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Hepburn Act
The Hepburn Act fortified the powers of Interstate Commerce Commission and strengthened federal regulation of railroads. The Act passed after a series of unpopular rate increases by railroad corporations. (Theodore Roosevelt) -
Meat Inspection Act
The Meat Inspection Act required that the U.S. Department of Agriculture inspect all livestock before and after slaughter. This law reformed the meatpacking industry of the U.S.. (Theodore Roosevelt) -
Pure Food and Drug Act
The Pure Food and Drug Act prohibited the sale of misbranded or “adulterated” food and drugs in interstate commerce. It also laid a foundation for the nation’s first consumer protection agency. (Theodore Roosevelt) -
Antiquities Act
The Antiquities was the first law to provide general legal protection for cultural and natural resources of historic or scientific interest on federal lands. Private citizens were collecting objects in haphazard ways, selling them for personal gains, and concerns over loss of information lead to the law to preserve America’s archaeological places. (Theodore Roosevelt) -
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Progressive Legislation
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Mann-Elkins Act
The Mann-Elkins Act strengthened the authority of the Interstate Commerce Commission over railroad rates. These measures imposed new and significant costs on railroads. (William Taft) -
Worker's Compensation Act
The Workers Compensation Act required employers to purchase insurance coverage for their employees. The act also created a system by which an injured employee could receive compensation without having to prove negligence on their part. (William Taft) -
16th Amendment
The 16th Amendment grants Congress the authority to issue an income tax without having to determine it based on population. It allowed the federal government to collect an income tax from all Americans. (William Taft) -
17th Amendment
The 17th Amendment allowed voters of each state to directly vote for their senators. The Senate is composed of two senators from each state for 6 years. (William Taft) -
Federal Reserve Act
The Federal Reserve Act established the Federal Reserve System as the central bank of the United States. The Federal Reserve provides the nation with a safer, more flexible, and more stable monetary and financial system. (Woodrow Wilson) -
Federal Trade Commission Act
The FTC was created to prevent unfair methods of competition in commerce. The FTC promotes free and fair competition by preventing trade restraints, price fixing, false advertising, etc. (Woodrow Wilson) -
Clayton Antitrust Act
The Clayton Antitrust Act defined unethical business practices such as price fixing and monopolies and upholds various rights of labor. The FTC and DOJ enforce the Clayton Antitrust Act today. (Woodrow Wilson) -
Keating-Owen Act
The Keating-Owen Act restricted child labor through Congress’ power to regulate interstate commerce. It limited children’s working hours and prohibited the interstate sale of goods produced by child labor. (Woodrow Wilson) -
Adamson Act
The Adamson Act established an 8-hour workday, with additional pay for overtime, for interstate railroad workers. The act marks the first time the U.S. government regulates the labor conditions of non-government workers and helped to avoid a nationwide strike of railroad workers. (Woodrow Wilson) -
Volstead Act
The Volstead Act defined an intoxicating drink as anything that contained more than 0.5% alcohol. It prohibited the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages. (Woodrow Wilson) -
18th Amendment
The 18th Amendment prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transportation of intoxicating beverages, but did not prohibit the consumption, private possession, or production for personal consumption of alcoholic beverages. Shortly after the amendment was passed, Congress passed the Volstead Act to provide federal enforcement of Prohibition. (Woodrow Wilson) -
19th Amendment
The 19th Amendment made it illegal to deny the right to vote to any citizen based on gender. This helped to increase women’s participation in other domains of public life. (Woodrow Wilson)