Unit 3: We're Not Gonna Take It!
A Unit on the Progressive Era
A Unit on the Progressive Era
Lesson Module 16
THE PROGRESSIVES
Focus Activity - Determining a Purpose for Reading
Lesson Outcomes
Outcomes are what you (the student) will be able to do after the lesson is over.
1. I can define the items in the Lesson Module 16 Toolbox.
2. I can describe the Progressive Movement in U.S. History.
3. I can explain who Progressives were and why they stood up against oppression.
4. I can analyze the different ways in which Progressives worked to reform the problems of the Gilded Age.
1. I can define the items in the Lesson Module 16 Toolbox.
2. I can describe the Progressive Movement in U.S. History.
3. I can explain who Progressives were and why they stood up against oppression.
4. I can analyze the different ways in which Progressives worked to reform the problems of the Gilded Age.
Lesson Missions
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The lesson missions are the activities that you will complete to achieve the lesson outcomes. The missions for this lesson are:
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Teaching Activity - Guided Reading
Who Were the Progressives?
The “Progressives” as they were called were mainly middle class residents of big cities. The middle class were people who were college educated and had jobs as doctors, lawyers, ministers, store keepers, middle managers in banks, manufacturing, and other businesses. They were people who believed that the problems society faced such as poverty, violence, greed, racism, class warfare, could best be addressed by providing good education, a safe environment, and an efficient workplace. Progressives believed that government could be a tool for change.
Progressives tried to improve life for people in big cities; end corruption in politics, government, and business; conserve the natural environment; gain equal rights for women and minorities; end child labor; improve public health and welfare; and reform the the way employees were treated. They worked to rid cities of political machines; limit the power of big business; expand democracy, and strengthen social justice. They pushed for a graduated income tax and wanted better control of banks.
What Were Progressive Reforms?
Progressives reformed just about everything in America! Progressives changed the way we lived, worked, did business, and abided by the law. Reforms that improved a person’s life were called social reforms. Social reforms were improvements made in education, reforms that helped the poor, reforms that improved public health, and and reforms that tried to end violence, discrimination, racism, and class warfare. Reforms that ended corruption in the government were called government reforms. Labor reform or sometimes called workplace reform was any reform to improve the lives of workers. Business reform was any changes made in the way businesses were run to ensure that businesses were fair to each other and the public.
America’s foreign policy under Theodore Roosevelt was considered a progressive reform. He enforced the Monroe Doctrine that gave us the nickname “Big Brother”. Roosevelt made the United States the police for the Western Hemisphere. The U.S. would make sure that the Western Hemisphere did what it was supposed but it would also protect the Western Hemisphere from any threats from Europe and Asia.
When Were Progressive Reforms Accomplished?
A Progressive is a person who works to change things for the better or reform corruption. Progressives existed before the Progressive Era and they exist today. The Progressive Era was a time when the majority of America wanted to change and reform the problems and issues of the Gilded Age. The Progressive Era is considered to be the time period known as the turn of the century. It was from the 1890s until the 1920s. Turn of the century means that the 19th century (the 1800s) was ending and turning into the 20th century (the 1900s).
Where Were Progressive Reforms Accomplished?Everywhere
Progressives were everywhere. They changed things on a world level as well as the national, state, and local levels. They were involved in government reform, business reform, workplace reform, and social reform. They worked to improve the conditions of cities and in rural areas.
World Level Progressive Era Reforms
Progressives were involved in reform all over the world. W.E.B. DuBois was Vice President of the Pan-African Congress which was concerned with the conditions of people of African descent wherever they lived. Remember the mean old Robber Baron - Andrew Carnegie? He offered the Philippines $20 million to purchase their independence from Spain. Teddy Roosevelt quit his job as the Assistant Secretary of the Navy and assembled a troop that he called, the Rough Riders, to help Cuba fight Spain for their Independence.The IWW or the Industrial Workers of the World was and still is a labor union that takes care of industrial workers all over the world.
