Key People
Knights of Labor
the first major labor organization in the United States. The Knights organized unskilled and skilled workers, campaigned for an eight-hour workday, and aspired to form a cooperative society in which laborers owned the industries in which they worked.
What were the main economic activities in the South despite industrialization efforts?
Despite industrialization efforts in the South, agriculture, particularly sharecropping and tenant farming, remained the primary economic activity.
How did Progressive Era reformers respond to political corruption, economic instability, and social concerns?
advocating for regulatory reforms, labor protections, and social welfare programs.
How did World War I and its aftermath intensify debates about the nation's role in the world?
led to discussions on interventionism versus isolationism and the establishment of international organizations like the League of Nations.
Who were the muckrakers?
attacked what they saw as political
corruption, social injustice, and economic
inequality
Jane Addams
Founded Hull House in Chicago, one of the first settlement houses in the United States, which aimed to address the needs of immigrants and the urban poor
What factors encouraged the rise of industrial capitalism in the United States during the Gilded Age and Progressive Era?
technological advances, large-scale production methods, and the opening of new markets
What did critics of progressivism fear?
Critics feared Progressive ideology = socialism or fascism
What were the key components of the Square Deal proposed by Theodore Roosevelt?
regulating big business, protecting consumers, and conserving natural resources.
How did political machines operate and thrive in urban environments during the Gilded Age?
providing social services, employment opportunities, and political patronage in exchange for voter loyalty and support.
Ida Tarbell
known for her groundbreaking expose on the Standard Oil Company, which contributed to the public's understanding of corporate monopolies and led to the eventual breakup of the company.
Describe the expansion and diversification of the industrial workforce during this period.
an influx of immigrants, women, and children into factories, mines, and other industrial settings, contributing to the growth of urban centers.
How were Progressives divided over issues such as Southern segregation and immigration restriction?
some advocated for its eradication while some prioritized other economic and social reforms.
What was US foreign policy following WW1?
refused to enter any alliances with other countries while at peace
What was the Atlanta Exposition?
by Booker T. Washington; to argue for segregation, to showcase the economic progress of the South since the Civil War, to encourage international trade, and to attract investors to the region.
Jacob Riis
photojournalist and social reformer, using his groundbreaking book "How the Other Half Lives" to expose the harsh living conditions of immigrants and the urban poor in New York City's tenements
How did perspectives on the economy and labor vary during times of financial panics and downturns?
laissez-faire vs government intervention
Describe the four amendments progressivists got passed.
16th- income tax
17th- direct election of state senators
18th- prohibition
19th- women's suffrage
What was Woodrow Wilson's rationale for the United States entering World War I, departing from the tradition of noninvolvement in European affairs?
the need to make the world "safe for democracy" and to ensure the principles of self-determination and collective security, departing from the tradition of noninvolvement in European affairs.
Compare the national and local goals of progressivists.
National Level: sought federal legislation that
they believed would effectively regulate the
economy, expand democracy and generate
moral reform
Local/State Level: worked to effect social
changes in cities and among immigrant
populations
"The Jungle" by Upton Sinclair encouraged what changes to society?
the expansion of federal government to monitor the food industry
Explain the impact of monopolies and trusts, such as Standard Oil and U.S. Steel, on competition and economic concentration.
wielded immense economic power; they controlled large segments of industries, stifled competition, and influenced prices and market conditions. The dominance of these corporations contributed to economic inequality and spurred calls for antitrust legislation to promote fair competition.
Who were the 3 progressive presidents and what did they contribute?
Theodore Roosevelt – square deal (3c’s), Big Stick
William H. Taft – regulated more trusts, more conservative than TR
Woodrow Wilson – reformed banks, tariffs and trusts; brought progressive ideals into WWI; Birth of a Nation
Describe two policies targeted towards aiding imperial efforts.
Big Stick: this policy emphasized the use of military force or the threat of force to protect U.S. interests in Latin America and the Caribbean. It was exemplified by the construction of the Panama Canal and Roosevelt's intervention in various Latin American countries.
Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine: This policy, announced by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1904, asserted the United States' right to intervene in the affairs of Latin American countries to maintain stability and protect American interests.
Dollar Diplomacy: Introduced during the presidency of William Howard Taft, Dollar Diplomacy aimed to promote U.S. economic interests abroad by using American financial power to influence governments, particularly in Latin America and East Asia. It emphasized investment and trade as tools of foreign policy.
Platt Amendment: effectively made Cuba a de facto protectorate of the United States, granting the U.S. significant influence over the island nation's political and economic affairs
How did the Supreme Court decision in Plessy v. Ferguson impact the political gains of African Americans during Reconstruction?
legitimized racial segregation (separate but equal), undermining the political gains of African Americans achieved during Reconstruction.