Terms & Concepts
This was a political and social movement that believed in reform and improvement of society through government action. People wanted to address problems caused by rapid industrialization and believed that citizens, journalists, and the government should work together to create a better society. Their ideas influenced laws, policies, and the presidency during the early 1900s.
What was the Progressive Movement?
He was an important muckraking journalist and novelist who exposed the dangerous and unsanitary conditions in meat-packing plants. He wrote a novel called "The Jungle" in 1906, which described how workers were treated poorly, how animals were processed unsafely, and how contaminated meat was sold to consumers. His work led directly to the passage of the Pure Food and Drug Act in 1906 and showed how literature could inspire social reform.
Who was Upton Sinclair?
He was the 26th President of the United States who served from 1901 to 1909. He became president after President William McKinley was assassinated in 1901. He was a strong Progressive who pursued major reforms including trust-busting, conservation, labor reforms, and food safety legislation. He believed the government had a responsibility to regulate big business, protect workers, and preserve natural resources. He is often called the "Trust-Buster" because of his aggressive efforts to break up monopolies.
Who was Theodore/Teddy Roosevelt?
A federal law passed in 1890 that gave the government the power to break up trusts and monopolies and prevent unfair business practices. The act made it illegal for companies to work together to control industries or eliminate competition. It was the first major federal legislation to regulate big business and showed that the government had a responsibility to protect fair competition and consumers.
What was the Sherman Anti-Trust Act?
This was called the "Great War" or the "War to End All Wars."
What was World War I
These were journalists and writers who investigated and exposed corruption, dangerous practices, unfair business methods, and social problems in American society.
Who were the muckrakers?
She was an important muckraking journalist who investigated and exposed the unfair and monopolistic practices of the Standard Oil Company. She wrote detailed articles in McClure's Magazine about how Standard Oil used illegal tactics to eliminate competitors and control the entire oil industry. Her work led to the breaking up of the Standard Oil trust and showed the power of investigative journalism to create change.
Who was Ida Tarbell?
Theodore Roosevelt was Vice President under this U.S. President when he was assassinated by an anarchist in 1901.
Who was William McKinley?
This term was government action to break up large companies (trusts) that had unfair control over industries. It involved filing lawsuits against monopolies under the Sherman Antitrust Act to force them to break apart into smaller competing companies.
What was trust-busting?
This was a secret 1917 diplomatic communication from Germany to Mexico proposing a military alliance against the United States. Intercepted by British intelligence, it offered Mexico the return of Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico if they entered World War I. Its publication tipped U.S. public opinion toward declaring war on Germany
What was the Zimmerman Telegram/Note?
This was usually a large company or group of companies that worked together to control an entire industry, eliminate competition, and raise prices. They were monopolies that used unfair practices to prevent smaller businesses from competing.
What are trusts?
She was a reformer and social worker who founded Hull House, a settlement house in Chicago that provided services and support to poor immigrants. She worked to improve living conditions for the poor, advocated for labor reforms, child labor laws, and women's rights. She was a pioneer in social work and believed that educated people had a responsibility to help those in need. She even won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1931 for her humanitarian work.
Who was Jane Addams?
Theodore Roosevelt was a strong supporter of _____________ of natural resources. He created the U.S. Forest Service, established 5 national parks, 18 national monuments, 51 federal bird reserves, and 4 national game preserves. Roosevelt believed that natural resources should be protected for future generations and that the government had a responsibility to preserve wilderness areas and endangered wildlife. Roosevelt's _______ legacy created the foundation for modern environmental protection
What is conservation and preservation?
This was a federal law passed in 1906 that required food and drug companies to list ingredients on their products, prevented the sale of contaminated or adulterated food and drugs, and prohibited false advertising. The act established the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to enforce the law and protect consumers. It was directly inspired by Upton Sinclair's "The Jungle" and showed how muckraking journalism could lead to government regulation and consumer protection.
What was the Pure Food and Drug Act?
These were the "main" causes of the WWI.
What are Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, & Nationalism?
This was a situation where one company or a group of companies has complete control over an industry and there is no competition. They can charge high prices, provide poor service, and prevent new businesses from entering the market.
What are monopolies?
This reformer took pictures of usually poor immigrant families in tenements usually with many members of the family sleeping in the same room, and wrote a book called "How the Other Half Lives."
Who was Jacob Riis?
Theodore Roosevelt used this Act aggressively to break up large monopolies he believed were acting unfairly. His administration filed lawsuits against around 40 or more trusts, including the Northern Securities Company and Standard Oil.
What was the Sherman Anti-Trust Act
This federal agency was established to enforce food and drug safety laws and protect consumers from dangerous or contaminated products. They inspect food and drug products, ensures that ingredients are listed accurately, and prevents false advertising.
What was the FDA?
This was President Woodrow Wilson's way to mobilize the American public by launching a massive influential campaign to garner more support of the American people for the war effort through every mass media product of that time that included newspapers, movies, toys, posters.
What is propaganda?
This is the practice of mob violence and murder, often targeting African Americans in the South. They were often extrajudicial killings carried out by angry mobs without legal trials or due process.
What are lynching?
She was an important African American journalist, investigator, and civil rights activist who exposed and fought against the practice of lynching in the American South. She investigated lynchings, documented the violence, and wrote articles and pamphlets exposing the injustice. She traveled internationally to raise awareness about racial violence in America. Her work was crucial to the early civil rights movement and showed that Progressive reform included fighting for racial justice and African American rights.
Who was Ida B. Wells?
Roosevelt was the first U.S. President to appoint this secretary which responsibility was to support legislation to improve workplace safety. While not as aggressive as some reformers wanted, Roosevelt's labor reforms showed that the federal government should protect workers from exploitation.
Who was Secretary of Commerce and Labor?
The Pure Food and Drug Act was directly inspired by this book that showed how muckraking journalism could lead to government regulation and consumer protection.
Upton Sinclair's The Jungle
This main cause was when extending a country's power or influence through diplomacy or military force. Before World War I, Africa and parts of Asia were points of contention among the European countries. The raw materials these areas could provide made empires very wealthy.
What is Imperialism?