Progressive Era

Legislative

Progressive Amendments

• 16th Amendment – National Income Tax.• 17th Amendment – Direct election of Senators.• 18th Amendment - Prohibition of alcoholic

beverages.• 19th Amendment – Women’s suffrage.

Initiative and Referendum

Initiative Referendum

Congress

House of Representatives

The Senate

We the People (you and I)

President Theodore Roosevelt• On September 15th, 1901

President William McKinley died making Vice President Theodore Roosevelt President of the U. S.

• Believes government had to protect the public from irresponsible elements in the business community.

• Known as the “Trust Buster.” Breaks up a R. R. Trust, then goes after the Beef, Oil and Tobacco Trusts using the Sherman Anti-Trust Act.

“Teddy” Roosevelt

Meat Inspection Act 1906Created a government meat inspection program

1906

“I aimed at the public’s heart, and by accident I hit it in the stomach.” Upton Sinclair

Upton Sinclair

• September 20, 1878 in Baltimore, Maryland

• Attended college at 14• Started writing at 15• Socialist party• Between 1901 and 1906 he

published 5 novels• Won a Pulitzer prize/wrote 90 novels• Died in 1968

Vocabulary

• Muckraker: journalist who exposed corruption in American society.

• borax: white, crystal powder used for cleaning• glycerin: colorless, odorless, syrupy sweet liquid, used to

sweeten and preserve food• consumption germs: pulmonary tuberculosis• hopper: funnel-shaped chamber• dung: animal waste, manure• rigid economy: strict, not flexible, frugal with money• gelatin: almost colorless, tasteless substance (jelly like)

made from boiling animal parts, used in jellies and glue

Pure Food and Drug Act 1906

This law banned the sale of impure foods and medicines.

Progressivism's 3 Goals

1. Reforming government and expanding democracy

2. Promoting social welfare3. Creating economic reform

* Civil Rights for African Americans not pursuit during this time

The Square Deal

• Roosevelt believed government was the “umpire”

• Fairness or “square deal” for workers, consumers and big business

• Used the Sherman Anti-trust Act to remove the “crookedness”