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Progressive Reforms for kids: Progressivism
The Progressive Reforms
were sparked by the political philosophy of Progressivism
which was based on the idea of progress and the establishment of
better conditions in the United States and the prevention of unfair
business practices. The Progressive reforms
encompassed: ● Social Reforms
● Political Reforms
● City Reforms
● State Reforms
● Federal Reforms
Progressive Reforms for kids: The Progressive Movement
Progressive Reforms
were due to the
different ideas and
activities of reformist pressure groups of the
Progressive Movement who
believed that
the government should take a more
active role in solving the social and political problems caused by
Industrialization in
America and the
Effects of Urbanization
The Progressive Movement were led by 'Progressives' who placed
pressure on the government to by restore order and protect the
welfare of Americans.
Progressive Reforms for kids: The Progressives Agenda
The Progressive Reforms
were prompted by the Progressives who included men and women who
fought against ruthless
Big Business and Corporations, trusts and political machines and
called for reforms to combat the evils of
Child Labor, poor working conditions, health and safety, squalid
living conditions, the rights of women and minority groups, unfair
business practices and consumer protection. The
agenda for Progressive Reforms also included the damaging
effects on society caused by alcohol abuse, the decline in
religious beliefs and ethics and the views of the supporters of
Social Darwinism. The Progressives include investigative
journalists, photographers and writers who were referred to as
Muckrakers.
Progressive Reforms for kids: City Reforms - Commission System
Progressive reforms
began at the local town and city level. Following the
horrendous disaster of the
Galveston Hurricane
the city of
Galveston in Texas introduced the commission system of government
replacing the mayor and city council which was a major step in
the Progressive Movement and City Reforms. The
city placed power into the hands of 5 commissioners, 2 of whom were
elected by the people and 3 experts were appointed. A professional,
full-time city manager was also hired to run each department of the
city and report directly to the city council. Cities hired experts
in different fields to run all aspects of city government. Within 20
years, four hundred cities adopted the Commission System of city
government that reduced the levels of
bribery and corruption from political machines.
Progressive Reforms for kids: State Reforms
State Reforms were
established in order to make state governments more responsive to
the needs of the people. The Progressive Reforms at state level were
driven by progressives like Theodore Roosevelt of New York, Woodrow
Wilson of New Jersey and the pioneering reformist Robert M.
LaFollette of Wisconsin who led state reforms with the Wisconsin
Experiment.
Progressive Reforms for kids: The Wisconsin Experiment
The 'Wisconsin
Experiment', led by Robert LaFollette (1855 – 1925) aka "Fighting
Bob" was the governor of Wisconsin in 1901. His state reform
initiatives helped to destroy the political machine, take control
away from lumber & railroad corporations and trusts, and establish a
progressive government. The
Wisconsin Experiment and the determination of Robert LaFollette led
to the following progressive state reforms:
● Public Utilities
Commissions created legislation for the safety of workers and
the regulation of railroads and public utilities
● The corruption of the
Spoils System was replaced
by with a state civil service
● Initiative: The State
Reforms Initiative allowed voters to petition state legislatures
in order to consider new bills initiated by citizens
● Referendum: A referendum
procedure in which voters cast ballots for, or against, proposed
laws
● Recall: Recall gave
citizens the right to remove elected officials from office
● The Direct election of
Senators by the voters that countered Senate corruption and
control by trusts
● Wisconsin also became the
first state to adopted a state income tax
● Australian Ballot (secret
ballot). The Australian Ballot (secret ballot) was introduced to
reduce the instances of bribery
Progressive Reforms for kids: Federal Reforms
The Progressive
Era also saw the introduction of a whole range of Federal Reforms in
relation to conservation, economic regulations, health and safety
measures, consumer protection and to reduce the power held by Big
Business and corporations. These Federal Progressive Reforms are
detailed in the timeline list below.
Progressive Reforms for kids: Progressive Reforms List -
Federal Legislation and Action
The following chart provides a Progressive Reforms
List
during
the Progressive Era of United States history. Interesting facts and a
information about
Progressive Reforms made during this period. The
information on
Progressive Reforms is provided in a factual, date
sequence consisting of a list of short facts
providing a simple method of relating the history
and events relating to Progressive Reforms.
Progressive
Reforms List: Federal
Legislation and Action
Progressive
Reforms List
Fact 1:
The 1890 Sherman Antitrust Act
was the first measure passed by the U.S. Congress to
prohibit monopolies.
Progressive
Reforms List
Fact 2: The
1898 Erdman Act prohibited
discrimination against railroad workers because of union
membership and provided for mediation of railway labor
disputes .
Progressive
Reforms List
Fact 3: Theodore Roosevelt First
Presidential term (1901-1905).
