Causes of Rapid Industrialization
What term describes the government’s "hands-off" approach to the economy that allowed businesses to grow without regulation?
Laissez-faire economics
This derogatory term was used to describe powerful industrialists who allegedly built their fortunes through exploitative practices.
Robber Barons
These investigative journalists exposed the "muck" of society, such as corporate corruption and urban poverty.
Muckrakers
Which socio-economic class provided the "backbone" of the Progressive Movement?
The urban middle class
This 1920 amendment finally guaranteed women the right to vote nationwide.
The 19th Amendment.
How did the expansion of the transcontinental railroad contribute to the rise of a national market?
It reduced transportation costs and allowed for the mass distribution of goods and resources across the country.
What ideology applied "survival of the fittest" to human society to justify the vast wealth gap during the Gilded Age?
Social Darwinism
Which 1906 law was passed in response to Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle to ensure consumer safety?
The Meat Inspection Act (or Pure Food and Drug Act)
What was the primary goal of the Temperance Movement, which gained massive popularity among women?
The prohibition of alcohol to protect the family unit and improve social order.
How did the Clayton Antitrust Act (1914) improve upon the earlier Sherman Antitrust Act?
It specifically legalized labor unions and clearly defined unfair business practices to make trust-busting more effective.
Identify two technological innovations of the late 19th century that revolutionized industrial production
The Bessemer Process (steel) and the application of electric power (Edison).
Describe the primary goal of the American Federation of Labor during this era
To secure higher wages, shorter hours, and better working conditions through collective bargaining.
What were the "Three Cs" of Theodore Roosevelt’s Square Deal?
Conservation of natural resources, Control of corporations, and Consumer protection.
Why did many Progressives support primary elections?
To return power to the voters and bypass the influence of corrupt party bosses and machines
Which Progressive president is credited with creating the Federal Reserve System to stabilize the national economy?
Woodrow Wilson
Explain the role of vertical integration in the growth of industrial monopolies
It allowed companies to control every stage of production
How did the Pullman Strike of 1894 demonstrate the government’s stance on labor disputes?
It showed the federal government would intervene on the side of management to ensure the flow of commerce.
Explain the aim of the 17th Amendment
To reduce corruption by allowing for the direct election of Senators by the people rather than state legislatures.
How did the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire shift public opinion on labor reform?
The tragedy horrified the public and created a massive demand for factory safety regulations and workers' compensation laws.
In what major area did the Progressive Movement largely fail to achieve significant reform?
Civil Rights, segregation (Jim Crow) and disenfranchisement of African Americans continued largely unchecked.
Why was the availability of "new" immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe essential to rapid industrialization?
They provided a massive pool of cheap, unskilled labor
Analyze how rapid urbanization led to the rise of political machines like Tammany Hall.
Machines provided essential services to poor immigrants (jobs, housing) in exchange for political loyalty and votes, often through corruption.
How did the Social Gospel movement influence Progressive aims?
It applied Christian ethics to social problems, arguing that the church had a duty to help the poor and improve living conditions.
Why did the Populist Party's platform (The Omaha Platform) eventually become "popular" with Progressives?
It called for reforms like the graduated income tax and railroad regulation that Progressives later successfully implemented.
How did the 16th Amendment fundamentally change the relationship between the government and its citizens?
It established a federal income tax