Progressive Era

Progressive Era

1. The Progressive Era was an age in society when several citizens int he country started to take a stand for the rights of the people. They wanted the country to continue to develop after urbanization, industrialization, and the corruption of the government had torn it down. It helped save the country, and further progress society.

   • Act Woodrow Wilson: Woodrow Wilson passed several acts in his time in the government. One of the most important was the Federal Reserve Act. The Federal Reserve Act helped regulate the nations banks, credit, and money supply today. This act has one of the longest lasting impacts on the country that is still in use today.

2. Working conditions: During this time period, working conditions were horrible. As hours increased over time, pay also decreased. People were working more and getting less money for it. In addition, people were not able to see their families or provide for them. Conditions in the workplace were harsh and cruel. Big businesses didn't care about workers and had several thousand working for the same cause.

   • Immigrant Living Conditions: As the country began growing a name for itself, immigration became a huge part of the countries population increase. People wanted to come start a new life for themselves and their children. When they moved to the US, they were forced to live in tenements, made up of several hundred people. Living conditions in these tenements were poor and harsh, and the tenements were overcrowded and filled with germs and disease.
   • Big Business: During the industrial age, big businesses became a huge part of the countries economy and government. Big businesses sold products throughout the country in large quantities, and also gave jobs to several thousand. Despite this, their working conditions were poor, and inevitably helped lead the country into downfall.
     • Sherman Antitrust Act: The Sherman Antitrust act was an act enabled by congress in 1890 that allowed enterprises to have competition amongst one another. It was passed under Benjamin Harrison as the president.
   • Environmentalism: As big businesses began growing vastly, these corporations began performing many acts that were not good for the environment in order to get their products out quicker and better. However, many took notice that if it didn't stop, the environment would fall apart. So environmentalism was created by the people to help fight for the environment before its too late.
     • National Wildlife Refugees: The National Wildlife Refuges Systems were several system created around the beginning of the 1900s in order to protect certain areas of the country. It helped set aside the countries native waters, lands, and wildlife for the future.
   • Women's Rights: The national women's rights movement was one of the most major parts of US history. As women finally decided they deserved the same rights as men, they wanted to fight against the laws and white men to get the treatment that they deserved. This helped lead to progression as women wanted people to treat them with respect and give them the same opportunities as men.
     • 19th Amendment: The 19th Amendment, one of the most important amendments ever passed in US history, was a US amendment passed through congress in which stated the government could not deny any persons the right to vote on the basis of sex, meaning women now had the ability to vote.
       • National American Suffrage Association: The Nation American Women's Suffrage association was a Women's Suffrage activist association that helped push for Women's right to vote, and several other forms of women's rights in the United States during the Progressive Movement.
   • Racial Discrimination: Alongside the women's rights movement, several races wanted to be treated equally alongside the rest of the population. However, the government inflicted several plans in order to stop this that hurt the cultures and populations of several minority groups. This led to racial discrimination in public that lasted until the late 1900s.
   • Theodore Roosevelt: The 26th president of the United States, Roosevelt had several plans that helped further progress the era of progressivism. He introduced the 3 C's plan and several others, while his opinions on race flucuated.

3. Clayton Antitrust Act: The Clayton Antitrust Act was an antitrust law that helped focus on major topics such as price discrimination, price fixing, and unfair business practices. It was a law that added to antitrust law regime.

   • Meat Inspection Act: The federal meat inspection act was a law passed in 1906 that stated all meat had to be sold and cleaned legally and that meat products were slaughtered and cared for under sanitary conditions only.
     • Pure Food and Drug Act: The Pure Food and Drug Act was a federal law passed to prevent the manufacturing, selling, and transporting of poisonous foods and illegal drugs throughout the country.
       • Hull House: Hull House was a famous settlement house in the United States opened by Jane Addams and Ellen Starr that was opened to new arriving immigrants who needed a place to stay. It is located at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

4. NAACP: The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, or the NAACP, is a civil rights foundation created on the principals of giving African Americans political, social, economical, and educational success and equality among the country.

5. Tuskegee Institute: The Tuskegee Institute, also called Tuskegee University is a historical African American University located in Tuskegee Alabama.

6. Upton Sinclair: Upton Sinclair was a famous American writer who wrote the book, "The Jungle." Sinclair was famous as his novel brought light to the problems being faced in the meat-packing industry for workers. His socialistic views had a long-lasting effect on the country.

   • Jane Addams: Jane Addams, commonly called the Mother of social work, was a famous American woman known for her social, and feminism reform work for the country. She was also very well known for her movements to help new immigrants in the United States and several other urban slums.
     • Jacob Riis: Jacob Riis was a famous American journalist and photographer who wrote the book, "How the Other half Lives." His book opened the eyes of the American people and their treatment of several other races during this time period. It helped show living conditions for immigrants and urban slums along with the harsh environment they were forced to work under.
       • Alice Paul: Alice Paul was an American woman, social activist, feminist, and women's rights activist. She was one of the main leaders of the women's rights movement during the progressive era, and helped majorly in the pushing of the passing of the 19th amendment, which granted women the ability to vote.
         • John Muir: John Muir was a very famous Scottish-American reform activist in the United States, He was famous as he was one of the first major reform activist who aimed to help save wildlife in the country, instead of tearing it all apart over time.
           • Gifford Pinchot: Gifford Pinchot was forester in the United States. He was very famous as he began reform for the management and development of forests in the United States so trees would not be cut down over time, deforesting the country.
         • Booker T. Washington: Booker T. Washington was one of the most important African American workers of all time. Not only this, but he helped pave the way for many African Americans education, founding the Tuskegee Institute, which is now known as the Tuskegee University =.
           • William Howard Taft: William Howard Taft was the 27th president of the United States. He was very well known in US history for his acts during this time period. In addition to being president he was also the only person ever to be sworn into the chief justice and also become president. He is also very famous for his failing health, when he died in a bath tub.