National Level Progressive Era Reforms
Progressives were involved with changing our nation as well. During the Progressive Era, the Federal Government passed an enormous amount of legislation designed to conserve the environment, help the economy, preserve the health and safety of American citizens, and provide big-business reforms. The Newlands Reclamation Act, the Pure Food and Drug Act, the Federal Reserve Act, and the Clayton Anti-Trust Act were all examples of Progressive Era reforms that changed our country. The Newlands Reclamation Act allowed the building of dams and irrigations systems using money from the sale of public lands. This helped with land conservation. The Pure Food and Drug Act required that companies label the ingredients in processed food items. The Federal Reserve Act created a Federal Reserve Board and twelve district Federal Reserve Banks to issue new currency and loan member banks funds at a special interest rate. The Clayton Anti-Trust outlawed monopolies.
Progressives were able to get Amendments added to the Constitution as well. The 16th Amendment granted Congress the power to tax people’s income. The 17th Amendment made the election of U.S. Senators a direct election. The 18th Amendment made it illegal to make, sell, or transport alcohol; however, when crime increased because of this Amendment, it was repealed by the 21st Amendment to the Constitution. The 19th Amendment gave women the right to vote.
State Level Progressive Era Reforms
On the state level, Progressives were able to get many reforms especially in the government. Secret ballots, initiatives, referendums, recalls, and direct primaries are a few examples of state level reforms. Progressives won state citizens a secret ballot, which meant people could cast votes in secret without party bosses knowing how they voted. Progressives also were able to get initiatives. Initiatives allow voters to petition state legislatures and force them to consider a bill that is wanted by a large number of citizens. Referendums were another state level accomplishment that Progressives made. Referendums allow voters to decide if a bill or proposed amendment should be passed. Another victory in government reform was recalls. Recalls allowed voters to petition to have an elected representative removed from office. The Direct Primary was a Progressive Era reform that ensures that voters select candidates to run for office, rather than party bosses.
Local Level Progressive Era Reforms
On the local level, Progressive Era reforms created a City Commissioner Plan, City Manager Plan, and Settlement Houses. A City Commissioner Plan allowed cities to hire experts in different fields to run a single area of city government. For example, the sanitation commissioner would be in charge of garbage and sewage removal. Progressives also created a City Manager Plan where a professional city manager is hired to run each department of the city and report directly to the city council. Settlement houses were another example of local reform. Settlement houses were an homes or institutions in an inner-city area that provided education, recreation, and other social services to the community.
Why Were Progressive Reforms Accomplished?
The Progressive Era was a reaction to the Gilded Age. The Gilded Age was a time when big business hurt small businesses and drove up the price of things. It was a time of corruption in the government, in business, at work, and in renting an apartment. During the Gilded Age, political machines connected businesses and government corruption to con the American poor. It was also a time where the working person, consumers, minorities, immigrants, women, and children were not respected and treated unfairly. Progressives worked to improve American life. They passed laws to limit big business; fight corruption; get rid of political machines; and protect the rights of working person, consumers, minorities, immigrants, women, and children.
How Were Progressive Reforms Accomplished?Awareness
Progressives used many different ways to achieve reform. For the most part, Progressives with similar interests would form an organization or club. The main interest or issue that the group worked for is called a cause. The organization or club then would create a plan an awareness campaign to bring attention to their cause. Awareness campaigns used many methods to inform the public of their cause such as: public speaking; passing out information; holding rallies and educational seminars; writing books; and publishing articles in newspapers magazines, and journals. As the organization educated people about the cause, they gained supporters who agreed with them. A club or organization that actively seeks members to help with a cause is called a movement.
Support
Progressive organizations and clubs worked to get support from politicians and people in the public eye. Sometimes they already knew someone in a political office that helped them to accomplish the goals for their cause. Other times they had to work to gain the attention of those in political office and the awareness campaign was not enough to motivate political leaders to help them. So Progressives groups did a variety of things to get the attention of political leaders. They registered people to vote; lobbied congress; and held rallies. To lobby congress, people would contact representatives anyway they could. They would write letters, arrange meetings, and find opportunities at social events to talk to congressmen and senators about their cause. A rally was a public meeting where a group would announce a cause or express their anger about an issue. Progressives would invite congressmen and senators to the rally or people that would relay the information from the rally to congressmen and senators.
