progressives & reform copy the words in yellow government reform: spoils system spoils system =...
TRANSCRIPT
Progressives & Reform
Copy the words in YELLOW
Government Reform: Spoils System Spoils System = when a politician gives
someone a government job in return for help getting elected (ex. Their friends)
Problem = unqualified people getting government jobs – stealing $$$$
President Garfield was assassinated by someone who felt they should have had a job so… Civil Service Commission: agency set up by
Congress to fill government jobs, set up tests for government jobs
Muckrakers
Muckrakers = journalists who exposed corruption in government and industry
Goal = to get the government to pass laws to get things changed for the better
EXAMPLES:Upton Sinclair – Wrote
book on the meatpacking industry
Ida Tarbell – Wrote articles about the Standard Oil Company’s unfair business practices
Thomas Nast – Drew political cartoons about corrupt city government
The Progressives/Reformers
Progressives/Reformers = a group of people that tried to change industry, government and cities.
Goal = to get the government to work for the PUBLIC INTEREST instead of the interest of big business
16th Amendment: created federal income taxes 17th Amendment: changed the election of
Senators to popular vote instead of by the state government
The Temperance Movement
Temperance Movement = Ban the sale of liquor in the U.S. (Prohibition)
Carry Nation = husband died from heavy drinking – she fought hard to band “demon rum”
18th Amendment: made liquor illegal to sell (led to underground sale of alcohol – EX. Speak easys)
Suffragists
Women’s Suffrage = the fight to let women vote (only a few western states let women vote)
How? – They staged peaceful demonstrations and marched (EX. Seneca Falls Convention 1848)
19th Amendment: gave all women the right to vote (1920!!!)
Economic Reform
Big business (Carnegie Steel, Rockefeller Oil) was out of control
Late 1800s – business leaders in major industries had formed trusts
1890 – Sherman Antitrust Act made it illegal to gain control of industries by forming trusts.
Government didn’t enforce at first…needed a strong president
Presidents Roosevelt & Taft
Teddy Roosevelt – at 42, our youngest President up until then
Supported by the Progressives Trustbuster = Went after big business
trusts & monopolies (EX. J.P. Morgan, Standard Oil Company, etc)
Broke up big trusts into smaller companies
Roosevelt also… Helped striking coal miners labor union Regulated railroads Started national parks and conservation
(controlling how America’s natural resources were used)
Established Grand Canyon as national park President William H. Taft = did more trust-
busting than Roosevelt during time in office
Presidents Roosevelt & Taft (cont.)
Teddy Roosevelt 26th President
William H. Taft 27th President
Wilson & Progressivism
1912 Election – Democrat Woodrow Wilson beats Taft & Roosevelt
Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914 – gave govt. more power to regulate trusts
Federal Reserve Act – created modern banking system
Personally believed in segregation – allowed Southerners to gain federal support
Final Question
Describe what a progressive reformer is and what they worked for. Provide at least one example.