-
Interstate Commerce Act
A law that regulated the railroad industry. It required rates to be just and fair, but it didn't give the government any power to fix unjust rates. Therefore, it ultimately didn't correct the monopolistic practices in the railroad industry. -
Sherman Antitrust Act
A law passed by the 51st Congress to oppose monopolies in America. The act prohibited contracts, combinations, or conspiracies in the restraint of trade or commerce. -
National American Woman Suffrage Association Formed
This organization was formed by a merger of two major women's suffrage organizations. By merging two rival organizations together, the women's suffrage movement became more united and stronger in the fight for women's rights. -
How the Other Half Lives Published
One of the earliest examples of photojournalism, Jacob Riis published his photos depicting the poor living conditions of New York slums in the 1880s. -
American Railway Union Founded
Eugene V Debs founded the American Railway Union for all railway workers. He was a socialist and 5 time socialist party candidate for president. -
Anti-Saloon League Founded
The Anti-Saloon League was an organization that advocated for prohibition. They announced their plan to get national prohibition through a constitutional amendment at their twentieth anniversary convention in 1913. -
Women's Christian Temperance Union Expanded it's causes
The Women's Christian Temperance Union held the temperance movement as it's core value, but through that movement they started to endorse women's suffrage, labor reform, and more. -
NACW - National Association of Colored Women
Ida B Wells was a founding member of the NACW, which later became the NAACP. -
Governor Robert "Fighting Bob" La Follette of Wisconsin
La Follette was a member of the Republican party and a progressive. He pioneered new political techniques during his time as governor of Wisconsin. The "Wisconsin Idea," using professors to draft bills, was the first technique he started. The second technique, was the public reading of "roll call" in the districts where he faced opposition from legislators. Using these methods, La Follette got many progressive laws passed in Wisconsin. -
Anthracite Coal Strike
This was the first time a president took nonmilitant action ina dispute. Roosevelt was the moderator for a compromise that took place in the White House -
Tweed Days in St Louis
Lincoln Steffens was a muckraker in the Progressive Era who wanted to expose the bribery and corruption in the government at the time. He did this by writing an article in McClare Magazine about William "Boss" Tweed, someone known for rigging elections in New York. -
The Square Deal Policy
President Roosevelt's domestic policy focused on protecting the consumer, controlling large corporations, and conserving natural resources. This greatly improved working conditions especially for women and children. -
Northern Securities Antitrust Case
Two major railroad companies, Great Northern and Northern Pacific Railroad Companies, sued the government in response to the Sherman Antitrust Act. The Supreme Court ruled that the Northern Securities Company (the trust formed by the two companies) was unconstitutional and that it must be disbanded. -
Elkins Act
This amended the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887. It allowed the ICC to fine railroad companies and shippers who offered or accepted rebates. -
Department of Commerce and Labor
President Theodore Roosevelt founded this department of the US government to control the excesses of big businesses. This department was short lived and split into two new departments ten years after its founding. -
The History of Standard Oil Company is Published.
A leading muckraker and the "mother" of investigative journalism, Ida Tarball wrote a series of articles in McClare Magazine which was later turned into a book that exposed Rockefeller's illegal formation of trusts in, and the monopolization of the oil industry. -
Pure Food and Drug Act
This is act was meant to prevent the sale or distribution of altered, poisonous, or "impure" foods, drugs, and liquor. Sinclair's "The Jungle" played a key role in the passing of this act. -
Meat Inspection Act (FMIA)
This law improved the meat-packing industry by prohibiting the falsification of information surrounding meat being sold as food. -
The Jungle Published
Upton Sinclair, an author and investigative journalist, wrote a novel that exploited the lives of immigrants and factory workers in big cities, especially in Chicago. This book caused such an uproar with the public that the federal government made legislation to address the issues brought up in the book. -
The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire
This was the deadliest industrial fire in New York history. 145 workers were killed in the fire, which brought a lot of attention to dangerous conditions in sweatshops and led to many federal laws being passed to fix the issue. -
Progressive (Bull Moose) Party
Theodore Roosevelt founded a party that called for tariff reform, stricter regulation of industrial combinations, women's suffrage, prohibition of child labor, and other reforms after his very successful presidency. -
17th Amendment Ratified
Established the popular vote of the senators by the people of the state. Prior to this amendment, senators were appointed by state legislatures. -
Underwood Tariff
This re-enacted the federal income tax after the 16th Amendment lowered basic tariff rates. -
Federal Reserve Act Passed
This provided the nation with a safer, more flexible, and more stable monetary and financial system. It created the Federal Reserve. -
Clayton Antitrust Act
This amendment clarified and supplemented the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890, it also was the basis of many lawsuits against large corporations. -
Federal Trade Commission
A government agency that helps keep competition free and fair by passing antitrust and consumer protection legislation -
Democracy and Education: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Education
John Dewey discussed education for democracy. This is one of the works that launched John Dewey into importance by his new approach to teaching. -
Keating- Owen Child Labor Act Passed
Congress passed this law to prohibit the sale of goods produced by factories that employed children under a specific age, a similar age restraint was put on mines as well. -
18th Amendment Ratified
While there were groups dedicated to fighting for his amendment, it was very unpopular among the general population because it banned alcohol from America. However, it did not work and was later repealed. -
19th Amendment Ratified
This amendment gave women the right to vote by declaring that no state could take away one's right to vote on account of sex. -
Margaret Sanger
A birth-control activist and sex-ed teacher, Margaret Sanger founded the American Birth Control League to advocate for birth-control rights. The League is now known as Planned Parenthood.