Peaceful Approaches
Others Progressives took it upon themselves to bring about change and reform. Jane Addams created a settlement house for the poor. A settlement house is a house in a large city designed to help immigrants and the urban poor rise out of poverty and gain a better quality of life. Settlement houses provide English classes; help with finding places to live and work; daycares and kindergartens; gyms and classes in the fine arts; and other social services to the poor inner-city community.
Educational institutions were another means by which Progressives brought about reform. Booker T. Washington founded the Tuskegee Institute for African Americans to teach the students basic skills, farming techniques, and trades to help people bring themselves out of poverty. John Dewey changed the way we got a public education. He created grade levels to replace the one room school house and introduced hands on learning to replace rote memorization.
Some people used the power of the pen to gain politicians’ and lawmakers’ help. Muckrakers were the first investigative reporters. They investigated businesses, factories, the government, and other organizations and exposed corruption and scandals. Another type of investigative reporting was done using photography. Lewis Hines was hired by the National Child Labor Committee to travel throughout the United States filming and photographing children at work. His photographs were published in newspapers all over the United States and led to Child Labor Laws.
Aggressive Approaches
Sometimes Progressives had to be more aggressive in gaining politicians’ and lawmakers’ support for their cause. Susan B. Anthony used a method called civil disobedience. Civil disobedience is when a person refuses to obey a law as a way of forcing the government to do or change something. She was angry that women were not allowed to vote, so she voted to protest the law. She was arrested and had to stand trial for breaking the law.
The National Consumers League used a method called social influence. Social influence is when a person or group changes the way they think or do things because of an action by another person or group. It is very much like peer pressure. The NCL was a group of well-known ladies who had connections all over the United States. They created the White Label. The NCL gave the White Label to stores that met their standards for minimum wages, maximum working hours, and decent working conditions. To get a White Label, a store had to pass an inspection by NCL. The NCL encouraged consumers to shop only at “White Label” stores. 
Another aggressive method Progressives used was picketing. Picketing is when a group of people stand or march near a place to protest something. The National Women’s League picketed the White House in order to gain President Woodrow Wilson’s attention for women’s suffrage. The American Federation of Labor was a labor union that organized and led strikes as their method to gain change. A strike is when workers stop working in order to force an employer to agree to their demands. Progressives also used demonstrations and protests. Demonstrations are events in which people gather together in order to show that they support or oppose something or someone.
During this time, the government attempted to assimilate Native Americans. Native Americans used the Ghost Dance as a demonstration to support their traditional ways. Protests are a type of demonstration. In a protest, a group of people gather at a public event only to express their dislike of something. Protests tend to be more angry than demonstrations.
Violent Approaches
Not all Progressives took the peaceful or aggressive approaches. Other groups, like the Molly Maguires, used more violent methods such as intimidation, beatings, arson, and killings to fight for better working conditions. Sometimes protests and strikes got out of hand and it resulted in a riot. Riots are situations in which a large group of people behave in a violent and uncontrolled way. Most of the time, riots happen accidentally. It may start off as a protest or strike and when law officers or Pinkerton detectives got involved, the situation turned violent.
Terrorism was a method used by only a few people. These people were not considered Progressives though they shared the desire to improve working conditions. Progressives did not use terrorism. It was against everything they stood for, unfortunately, riots sometimes turn into acts of terror like in the Haymarket Square Bombing. It started off as a peaceful rally until the police attempted to break it up. One rally member, angry about a previous riot in which workers had been murdered by police officers, had anticipated police involvement in the Haymarket rally. He threw a bomb into the police ranks. It killed seven officers and wounded sixty more.
Who Cares About the Progressive Era Anyway?
