How well do you know the Progressive Era in US history?

US History: Progressivism, Political Machines, Corruption, Labor Laws, Suffrage, and Roosevelt's Square Deal

• Progressivism spanned from the election of William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt (1900) to the election of Warren G. Harding (1920).
• Political Machines were giant offices of politicians that would hand out jobs in exchange for votes. Boss Tweed was the leader of Tammany Hall, NYC’s machine (Democrat).
• Thomas Nast, a German-born political cartoonist, helped bring down Tammany Hall. He also introduced the Democratic Donkey, Republican Elephant, and Santa Claus to the United States.
• The Republican Party represented the Upper Class, high tariffs, free market, big business, and stronger Congress, while the Democratic Party represented the middle/lower class, immigration, union, state power, and agriculture.
• Political Corruption was rampant during Ulysses S. Grant’s administration.
• Rutherford B. Hayes (1876-1880) and James Garfield (1880-1881) were presidents during this period. Garfield was shot by Charles Guiteau, an unstable jobseeker, and Vice President Chester Arthur became President.
• Muckrakers were journalists who exposed corruption, including Ida B. Tarbell, who wrote against Standard Oil and John D. Rockefeller, and Upton Sinclair, who exposed the meat packing industry.
• Susan Blow was the first to introduce Kindergarten, while John Dewey promoted critical thinking education.
• The American Medical Association was led by Joseph McCormack.
• The 17th Amendment allowed people to vote directly for their senators, and direct primaries, recall, initiative, and referendum were introduced.
• Richard M. Follette, Wisconsin’s Republican Governor, was known as “Fighting Bob” and introduced the "Brain Trust" of professors. He helped ratify the 17th Amendment.
• The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire led to building safety codes, and Lochner v. New York and Muller v. Oregon were Supreme Court cases that dealt with work hours. The AFL and ILGWU were labor unions, and the WCTU and NAWSA fought for suffrage.

Test your knowledge of US history during the Progressive Era with this quiz! From political machines and corruption to labor laws and suffrage, this quiz covers important topics such as the Square Deal, Tammany Hall, muckrakers, and more. See how well you know the key figures and events that shaped this transformative era in American history.