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Antiquities Act
This was a federal law that granted the President the authority to designate and protect national monuments on federal lands. The main purpose of the act was to preserve and protect significant cultural and historical sites for future generations. -
Hepburn Act
The Hepburn Act expanded the power of the ICC jurisdiction over railroads. It helped create more accountability and fairness in the railroad industry, and restrained monopolistic actions in interstate commerce. -
Pure Food and Drug Act
The Pure Food and Drug Act was put into place to protect the public from adultered or misbranded food and drugs. It helped address the public health concerns regarding the food people were consuming. This act had a significant impact on improving the safety of food and drugs in the U.S. and set the foundation for the creation of the FDA. -
Meat Inspection Act
This act was put in place to ensure that meat and meat products distributed across state lines were sanitary and safe for human consumption. In order to do this, it was mandated that all meat processing facilities involved in interstate commerce had to be inspected by federal inspectors. -
Mann-Elkins Act
The Mann-Elkins Act granted the Interstate Commerce Commission more regulatory control over railroads and interstate commerce. It aimed to ensure fairness and clarity in the telecommunications sector of interstate commerce. -
Workers Compensation Act
This act helped employees receive financial assistance if they became hurt due to work-related activities. Overall, this act helped change how workplace injuries were addressed and supported the creation of a more equal approach to aid injured workers. -
16th Amendment
The 16th Amendment allowed Congress the power to collect income taxes on individuals and corporations. With this amendment, this government was able to raise revenue without getting most of it from tariffs and excise taxes. -
17th Amendment
The 17th Amendment established the direct election of United States Senators by popular vote within each state. Before this amendment, Senators were chosen by state legislatures. With this amendment, voters can vote for the state legislatures and have a more representation in government. -
Federal Reserve Act
The Federal Reserve Act established the Federal Reserve System as the central bank of the United States. This system helped give citizens a more safe and stable financial system. -
Federal Trade Commission Act
This act established the Federal Trade Commission as an independent agency. The goal of this act was to promote fair competition and protect consumers. -
Clayton Antitrust Act
The Clayton Antitrust Act, passed by the U.S. Congress and enacted into law in 1914, defines unethical business practices like price fixing and monopolies, while also safeguarding various labor rights. -
Keating-Owen Act
The purpose of the Keating-Owen Child Labor Act was to address child labor. This act put age limits on child labor and set a maximum number of working hours for children. Overall, this act raised awareness about child labor and helped set the foundation for later efforts taken related to child labor. -
Adamson Act
The Adamson Act mandated an eight-hour workday for railroad employees. The act required railroads to pay overtime beyond the eight-hour limit, and that helped establish the concept of overtime pay that we use today. -
18th Amendment
The 18th amendment prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages in the U.S. Its purpose was to reduce alcohol-related social issues, but the public was dissatisfied with the amendment and it ended up leading to people illegally trading alcohol. -
19th Amendment
The 19th Amendment gave women the right to vote. It was a major stepping stone when it comes to equal rights and allowed women to have representation in the democratic process. -
Volstead Act
The Volstead Act was created to help enforce the 18th amendment by detailing regulations and procedures regarding Prohibition. The act defined an intoxicating beverage as anything that contained more than one half of one percent alcohol.