You should! The efforts of Progressives during the Progressive Era greatly effected the lives of Americans as well as people all over the world. Their hard work led to many of the rights and the luxuries that we take for granted today. Do you enjoy going to school instead of working 12 hours a day, in a factory, for pennies, doing dangerous work? Yes? Well, thank the Progressives. Do you like being healthy because your food and water are not contaminated with bacteria or viruses? Yes? Well, thank the Progressives. Do you appreciate being treated fairly and knowing the law must protect you no matter what color, religion, or gender you are? Yes? Thank the Progressives.
We all should care about the Progressive Era because it improved American life drastically! We should all care about the Progressive Era because it is a time we can learn from - a time that reminds us of what we can accomplish if we stand together and help out our fellow man. Teaching Activity - Class Notes 25 PointsWe take notes so that you can get the knowledge you need to meet our lesson. You get points for taking notes because you are showing that you can pick out the main ideas and important details of what you have read.
Small Group Discussion Groups 25 PointsIn your small groups, answer the following discussion questions on notebook paper. Everyone must turn one in and it must be in PQA format.
1. What are the four major types of reforms? 2. What were the steps that most Progressive organizations took when they wanted to make reforms? 3. What methods did Progressives use in their reform? 4. For each type of reformer listed below, list one person or group that practiced this type of reform.
Progressive Era Practice GamesWhen you are finished with notes, play Progressive Era Speed Match Level 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. When you complete all 5 levels, go back and do it again and see if you can beat your score.
Individual Activity - 100 Points
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No?Why Not? Don't Fail Lesson Module 16: The Progressives. Finish Your 16th Mission! Get It Done Today!
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Yes!Congratulations! Victory is yours! You have completed Lesson Module 16: The Progressives and have succeeded in your 16th Mission!
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Tool Box
Remember, anything in the Tool Box could be on the Topic 2 test!
Groups to Know
American Federation of Labor:
an organization that used strikes as a method to achieve labor reforms or changes in the conditions of the workplace
Industrial Workers of the World (I.W.W): a labor union that still exists today that takes care of industrial workers all over the world
Labor Unions: an organization that works to gain and keep fair treatment and good conditions for workers in their workplace
minorities: a group that is a different color, religion, ethnicity, or has a different political view from the larger group of which it is part. (In America any non-white, non-protestant, or foreign born person was considered a minority even though these groups make up the majority today.)
Molly Maguires: a member of a society of miners mainly of Irish descent that terrorized mine owners, management, and law enforcement by using intimidation, beatings, arson, and murder, in an effort to obtain better pay
Muckrakers: the first investigative reporters that investigated businesses, factories, the government, and other organizations and exposed corruption and scandals
National Child Labor Committee: an organization that brought awareness to the working conditions and unfair treatment of children and that continues to work for children’s rights, fair treatment, well-being and education today
National Consumers League (NCL): an organization of women who used social influence, by giving white labels and encouraging all women to only do business with places that had white labels, to pressure businesses into meeting their standards of minimum wages, maximum working hours, and decent working conditions
Pan-African Congress: an organization the promoted better living, working, and social conditions for people of African descent all over the world
Pinkerton detectives: a private security guard and detective agency that factory managers hired to break up stokes and intimidate workers
Progressives: people who believed that the problems society faced such as poverty, violence, greed, racism, and class could best be addressed by providing good education, a safe environment, and an efficient workplace. They worked actively in the slums and with the poor to help them rise out of poverty. They concentrated on exposing the evils of corporate greed, combating fear of immigrants, and urging Americans to think hard about what democracy meant. They also encouraged Americans to register to vote and fight political corruption.
Rough Riders: the volunteer cavalry regiment led by Theodore Roosevelt in the Spanish-American War in 1898 to help gain Cuba its independence
The National Women’s League (NWL): a group that picketed the White House to get President Woodrow Wilson to listen to their women’s suffrage cause
an organization that used strikes as a method to achieve labor reforms or changes in the conditions of the workplace
Industrial Workers of the World (I.W.W): a labor union that still exists today that takes care of industrial workers all over the world
Labor Unions: an organization that works to gain and keep fair treatment and good conditions for workers in their workplace
minorities: a group that is a different color, religion, ethnicity, or has a different political view from the larger group of which it is part. (In America any non-white, non-protestant, or foreign born person was considered a minority even though these groups make up the majority today.)