Conservation
was a cornerstone of his domestic policy
Progressive
Reforms List
Fact 4: Newlands Reclamation Act of 1902
encouraged conservation using money from the sale of
public lands to build dams and irrigations systems.
Progressive
Reforms List
Fact 5: The
1902 Anthracite Coal Strike of 1902 saw President Roosevelt,
as leader of the federal government,
act as a mediator.
Progressive
Reforms List
Fact 6: In 1902 President Roosevelt takes
action against J.P.
Morgan’s Northern
Securities Company for
violating the Sherman Antitrust Act in his
“trust-busting” efforts to break up monopolies.
Progressive
Reforms List
Fact 7: The Department of Commerce and
Labor is established in 1903 to conciliate between management
and labor.
Progressive
Reforms List
Fact 8: The 1903 Elkins Act banned the use
of rebates by railroad companies.
Progressive
Reforms List
Fact 9: President
Roosevelt announces his
Square Deal Policy
in 1904
and his support of progressive and
political reforms, including the regulation of business
and corporations.
Progressive
Reforms List
Fact 10: Theodore Roosevelt Second
Presidential term (1905-1909)
Progressive
Reforms List
Fact 11:
1906
Pure Food and Drug Act
was passed requiring companies to accurately label the
ingredients contained in processed food and medicines
and ensure the contents were safe and hygienic.
Progressive
Reforms List
Fact 12: The
1906 Meat Inspection Act
was passed as a direct result of Upton Sinclair's The
Jungle. The law required the inspection of meat
processing plants to protect the public’s health and
welfare.
Progressive
Reforms List
Fact 13: The Hepburn Act
was passed in 1906 challenging the economic power of the railroad industry.
It also expands the jurisdiction of the
Interstate
Commerce Commission (ICC)
Progressive
Reforms List
Fact 14: The National Child Labor
Committee (NCLC) of 1907 was chartered by an Act of Congress
Progressive
Reforms List
Fact 15: William Taft Presidency
(1909-1913) saw the introduction of
Taft's Dollar Diplomacy
Progressive
Reforms List
Fact 16: The
1910 Mann-Elkins Act was passed
to strengthen
the Hepburn Act and gave the Interstate Commerce
Commission authority to regulate telephone, telegraph,
radio and cable
companies.
Progressive
Reforms List
Fact 17: Woodrow Wilson Presidency (1913-1917)
& (1917-1921) introduced his
New Freedom polices and laws for progressive reforms
in which he attacked the Triple Wall of Privilege
Progressive
Reforms List
Fact 18: The 17th amendment to the
Constitution was ratified in 1913 to counter Senate corruption
by the direct election of senators
Progressive
Reforms List
Fact 19: The
1913 Federal Reserve Act was
passed creating 12 district Federal Reserve Banks, each
able to issue new currency and loan member banks funds
at the prime interest rate
Progressive
Reforms List
Fact 20: The
1913 Underwood Tariff
reduced the average tariff on imported goods
Progressive
Reforms List
Fact 21: The
1914 Federal Trade Commission Act
established the Federal Trade Commission was established
to regulate fair competition among Big business and
industry and regulated product labeling..
Progressive
Reforms List Fact 22: The
1914 Clayton Antitrust Act
revised the 1890 Sherman Antitrust Act and banned
monopolistic practices by business and affirms the right
to go on strike.
Progressive
Reforms List
Fact 23: The
1916 Keating-Owen Child Labor Act limited how many hours children are allowed to work
Progressive
Reforms List
Fact 24: The
Federal Farm Loan Act
provide small farmers with long-term loans at low
interest rates.
Progressive
Reforms List
Fact 25: The
Adamson Act of 1916 established an
eight-hour workday for railroad workers
Progressive
Reforms List
Fact 26: 1919 introduced
Prohibition led by
the Temperance Movement - The 18th
Amendment is passed prohibiting the sale and manufacture
of alcohol
Progressive
Reforms List
Fact 27: The 19th Amendment is passed in 1919 giving women the right to vote (suffrage)
Progressive
Reforms List: Federal
Legislation and Action
For additional facts refer to the articles detailing the
Progressive
Era Timeline and the
Progressive Movement.
Progressive Reforms - President Theodore Roosevelt Video
The article on the Progressive Reforms provides detailed facts and a summary of one of the important events during his presidential term in office. The following video will
give you additional important facts and dates about the political events experienced by the 26th American President whose presidency spanned from September 14, 1901 to March 4, 1909.
Progressive Reforms
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Facts about the Progressive Reforms for kids and schools
●
Summary of the Progressive Reforms in US history
●
The Progressive Reforms, a major
event in US history
●
Theodore Roosevelt from September 14, 1901 to March 4, 1909
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Fast, fun facts about the Progressive Reforms
●
Foreign & Domestic
policies of President Theodore Roosevelt
●
Theodore Roosevelt Presidency and
Progressive Reforms for schools,
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