Paul- National Women’s Party- Engaged in marches and picketed
the White House. Many were arrested and when they went on a
hunger strike, were force-fed.
• Success??? 19th Amendment to the Constitution. Women voted in
1920.
Theodore Roosevelt
• Became President in 1901 when William McKinley was assassinated.
Youngest ever to become President at 42.
• First Progressive President “ Bully Pulpit” Means he used the power
of the Presidency to initiate reforms.
• Known as the “Trust Buster” because he used the Sherman Anti-Trust
• Act to attack monopolies. He went after Standard oil. Who is that?
Progressive Actions under TR
• Pure Food and Drug Act- Regulated drugs sold to the public and
began government regulation of foods sold to consumers. Today it’s
the Food and Drug Administration. (FDA)
• Meat Inspection Act- Began federal inspections of meats. “The
Jungle” by Upton Sinclair helped get TR to become active in safe
foods and drugs.
• Conservation- TR established several national parks including
Yellowstone and Yosemite. He probably saved the remaining buffalo
by protecting them from hunting in Yellowstone.
Taft the Progressive
• Nothing much to say.
Woodrow Wilson
• Clayton Anti-Trust Act- Strengthened the Sherman Anti Trust Act. The
monopolies found loopholes and the Clayton helped to close the
loopholes
• 1st Child Labor Laws passes
• Federal Reserve Act- Created our modern banking system.
Direction Election of Senators
• 17th Amendment- This allowed for the direct election of senators.
Before this the two Senators were chosen by the state legislature. It
was usually crooked. Now the people elect the Senators.
Income Taxes
• 16th Amendment- Gave Congress the power to enforce an income
tax. This was to tax the really rich people like Carnegie and
Rockefeller
Federal Reserve System
• This created a National Banking System. The purpose was to take
power away from powerful bankers like J.P.Morgan