Molly Maguires: a member of a society of miners mainly of Irish descent that terrorized mine owners, management, and law enforcement by using intimidation, beatings, arson, and murder, in an effort to obtain better pay
Muckrakers: the first investigative reporters that investigated businesses, factories, the government, and other organizations and exposed corruption and scandals
National Child Labor Committee: an organization that brought awareness to the working conditions and unfair treatment of children and that continues to work for children’s rights, fair treatment, well-being and education today
National Consumers League (NCL): an organization of women who used social influence, by giving white labels and encouraging all women to only do business with places that had white labels, to pressure businesses into meeting their standards of minimum wages, maximum working hours, and decent working conditions
Pan-African Congress: an organization the promoted better living, working, and social conditions for people of African descent all over the world
Pinkerton detectives: a private security guard and detective agency that factory managers hired to break up stokes and intimidate workers
Progressives: people who believed that the problems society faced such as poverty, violence, greed, racism, and class could best be addressed by providing good education, a safe environment, and an efficient workplace. They worked actively in the slums and with the poor to help them rise out of poverty. They concentrated on exposing the evils of corporate greed, combating fear of immigrants, and urging Americans to think hard about what democracy meant. They also encouraged Americans to register to vote and fight political corruption.
Rough Riders: the volunteer cavalry regiment led by Theodore Roosevelt in the Spanish-American War in 1898 to help gain Cuba its independence
The National Women’s League (NWL): a group that picketed the White House to get President Woodrow Wilson to listen to their women’s suffrage cause
People To Know
Andrew Carnegie: the industrialist known as the King of steel because he had almost had a monopoly on all U.S. steel who offered the Philippines $20 million dollars to purchase their independence
Booker T. Washington: African American leader who founded the Tuskegee Institute in Tuskegee, Alabama - a higher education school that taught farming and industry skills to African Americans
Jane Addams: founder of the Hull House Settlement House in Chicago that offered social, educational, recreational services to immigrants and the urban poor
John Dewey: education reformer who changed American education when he introduced grade levels and hands - on learning
Lewis Hines: famous Progressive era photographer who worked for the National Child Labor Committee filming and photographing children at work to bring awareness to the mistreatment of children in the work place
Susan B. Anthony: women’s rights activist who used civil disobedience to bring awareness to the women’s suffrage movement and to attempt to gain women’s rights when she broke the law to vote in an election.
Theodore Roosevelt: U.S. President whose foreign policy of policing and protecting the Western Hemisphere was considered world level progressive reform
W.E.B. DuBois: African - American progressive leader and vice - president of the Pan African Congress who tried to gain better conditions for people of African descent all over the world
Woodrow Wilson: United States president during the Women’s suffrage movement. The National Women’s League picketed outside the White House to move him to support women’s suffrage.
Booker T. Washington: African American leader who founded the Tuskegee Institute in Tuskegee, Alabama - a higher education school that taught farming and industry skills to African Americans
Jane Addams: founder of the Hull House Settlement House in Chicago that offered social, educational, recreational services to immigrants and the urban poor
John Dewey: education reformer who changed American education when he introduced grade levels and hands - on learning
Lewis Hines: famous Progressive era photographer who worked for the National Child Labor Committee filming and photographing children at work to bring awareness to the mistreatment of children in the work place
Susan B. Anthony: women’s rights activist who used civil disobedience to bring awareness to the women’s suffrage movement and to attempt to gain women’s rights when she broke the law to vote in an election.
Theodore Roosevelt: U.S. President whose foreign policy of policing and protecting the Western Hemisphere was considered world level progressive reform
W.E.B. DuBois: African - American progressive leader and vice - president of the Pan African Congress who tried to gain better conditions for people of African descent all over the world
Woodrow Wilson: United States president during the Women’s suffrage movement. The National Women’s League picketed outside the White House to move him to support women’s suffrage.
