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A Democrat associated with the Populist Party.
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Although H.G. Wells was a strong proponent of socialism, his books talked about change in a progressive and idealistic sense. He believed that the world would be saved by education rather than revolution.
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Jacob Riis's book "How the Other Half Lives" causes a mass reaction to the conditions in the inner city and caused New York City to pass building codes to promote safety and health.
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Thomas Nast's powerful politcal cartoons helped tyo expose the corruption of the Tweed Ring and the Tammany Hall Machine. His cartoons led to the conviction of Boss Tweed on embezzelment and graft charges.
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Eugene Debs played a large role in labor reform as the first President of the ARU (American Railroad Union), and was a big part of the Pullman Strike. He was aslo a socialist and ran for President under that party.
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Ida B. Wells book "A Red Record" provided statistics on the lynching of African-Americans. In reaction to this book the NAACP joined the fight for Federal anti-lynching legislation.
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Teddy Roosevelt was the originator of the Progressive Party, also known as the Bull Moose Party when Roosevelt ran for President in 1912. He pursued many reform ventures in business, social, and labor reform.
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Frank Norris's book "The Octopus" brought the monopolistic railroad practices in California. This lead to the breaking up of Northern Securities, the company controlling the railroads in the northwest.
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The Temperance Movement, Prohibition through the 18th Amendment, and womens sufferage were the main focuses of social reform during the Progressive Era.
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Ida Turbell's "History of the Standard Oil Company" is published. The book is hailed as "the Uncle Tom's Cabin" of its time and "the most spectacular success of the muckraking school of journalism."
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The National Child Labor Comitee worked to intitute laws that would outlaw child labor and other corrupt business practices.
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Lincoln Steffans book "The Shame of Cities" examined political corruption in cities across the United States. In reaction to this book cities began to use city commissions and city managers to help prevent corruption.
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Jane Addams was a promintent progressive in social reform. She was an elected member of Chicago's Board of Education, founded the Hull House (a settlement house in Chicago),
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The Hepburn Act served to strengthen the Interstate Commerce Commission. This gave the federal government greater control over the railroad companies and the ability to set maximum fare prices.
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Upton Sinclair was the author of "The Jungle", a novel describing the atrocities of the Chicago meatpacking industry. Although Sinclair hiself was a socialist, his book encourged progressivists such as, President at the time, Teddy Roosevelt to create legislation that would reform the food and drug industries.
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Founded the NAACP a group that focused on the need for a traditional liberal arts education for African-Americans who could then insist upon equal treatment and rights from white society.
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The institution of the Direct Primary, Secret Ballot, Referendum and Recall reformed the corruption within the election of government offcials.
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The Direct Primary, Secret Ballot, Referendum and Recall were put in place to weaken political machines and give voters more control over who was elected to public office.
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The Supreme Court dissolved the Standard Oil Company due to its violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act. This is a huge victory for Progressivists as it marks the end of a large opponent and trust.
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Hiram Johnson was elected govenor of California under the Progessive Party, and ran as Teddy Roosevelt's prospective vicepresident in 1912 under the Progressive Party.
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Woodrow Wilson was President from 1912-1920 under the Democratic Party. He was a strong supporter of progressive reform and worked to have many acts passedfor reform.
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The 16th Amendment allowed the federal government to put a graduated income tax into place. The concept of a graduated income tax was high on the Progressive Party's agenda and the 16th Amendment was a big win for the Party.
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The 17th Amendment helped the Progressive agenda by weakening political machines through allowing people to vote directly for senators.
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The Clayton Antitrust Act and Federal Trade Comission helped to better regulate corrupt practices in big business, and to protect small businesses.
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The Federal Trade Commission was established and begans to function to regulate interstate commerce. This allowed for regulation of railroads and good that travelled on them.
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Charles Evans Hughes ran for President in 1916 under the Republican party and was a Supreme Court Justice.
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A founder of the Progressive movment and Govenor of Wisconsin Robert La Follette pushed a reform program that became known as the Wisconsin Idea that became a guide for other states.
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The Federal Farm Loan Act, Adamson Act, Federal Workmen's Compensation Act, and the Keating-Owen Child Labor Act all were steps in reglating labor and child labor. They did such things as provided loans to farmers, shortened the workday for railroad workers, provided compensation for inured federal workers, and attempted to outlaw child labor.
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The 18th Amendment pushed social reform of alcohol use, known as the Temperance movement. It banned the production, sale, and distribution of alcohol.
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The 19th Amendment granted womens sufferage (right to vote). This was a Progressive belief and was also pushed by many pro-womens rights organizations.
