Progressive Era

The Progressive Era

A period of time in which people called for reforms in business, politics, and society as a whole...fix the problems caused by the Gilded Age.

The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire

Definition: This fire broke out in a factory in New York City and desperate employees were trapped inside due to a lack of safety precautions
Significance: This event increased the demand for safer working conditions throughout the city

Muckrakers

Writers/cartoonists of the Progressive Era who exposed abuses in government and industry.

Jacob Riis

This muckraker took pictures of tenements and overcrowded cities to expose the poor living and working conditions of immigrants. He published these pictures in his book, "How the Other Half Lives

Ida Tarbell

This muckraker exposed the abuses of John D. Rockefeller's Standard Oil Trust in her book "The History of the Standard Oil Company

Upton Sinclair

This muckraker wrote "The Jungle," which exposed the truth about the US meat packing industry.
Significance: This horrified the nation and led to the creation of the Meat Inspection Act and Pure Food and Drug Act

The Square Deal

This program, created by President Roosevelt, focused on Progressive reforms designed to protect the common people. This reforms included Trust Busting, Railroad Regulation, Public Health, Conservation, and
Business Regulation

The Sherman Anti-Trust Act

This law made monopolies and trusts illegal, but was difficult to enforce
Significance: Teddy Roosevelt will be the first president to use this law to "bust up" illegal trusts

The Pure Food and Drug Act

This law, passed in response to Sinclair's "The Jungle", was passed to stop the sale of contaminated foods and drugs. It also ensured truth in labeling.

The Bull-Moose Party

Teddy Roosevelt's political party (aka the Progressive Party) to run against Taft and Wilson.

Federal Reserve Act

Law that created the Federal Reserve and gave the government the power to regulate banking and money.
Significance: This allowed the government to control the amount of money in circulation and also helped to prevent bank failures

18th Amendment

This prohibited the manufacture, sale, and distribution of alcoholic beverages

19th Amendment

This gave women the right to vote

Booker T. Washington

African- American leader who believed that blacks could achieve equality over time through vocation education; He was also the founder of the Tuskegee Institute

W.E.B. DuBois

An African-American activist who demanded full equal rights; He also helped create NAACP

NAACP

This is an African-American civil rights organization that devotes itself to the progress of the African American Community. It was founded by W.E.B. Du Bois

Susan B. Anthony

She became a leading figure in the women's suffrage movement

16th Amendment

Income tax for all Americans

17th Amendment

Direct election of Senators (before this, they were elected by state governments)

Political Machine

Organization that does favors for new immigrants in exchange for their votes. EX. Boss Tweed

Conservation

Protecting America's natural resources. Teddy Roosevelt.

Labor Union

Organization of workers to gain better working conditions and pay.

The Jungle

Book written by Upton Sinclair exposing the horrors of the meat packing industry

Women's Christian Temperance Union

Promoted the temperance movement which will lead to Prohibition (the banning of alcohol).