Vocabulary To Know
aggressive: forceful behavior or acting as if you might want to start a fight
anticipated: when a person predicts that something might happen in the future and prepares for it
arson: the crime of starting a fire on purpose
assimilate: when a person or group willingly or is forced to give up something that makes them different from the larger group in which they are a part to become like the people of the larger group
awareness campaign: when organizations try to bring attention to their cause by giving public speeches, passing out information, holding rallies and educational seminars, writing books, and publishing articles in newspapers magazines, and journals
business reform: any changes made in the way businesses were run to make sure that businesses were fair to each other and the public
cause: the main interest or issue that an organization works for
civil disobedience: when a person disobeys the law as a way of forcing the government to do or change something
class warfare: the struggle or disagreements between the rich and the poor
con: to get money, property, or anything else of value from someone through dishonest ways such as tricking them
conservation: protecting and preserving of an area or natural resource
democracy: a government in which the supreme power is held by the people and used by them directly or indirectly through representation
demonstrations: events in which people gather together to show they support or oppose something
direct election: a system of choosing political officeholders in which the voters directly cast ballots for the person, persons or political party that they desire to see elected
direct primary: ensures that voters select candidates to run for office, rather than party bosses
foreign policy: a president’s or a government’s strategy for dealing with other countries
government reforms: reforms or changes that ended government corruption
graduated income tax: a tax on income that raises the amount of the tax higher as the income gets higher - rich people pay a higher percentage in taxes than poor people because the rich have a higher income
income: the amount of money you make - the amount that your employer pays you; your paycheck
initiatives: allows voters to petition state legislatures and force them to consider a bill that is wanted by a large number of citizens
intimidation: scaring someone to do something or to not do something by threatening them
labor reform (workplace reform): any reforms or changes for the better that improved the lives of workers
lobby: when people contact representatives (congressmen and senators) to talk about their cause
luxuries: free use of something that is costly without caring about how much it cost to get
movement: a club or organization that actively seeks members to help with a cause
oppose: to be against something
organization: a group of people or club with similar interests
outlawed: to make against the law
picketing: when a group of people stand or march near a place to protest something
political machines: a group that provided help for the poor and jobs in exchange for votes who were usually con-artists or criminals
political office: a politician who is actively serving in a government position and influences government policy and law making
protest: a demonstration where people gather at a public event to only express their dislike or opposition to something
rally: a public meeting where a group would announce a cause or express their anger about an issue
recalls: allows voters to petition to have an elected representative removed from office
referendums: allows voters to decide if a bill or proposed amendment should be passed
reform: to improve or change things for the better or to rid something of corruption
repealed: to do away with or get rid of a law or policy
riots: situations in which a large group of people behave in a violent and uncontrolled way causing injury, destruction, and sometimes death
rote memorization: a method of remembering something by doing it over and over again or repeating it over and over again
secret ballot: when people cast votes in secret
social influence: when a person or group changes the way they think or do things because of an action by another person or group
social justice: equal and fair treatment of everyone in a society regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, class, or gender
social reforms: improvements made in education, reforms that helped the poor, reforms that improved public health, and reforms that tried to end violence, racism, discrimination, and class warfare
strikes: when workers stop working in order to force an employer to agree to their demands
suffrage: the right to vote
terrorism: the use of terror as a means of achieving a goal
trades: an occupation requiring a specific skill such as welding, plumbing, electrician work, and carpentry
welfare: the state of doing well especially in relation to happiness, well-being, or success
white label: a label given to a store or business by the National Consumers League that meant the store or business had met the National Consumer League’s standards of minimum wages, maximum working hours, and decent working conditions
anticipated: when a person predicts that something might happen in the future and prepares for it
arson: the crime of starting a fire on purpose
assimilate: when a person or group willingly or is forced to give up something that makes them different from the larger group in which they are a part to become like the people of the larger group
