Progressive Legislation Timeline

  • Period: to

    Theodore Roosevelt

  • Antiquities Act

    Preservation of American antiquities. First U.S. law to provide general legal protection of cultural and natural resources of historic or scientific interest on federal lands.
  • Hepburn Act

    Intended to give power to interstate commerce commissions to regulate railroad shipping rates. Meant to strengthen the federal regulation of railroads.
  • Meat Inspection Act

    Law that makes it illegal to adulterate or misbrand meat and meat products being sold as food. Ensured sanitary slaughter and sale of meat.
  • The Pure Food and Drug Act

    Prohibited the sale of midbranded and altered food and drugs in the US. Laid foundation for consumer protection agency.
  • Period: to

    William Howard Taft

  • Mann-Elkins Act

    Placed the burden of proof on the railroads. They have to actively that a rate was reasonable.
  • Workers Compensation Act

    Provides workers' compensation coverage for employment-related injuries and occupational diseases. Helped make working conditions better.
  • Period: to

    Woodrow Wilson

  • 16th Amendment

    The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration. Grants Congress the authority to issue an income tax without having to determine it based on population.
  • 17th Amendment

    Established the direct election of United States senators in each state. Two senators of each state are elected by the people.
  • Federal Reserve Act

    The law created the Federal Reserve System, the central banking system of the United States. Protects and sets economic status of the US.
  • Federal Trade Commission Act

    Law which established the Federal Trade Commission. Its purpose was to prevent unfair methods of competition in commerce
  • Clayton Antitrust Act

    Done to try and address issues in the Sherman Act by expanding limits on prohibited business practices. Made to limit trusts and stop monopolies.
  • Keating-Owen Act

    Limited the working hours of children and forbade interstate sale of goods produced by child labor. Goal was to set limits on child labor in the US.
  • Adamson Act

    Act that established a 8 hour workday with additional overtime pay, for interstate railroad workers. For carriers engaged in interstate and foreign commerce, and for other purposes.
  • 18th Amendment

    Declared the production, transport and sale of intoxicating liquors illegal. It did not outlaw the actual consumption of alcohol however.
  • 19th Amendment

    The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. Woman's suffrage given.
  • Volstead Act

    Defined an intoxicating beverage as anything that contained more than one half of one percent alcohol. Prohibited the manufacturing of alcoholic drinks.