Muckrakers
How did muckrakers get there name?
They were investigative journalist who uncovered the dirt (muck) in their writings which lead politicians to push for reforms.
Ida Welles and Florence Kelley were two of the founders of the NAACP. Why was the NAACP created?
The NAACP was created to have an effective civil rights organization in the U.S. In particular, lynchings of black men were very common in the early 1900's and the NAACP would push to make it a federal crime. (This did not happen but it did go down.)
What precedent did Theodore Roosevelt set when he helped resolve a coal miners strike in 1902?
That when a strike threatens public welfare the federal govt should intervene.
How did the Keating Owen Act correct an injustice in the workplace?
What was Upton Sinclair known for?
He wrote a book called the Jungle which exposed the unsanitary conditions in meatpacking plants. (lead to laws like the meat inspection act)
Jane Addams ran the Hull House which was a settlement house in Chicago what was a settlement house?
Settlement houses were like community centers in cities that helped the poor, especially immigrants. They taught skills, classes in English, provided daycae, and more.
What effect did the Pure food and drug act have on society?
Companies have to be truthful about their products. (No more secret ingredients in many cases alcohol, cocaine, morphine.)
Why was Woodrow Wilson able to win the presidency in 1912 even though he only got 42 % of the vote.
The Republican party split as Theodore Roosevelt ran a third party campaign as a "bull moose candidate, while William Howard Taft ran as the republican nominee. This split allowed the Democrat Wilson to win.
Lewis Hine was known for his photography to try and end what?
Child Labor
Who was involved in the Social Gospel movement, and what were its guiding principles?
Christian reformers were involved. They believed that Christians had a duty to help the less fortunate and that pursing wealth was ungodly.
Unlike previous presidents Theodore Roosevelt took an active role in legislation calling his programs the square deal. As part of his square deal what was Roosevelt's plan for dealing with big corporations or trusts?
He got the nickname the trustbuster for breaking up big companies like Standard oil. However he said there was a difference between good trusts ( should be regulated) and bad trusts (should be broken up.)
He used the Sherman Anti Trust Act to do this.
Woodrow Wilson raised taxes with the introduction of income taxes through the 16th Amendment. However he did cut one type of taxes which one and why?
Tariffs (taxes on foreign goods) which were favored businesses but disliked by consumers. As a result prices on consumer goods went down.
Jacob Riis wrote the book How the Other Half Lives where he tried to bring what issue to his audience?
The lives of the urban poor to a mostly middle to upper class audience.
Why did temperance societies start and what was their goal?
They began because alcohol was seen as being one of the biggest problems facing society and the family. At first the goal was moderation, later it became complete prohibition of alcohol. Carrie Nation and the Women Christian Temperance Union were notable leaders.
While Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft had been great friends and shared many political beliefs they eventually had a falling out. Why?
Taft fired Roosevelt's friend in the National Forestry Service and was not as committed to conservation (national parks, saving land from development) as Roosevelt.
How did the Clayton Antirust Act and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) try to limit the power of trusts. (It succeeded)
Clayton Anti Trust stops companies from buying stock in a competitor if doing so would make a monopoly.
The FTC is a watchdog group that stops unfair trade practices. It can stop mergers from happening if they think it's bad for consumers.
How did Ida Tarbell influence the American economy?
Her 19-part series on the History of Standard Oil led to President Theodore Roosevelt using the Sherman Anti-Trust Act to break Standard Oil up.
What strategies did suffragettes use to pass the 19th Amendment?
They pushed for a state by state strategy as well as making it a national amendment. During WW1 some protested in front of the white house lawn going on a hunger strike.
While he wasn't able to achieve it William Howard Taft proposed a new amendment to get more money from the federal govt. (eventually it passed under Woodrow Wilson) What was the amendment and what did it call for?
16th Amendment starts income tax allowed Federal govt. to greatly increase it's revenue.
How does the Federal Reserve system created by Woodrow Wilson effect our money supply today?
The Federal Reserve lends money to the banks which then lend money to us. Their interest rates they charge to the bank directly effect the interest rates the banks charge us.