awareness campaign: when organizations try to bring attention to their cause by giving public speeches, passing out information, holding rallies and educational seminars, writing books, and publishing articles in newspapers magazines, and journals
business reform: any changes made in the way businesses were run to make sure that businesses were fair to each other and the public
cause: the main interest or issue that an organization works for
civil disobedience: when a person disobeys the law as a way of forcing the government to do or change something
class warfare: the struggle or disagreements between the rich and the poor
con: to get money, property, or anything else of value from someone through dishonest ways such as tricking them
conservation: protecting and preserving of an area or natural resource
democracy: a government in which the supreme power is held by the people and used by them directly or indirectly through representation
demonstrations: events in which people gather together to show they support or oppose something
direct election: a system of choosing political officeholders in which the voters directly cast ballots for the person, persons or political party that they desire to see elected
direct primary: ensures that voters select candidates to run for office, rather than party bosses
foreign policy: a president’s or a government’s strategy for dealing with other countries
government reforms: reforms or changes that ended government corruption
graduated income tax: a tax on income that raises the amount of the tax higher as the income gets higher - rich people pay a higher percentage in taxes than poor people because the rich have a higher income
income: the amount of money you make - the amount that your employer pays you; your paycheck
initiatives: allows voters to petition state legislatures and force them to consider a bill that is wanted by a large number of citizens
intimidation: scaring someone to do something or to not do something by threatening them
labor reform (workplace reform): any reforms or changes for the better that improved the lives of workers
lobby: when people contact representatives (congressmen and senators) to talk about their cause
luxuries: free use of something that is costly without caring about how much it cost to get
movement: a club or organization that actively seeks members to help with a cause
oppose: to be against something
organization: a group of people or club with similar interests
outlawed: to make against the law
picketing: when a group of people stand or march near a place to protest something
political machines: a group that provided help for the poor and jobs in exchange for votes who were usually con-artists or criminals
political office: a politician who is actively serving in a government position and influences government policy and law making
protest: a demonstration where people gather at a public event to only express their dislike or opposition to something
rally: a public meeting where a group would announce a cause or express their anger about an issue
recalls: allows voters to petition to have an elected representative removed from office
referendums: allows voters to decide if a bill or proposed amendment should be passed
reform: to improve or change things for the better or to rid something of corruption
repealed: to do away with or get rid of a law or policy
riots: situations in which a large group of people behave in a violent and uncontrolled way causing injury, destruction, and sometimes death
rote memorization: a method of remembering something by doing it over and over again or repeating it over and over again
secret ballot: when people cast votes in secret
social influence: when a person or group changes the way they think or do things because of an action by another person or group
social justice: equal and fair treatment of everyone in a society regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, class, or gender
social reforms: improvements made in education, reforms that helped the poor, reforms that improved public health, and reforms that tried to end violence, racism, discrimination, and class warfare
strikes: when workers stop working in order to force an employer to agree to their demands
suffrage: the right to vote
terrorism: the use of terror as a means of achieving a goal
trades: an occupation requiring a specific skill such as welding, plumbing, electrician work, and carpentry
welfare: the state of doing well especially in relation to happiness, well-being, or success
white label: a label given to a store or business by the National Consumers League that meant the store or business had met the National Consumer League’s standards of minimum wages, maximum working hours, and decent working conditions
Places To Know
Asia: continent consisting of countries of the far and middle east including China, Japan, India, and Saudi Arabia
Cuba: island country southeast of the United States in the Caribbean Sea. Theodore Roosevelt led a volunteer regiment in the Spanish - American War that helped Cuba gain its independence
educational institutions: a place of learning - a school, college, or university
Europe: continent that is directly east of North American across the Atlantic ocean; some European countries are France, England, Spain, Italy, and Germany
Philippines: a chain of islands below Japan and above Australia in the Pacific Ocean. When the United States won the Philippines in the Spanish - American War, Andrew Carnegie tried to donate $20 million dollars so that they could buy independence from the United States
Settlement houses: were an homes or institutions in an inner-city area that provided education, recreation, and other social services to the community.
