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Period: to
progressive era
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Robert La Follette
"Fighting Bob" Robert La Follette was a man who embodied the nature of progressivism. He was born into a poor farming family as a child, and it showed in his tenacity in pursuing rights for the less wealthy, and criticized the buisness tactics used by large coorperations and wealthy buisness owners. This fight got him elected to the senate in 1905 -
William Jennings Bryan
William Jennings Bryan was a progressive Democrat who was a three time presidential nominee in 1896, 1900, and 1908. Although he lost all elections, he was a brillient public speaker and was popular amongst the people. With Bryan, the progressive party grew to new hights under Bryans watchful eye -
H.G Welles
H.G Welles was not only an accomplished writer, but he was also a major leader for progressivism. He believed in many facist ideals, and thought society should not overlook the benefits of Facism. He said it was like "Enlightened Nazism" as he wanted one race, but this race included all etnicitys and religions, a world community, which at the time was an obscure thought. He truely changed the way we can look at the world today. -
Elkins Act(buisness reform)
The Elkins Act, passed in 1903, was aimed at eliminating buisnesses with unfair buisness tactics. This specificly applied to the practices of large railroad companies that gave rebates. The act would impose a large fine on any railroad offering rebates to their loyal customers, as well the customers accepting them. -
Eugine Debs
Eugine Debs was a committed fighter for the socialist party and even attempted to run for the presidential election. He was a great public speaker, and this led to a rise in progressive ideals. Under his leadership, he founded the Socialist Party of America, and grew it from a very small party to the third largestnparty in the US by 1904. However, he got into trouble with the federal goverment with his opposition to war, and was even imprisoned -
Pure Food and Drug Act(public service reform)
The Pure Food and Drug act, passed in 1906 on the same day as the Meat inspection act, was aimed at ensuring public health in meals. It started small as just an act ensuring all items were labeled properly, but then took on a larger role to inspect the ingredients of products to ensure they were safe. Their major victory and probably what it will be remembered for was it was vs Coca Cola, eventually getting CC to remove Cocaine from the product and replaceing it with caffine -
Meat Inspection Act(Labor Reform)
The Meat Inspection act, put into effect on the same day as the Pure Food and Drug act, regulated the requirements neccisary for meat to be legal. It was strongly influenced by Upton Sinclairs book "The Jungle" which explored the poor working conditions of factories as well as the poor quality meat being produced there. This act made it so every animal shall be inspected pre and post slaughter, and also had requirements for meat packing industrys to be more sanitary and improve work conditions. -
Upton Sinclair
Upton Sinclair was a socialist muckraker who shed light on the meat packing industry with his book, "The Jungle" Sinclair grew up in New York with his relitively poor parents, but often visited his wealthy grandparents. He says this diffrence is why he became a socialist. His success in "The Jungle" was rejected by six publishers. At last it was published, and it alarmed many people including Teddy Roosevelt, who investigated these companys after. Sinclair changed how the meat industrys work. -
16th amendment
The 16th amendment was an important amendment to the constitution, as now congress had the ability to impose a federal income tax. Basicly now congress will make those who make more money to pay more in taxes than a simple factory worker. This is a very important act, as now the wealthy buisness owner will pay more in taxes because he makes more, so ultimatly this tax increase does not ruin him, but it does make a huge diffrence on the regular worker, who now feels like the government is fair. -
Corrupt Practices Act
The Corrupt Practices act, passed in 1910, regulated buisness as well as government. It regulated spending by political parties. An example of this is that if you were to run for the House of Reps, then you can only spend $5,000 total on your campain, Senate, only $10,000. This act was approved by President Taft -
Jane Addams
Jane Addams was a hard working women keen on exposing the truth about living conditions and the poor in Chicago. She co-founded the Hull House in Chicago in order to provide social and educational services to those living in crowded tenements. In 1910, she wrote "Twenty Years at Hull House" involving philosophy to bring Christianity into our society and economy. -
Teddy Roosevelt
Teddt Roosevely was the 26th president of the United States, and he served two terms in office from 1901-1909. He was a Republican during his time in office, but over time he began to adopt more progressive ideals, so when the election of 1913 neared, the Republican party did not support him as one of their canidates due to his liberal views. Thus, he became the first presidential canidate for the progressive party. -
17th amendment
The 17th amendment continued the progressive trend of giving more power to the people. This amendment allowed everyday citizen voters to bote directly for US senators. Previously to this, state legislators chose who the state senotors will be. This amendment just continues the work progressivism is doing in giving more power to the people. -
Jacob Riis
Jacob riis was a simple photographer in New York during the progressive era, but he had a profound effect as a muckraker during this time. In New York during this time many poor people lived in tenements, small, room sized "apartments" that often had 15 or more people living inside. These tenements had no light at all either, so when Jacob Riis shined the light on these poor living conditions, the world took notice, and due to him these were now illegal. -
Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson was always regarded as a president of the people, and this was true in the progressive reforms he passed during his presidency. One such reform was able to prohibit the use of child labor, a controversial topic that he finally set straight. Similar yo this he passed an act stating that it is now illegal for rail road workers to work longer than 8 hours a day. He also passed the Underwood act to lower tariffs. These reforms truely show Wilson was a man of the people. -
Hiram Johnson
Hiram Johnson was a California senator who was one of the founders of the progressive party. He helped establish the progressive party in 1912, and it soon took off in popularity. He was set on restoring the power to the people and reducing the power of the big coorperations. He was the partys representitive as vice president in 1912, and was elected to the Senate in 1916 -
Charles Evan Hughes
Charles Evan Hughes was a Republican governer of New York in 1906 as wellas a presidential canidate in 1916, although he was a very liberal Republican. As a governer, he set up two public service commissions as well as fighting gambling. Although he did lose his presidential election, he did manage to investigate New York buisnesses, which earned him a strong reputation as a trustbuster. -
18th amendment
The 18th amendment was possibly one of the most if not the most controversial amendments passed to this day. This amendment started a whole new era in US history, known as prohibition. The 18th amendment prohibited the transport, import, and export of alchohlic beverages in the US. It was passed due to the work of women who were tired of their men getting their money and spending it all on alchohol, leaving no money to support their family. They also came home drunk and were cruel to their wives -
19th amendment
The 19th amendment to the US constitution was another amendment that was very much powered by the will of women. The 19th amendment finally gave women the same voting powers as men. This did not come easy however. This was a result of nearly 100 years of marches, lobbieing, and protesting. -
Womens rights movement(social justice reform)
the Womens Rights Movement, started by Elizibeth Stanton and Susan B Anthony, sought for equel rights for women in the US. Susan B Anthony led this charge, calling specificly for women to have the same voting rights as men. At last in 1919, the House of Reps and the Senate passes Anthonys amendment to the constitution, and in 1920 women are granted the right to vote.
