Political
What political party played a large role in getting the Interstate Commerce Act passed?
Populists...wanted railroad pricing regulated.
What economic system called for very little regulation by the government and led to many problems such as: monopolies, corruption and consumer safety issues?
laissez faire
What were investigative journalists called during the Progressive Era.
muckrakers
What was the first federal law to regulate(control) business(railroads)?
Interstate Commerce Act(1887)
What era was defined by wealth accumulation, corruption, robber barrons and trusts(monopolies)?
The Gilded Age
True or False. Federal Government regulated(controlled) private business less during the Progressive Era, than during the Gilded Age.
False. Interstate Commerce Act and Sherman Antitrust Act both were passed during the Progressive Era.
Identify one positive of laissez faire economics.
easy to start a business, business owners can do what they want
Which muckraker spent 2 months investigating conditions in the meatpacking industry?
Upton Sinclair
What was the first independent federal agency?
Interstate Commerce Commission
What law was the first law to prohibit a specific ethnic group from immigrating to the United States?
Chinese Exclusion Act
True or False. Federal Government was not concerned with changing business practices during the Progressive Era.
False. Reform(change) was a top priority for Progressives.
Identify negatives of laissez faire economics
corruption, monopolies, poor work conditions, poor pay, dangerous products, price fixing
What book was written to highlight poor conditions and harmful practices in the meatpacking industry and eventually led to legislation to address(fix) these problems?
The Jungle(Upton Sinclair)
What industry was primarily(mainly) affected by the Interstate Commerce Act?
railroads(pricing)
What law ended "patronage" and made all government jobs merit based(exam, qualifications)?
Pendleton Act
True or False. Many of the reforms of the Progressive Era were responses to business practices and abuse seen during the Gilded Age.
True. Corruption and monopolistic practices were both addressed by Progressives.
True or False. Consumers benefit from competition.
True. Competition allows businesses to lower prices to compete for customers.
What law was passed as a direct result of Upton Sinclair's book The Jungle?
Pure Food and Drug Act
What law was passed specifically to prohibit trusts(monopolies)?
Sherman Antitrust Act
What technological innovation gave farmers access to markets in the west?
railroads
Identify 3 Progressive laws that were passed to address(fix) business practices during the Gilded Age.
Interstate Commerce Act(railroads), Sherman Antitrust Act(trusts/monopolies), Pure Food and Drug Act(consumer safety)
What 2 factors led to many of the reforms(changes) seen during the Progressive Era?
Industrialization and Laissez Faire economics
Who benefited the most from The Pure Food and Drug Act?
workers and consumers
What era was characterized(defined) by an increase in reform(change) movements that were responses to the economic and social problems of the Gilded Age?
Progressive Era
What was the main cause of the Chinese Exclusion Act?
Competition for jobs in the west. Nativism