Spain: a country in Southern Europe that owned many territories at the turn of the century including Cuba. They entered into war with the United States over these territories and lost. Cuba won independence and America gained the Spanish territories of the Philippines, Guam, Samoa, and Puerto Rico.
Western Hemisphere: the half of the earth that includes the continents of North and South America
Events To Know
Gilded Age: the time before the Progressive Era roughly between the 1870s and 1890s were American industrialization, immigration, migration, and urbanization occurred. It was known for corruption in business and government and unfair treatment of women, minorities, and the working poor.
Haymarket Square Bombing: an incident in Haymarket Square in Chicago, Illinois, when a bomb was thrown at a squad of policemen attempting to break up a labor rally. The police responded with wild gunfire, killing several people in the crowd and injuring dozens more.
Progressive Era: the period of social activism and political reform that flourished from the 1890s to the 1920s as a response to the corruption, mistreatment, and abuse of the Gilded Age.
Haymarket Square Bombing: an incident in Haymarket Square in Chicago, Illinois, when a bomb was thrown at a squad of policemen attempting to break up a labor rally. The police responded with wild gunfire, killing several people in the crowd and injuring dozens more.
Progressive Era: the period of social activism and political reform that flourished from the 1890s to the 1920s as a response to the corruption, mistreatment, and abuse of the Gilded Age.
Other Things to Know
16th Amendment: granted Congress the power to tax people’s income
17th Amendment: made the election of U.S. Senators a direct election
18th Amendment: made it illegal to make, sell, or transport alcohol; however, when crime increased because of this Amendment, it was repealed
19th Amendment: gave women the right to vote
21st Amendment: repealed the 18th Amendment and made alcohol legal again
City Commissioner Plan: allows cities to hire experts in different fields to run a single area of city government.
City Manager Plan: when a professional city manager is hired to run each department of the city and report directly to the city council.
Clayton Anti-Trust Act: law that outlawed monopolies
Federal Reserve Act: created a Federal Reserve Board and twelve district Federal Reserve Banks to issue new currency and loan member banks funds at a special interest rate
Ghost Dance: a Native American religious Dance and demonstration to support Native American traditional ways opposed to assimilation of white culture
local level: things that mainly affect communities
Monroe Doctrine: the policy of President James Monroe that proclaimed the United States would protect any country in the Western Hemisphere from being colonized by Europe and Asia. It was practiced and expanded by President Theodore Roosevelt.
national level: things that mainly affect the nation
Newlands Reclamation Act: allowed the building of dams and irrigations systems using money from the sale of public lands. This helped with land conservation.
Pure Food and Drug Act: required that companies label the ingredients in processed food items
state level: things that mainly affect states
world level: things that affect the whole world
17th Amendment: made the election of U.S. Senators a direct election
18th Amendment: made it illegal to make, sell, or transport alcohol; however, when crime increased because of this Amendment, it was repealed
19th Amendment: gave women the right to vote
21st Amendment: repealed the 18th Amendment and made alcohol legal again
City Commissioner Plan: allows cities to hire experts in different fields to run a single area of city government.
City Manager Plan: when a professional city manager is hired to run each department of the city and report directly to the city council.
Clayton Anti-Trust Act: law that outlawed monopolies
Federal Reserve Act: created a Federal Reserve Board and twelve district Federal Reserve Banks to issue new currency and loan member banks funds at a special interest rate
Ghost Dance: a Native American religious Dance and demonstration to support Native American traditional ways opposed to assimilation of white culture
local level: things that mainly affect communities
Monroe Doctrine: the policy of President James Monroe that proclaimed the United States would protect any country in the Western Hemisphere from being colonized by Europe and Asia. It was practiced and expanded by President Theodore Roosevelt.
national level: things that mainly affect the nation
Newlands Reclamation Act: allowed the building of dams and irrigations systems using money from the sale of public lands. This helped with land conservation.
Pure Food and Drug Act: required that companies label the ingredients in processed food items
state level: things that mainly affect states
world level: things that affect the whole world