Progressivism Study Guide Flashcards

Progressivism and Social Movements

• Progressivism aimed for social justice through reform and efficient, honest governance.
• Muckrakers were writers who exposed societal issues, focusing on the negative aspects of urban life.
• Jacob Sharp expanded his streetcar business in NYC through bribery of local officials to gain authority.
• Jacob Riis was a notable muckraker who documented the dire living conditions in tenement buildings through photography.
• Upton Sinclair's novel "The Jungle" highlighted the harsh realities of immigrant life in Chicago’s stockyards and unsanitary practices in the meat industry.
• The Social Gospel, formulated by Walter Rauschenbusch, combined elements of German Socialism with American Progressivism.

Social Initiatives and Labor Reforms

• Settlement houses acted as community centers providing vital services to the impoverished.
• Jane Addams founded one of the first settlement houses in Chicago, promoting social reform.
• The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire ignited reform discussions regarding worker safety and labor conditions.

Political Reforms

• Direct Primary allowed citizens to participate directly in selecting candidates for elections.
• Initiative empowered citizens to propose laws for voters to consider.
• Referendum enabled the populace to approve or reject legislative decisions.
• Recall allowed voters to remove elected officials from office before the end of their term.
• The 17th Amendment established the direct election of U.S. senators.

Women's Rights and Social Advocacy

• Florence Kelley emphasized the impact of unfair pricing on women's roles in managing households.
• The National Consumers League promoted ethical consumerism by labeling products that met safety and fairness standards.
• The temperance movement, notably represented by the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, advocated against alcohol consumption.
• Margaret Sanger promoted birth control, arguing that fewer children would improve women's health and family life.

African American Advocacy and Civil Rights

• Ida B. Wells played a significant role in forming the National Association of Colored Women to advocate for African American rights.
• Carrie Catt, an early female superintendent, encouraged women to join the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA).
• The NAOWS opposed women’s suffrage, highlighting the societal divisions on the issue.
• Alice Paul founded the National Women's Party to further women's voting rights, contributing to the passage of the 19th Amendment.

Racial Equality Movements

• Americanization sought to assimilate immigrants into American culture.
• Plessy v. Ferguson established the "separate but equal" doctrine affecting racial segregation laws.
• Booker T. Washington advocated for economic self-reliance for African Americans as a path to civil rights.
• W.E.B. Du Bois insisted on immediate demand for civil and social rights to overcome systemic racism.
• The Niagara Movement addressed the disenfranchisement of black voters, evolving into the NAACP for civil rights advocacy.

Governmental Reforms and Economic Changes

• Theodore Roosevelt, U.S. President in 1901, sought to balance interests of the wealthy and powerful with the needs of small businesses and the working class, termed the Square Deal.
• The Hepburn Act strengthened the Interstate Commerce Commission’s (ICC) regulatory powers.
• The Meat Inspection Act mandated federal inspection of meat products to ensure safety standards.
• The Pure Food and Drug Act aimed to regulate the safety and labeling of food and drugs, banning impure goods.
• The National Reclamation Act empowered the federal government to oversee water distribution.
• New Nationalism called for a restoration of government regulatory authority to curb corporate abuses.
• The Progressive Party emerged as a faction pushing for reforms distinct from the Republican Party.

Key Legislative Changes

• The 1912 election was a significant political event between candidates William Taft and Woodrow Wilson.
• Wilson, the Democratic candidate, endorsed the New Freedom program to impose strict regulations on corporations.
• The 16th Amendment granted Congress the ability to levy a graduated income tax, influencing tax policy.
• The Federal Reserve Act established a federal reserve board to oversee national banks.
• The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) was formed to prevent unfair business practices.
• The Clayton Antitrust Act clarified and strengthened laws against monopolistic activities, protecting fair competition in commerce.

Explore key terms from Chapter 4 on Progressivism through these informative flashcards. Each card presents vital concepts and historical figures relevant to the movement, helping you understand social justice and the role of muckrakers. Perfect for students preparing for exams or deepening their knowledge of American history.