Discovering History
History with Ms. Sabatos
Progressivism Test Review
In the corner of this box, you will find a review sheet for the Progresive Era. Please use this as a way to study, as well as the information you have learned throughout the unit. As always, feel free to contact me with any questions!
Progressive Era
Muckrakers
Who were muckrakers?
Muckrakers were journalists, photographers, and other writers who published their work to show the social and political injustices. they made their appearance in the Progressive Era. Some of the most famous muckrakers include Jacob Riis, Upton Sinclair, Ida Tarbell, and Ida B Wells. To read some of their documents, click here!
Jacob Riis
Riis was a photographer who went through the streets of New York slums documenting poor living conditions of workers. He published his work in his book How the Other Half Lives.
Upton Sinclair
Upton Sinclair exposed the conditions of the meat packing industry. Through his work, many middle class citizens were not so much disgusted with the factory working conditions as what could possibly be in their meat. Sinclair published his work in his book The Jungle.
Women Reformers
The Suffragettes
Since the foundation of America, women were pushing for the right to vote. In 1920, women were finally guarenteed to vote, largely because of the efforts of suffragettes. some of the most fmaouns suffragettes include Florence Kelley, Alice Paul, and Susan B Anthony. To read about their efforts, click here.
Women were not only included in the right to vote. Carrie Chapman led a group in temperence and prohibition (banning alcohol) while Ida B Wells wrotabout the autrocities of lynchings in the South.
Other Reforms
The 18th Amenment probited the manufacture, sale, and transportation of intoxicating liquors. While there were many voices that pushed this amendment, women were a leading movement in prhibition and temperance
18th Amendment
African American Refomers
Booker T Washington
Booker T Washington was a lead reformer in the late 1800s and early 1900s. He promoted industrial education for African Americans as a way for civil rights. While he did not want segregation, he did not actively fight against it. He founded and headed the National Negro Business League, helping African Americans in agriculture, industrial labor, and business.,
Some of his texts include "The Atlanta Compromise" and "Industrial Education for the Negros."
WEB DuBois
WEB DuBois was an outspoken reformer in the Progressive Era. He created and headed the NAACP. He proposed that African Americans be educated through schooling (as he was). With his Niagara Movement, he pushed for the right to vote, equality, and education. He strongly opposed Washington's ideas, but they both wanted African American Civil rights!
Some of his texts include "The Niagara Movement" and "On Booker T Washington and Others."
State and Local Reform
Robert La Follette
After experiencing corrupt government, La Follette travelled Wisconsin for ten years to advocate against corruption in the government. When he became governor of Wisconsin, he pushed for reform. With his efforts, the direct primary was put through in Wisconsin. In the years afterwards, many western states passed direct primary laws as well. By 1913, the 17th Amendment was passed which established popular election of State Senators.
Other Local and State Reforms
Referendum: : a measure approved by legislative body that it places on a ballot for approval by voters; If approved by the voters, it becomes a law.
Initiative: A proposed law that voters can place on the ballot in some states. If the initiative is passed, it will become a law or constitutional amendment
Recall: : voters can remove an elected official from office through a direct vote before his or her term has ended
Progressive residents
Theodore Roosevelt
Roosevelt believed the government should regulate monopolies so that they were good for the nation. In some cases, he broke up trusts rather than regulate them, earning him a reputation as trustbuster. The Sherman Anti-Trust Act was enacted to regulate monopolies, making it illegal to form a trust that controlled trade and commerce.
Progressives sought to protect the natural environment through preservation and conservation. T. Roosevelt was a preservationist (someone who protected the wilderness land from development) and created the US Forest Service in 1905.
In the election of 1912, Roosevelt created a third party, known as the Bull Moose Party (aka the Progressive Party). TR believed Taft did not live up to all of the progressivism ideals, so he ran for president in the third party. Because of the third party, Theodore Roosevelt split the Republican voters between himself and Taft, allowing Wilson to win the election.
Woodrow Wilson
Former governor of New Jersey, Wilson remained a supporter of progressive ideals and reforms, including regulation of big businesses. Wilson sought to eliminate all trusts so small businesses could flourish. The national reform program put forth by Wilson, known as New Freedom, “focused on transferring power from the trusts to small businesses and average citizens... and reducing corruption in the federal government.”
Under Wilson, not all trusts were removed, but much of their power was limited. In his presidency, Wilson approved the Clayton anti-trust Act in 1914 which extended the powers of Roosevelt’s former Anti-Trust Act. The Clayton Anti-Trust act made it more difficult for trusts to form. The act also protected labor unions from the antitrust laws, making them exempt.
William Howard Taft
Taft promised to lower tariffs as he ran for presidents. In addition, he sought to limit the power of big government, who favored high tariffs. However, in 1909, Taft signed a bill which raised tariffs, ruining his record as a progressive.
Though his progressive record was ruined, he brought more than 90 lawsuits against trusts (that’s TWICE as much as T. Roosevelt). Taft persecuted any and all trusts, no matter if their intentions were good or bad, if they were limiting trade.
In his time as president, Taft added 2.7 million acres of land to the National Wildlife Refuge System.
Due to Taft’s tarnished record, Roosevelt ran for president again in 1912 under a third party, known as the Progressive Party. Taft ran for a second term under the Republican Party. However, because the Republican Party was split between Taft and the Progressive Party, Woodrow Wilson won the 1912 election.