-
Chinese Exclusion Act
A law signed into play by Chester A. Arthur which restricted all Chinese immigration to the United States. -
Interstate Commerce Act
An act passed by the U.S. government with the goal of regulating the railroad industry. -
Hull House Opens
Founded by Jane Addams and Ellen Gates Starr, the Hull House was a building/living complex designed to assist new immigrants living on the West Side of Chicago, Illinois. The housing development provided education facilities and rehousing programs. -
Muckrackers
The older term for a new wave of journalism beginning in 1890 which sought to dig deep and expose large institutions as corrupt. -
Sherman Antitrust Act
A law that sought to regulate large businesses and outlaw direct or indirect monopolistic business practices. -
Plessy V. Ferguson
United States Supreme Court case which ruled in favor of "separate but equal" racially segregated accommodations. -
Square Deal
Theodore Roosevelt's plan or campaign program which highlighted three c's -Control of corporations, Consumer protection. Conservation of natural resources. -
William McKinley's Assassination
William McKinley, 25th president of the United States was assassinated in Buffalo, NY by anarchist Leon Czolgosz. Czolgosz had been convinced that McKinley was a symbol of oppression considering his policies during office. -
Coal Miner Strike of 1902
A strike orchestrated by the United Mine Workers of America in protest of inhumane working conditions, meager wages, and long workdays. The protest took place in the anthracite coal mining fields of Eastern Pennsylvania and was at one point 150,000 miners strong. -
"The History Of Standard Oil" by Ida Tarbell
An example of muckracker journalism, Ida Tarbell's book sought to expose the corruption of the Standard Oil Company ran at the time by John D. Rockefeller. -
The Jungle by Upton Sinclair
A novel written to put on display the horrid conditions faced by the poor immigrants and workers in big cities. The novel had a significant impact on the viewpoint of the public and eventually inspired the creation of regulatory industries such as the Food and Drug Administration and the United States Department of Agriculture. -
Roosevelt's Anti-Antiquities Act
An act which guaranteed the protection of natural resources and archaeological sites within the United States. Passed by Theodore Roosevelt as a part of his Three C's program. -
Federal Meat Inspection Act
Signed by president Theodore Roosevelt in which prevented the sale or production of misbranded or impure livestock meat. -
Food and Drug Act
A law enacted by congress which imposed regulations designed to protect the public from unhygienic factory practices. -
Muller v. Oregon
Landmark court case which decided whether a woman's right to negotiate her work hours or negotiate legally with her employer was equal to a man's. -
William Howard Taft Wins the 1908 election
A member of the republican party, William Howard Taft won against the Democratic canidate, William Jennings Bryan -former canidate of the populist party. Taft won 51.6% of the popular vote. Taft won riding on Roosevelt's support. -
Triangle Shirtwaist Fire
A large fire which started in a rag bin and broke out on the 8th floor of the Triangle Shirtwaist Company. Quickly, it spread to the other floors. The girls, trapped and unable to escape down the stairwell since the doors were locked and the elevator could only hold 12 people at a time, a fraction of the 250 trapped. Fire hoses and escapes had broken. 145 people died, a majority of them girls aged 11-18. 49 were burned alive, 36 died in the elevator shaft, and 60 died from jumping. -
Woodrow Wilson Wins the 1912 Election
A member of the Democratic party, Wilson won 41% of the popular vote against his candidate Theodore Roosevelt. He was the first Democrat to win the election since 1892. -
16th Amendment Ratified
The 16th amendment, passed in July of 1909 and ratified 4 years later, which allows the federal government to collect taxes on any individual, regardless of state and census information. -
Department of Labor Established
In response to the growing exploitation of the working class, the US government created the Department of Labor in order to oversee employee working hours, occupational safety, reemployment, and workplace injury/workman's compensation. -
17th Amendment Ratified
Changing a portion of Article I, Section 3 , this amendment required for senators to be elected by favor of popular vote rather than selected by an extra-judiciary committee. Senators still served for 6 years, and only 2 were allowed per state. -
Underwood-Simmons Act
Also known as the Revenue Act, this act re-established a federal income tax within the United States, stratified to increase percentage as the individual's income bracket increased. -
Federal Reserve Act
The law which created the Federal Reserve, a central banking system for the United States. Woodrow Wilson signed the act in response to pressure from the Panic of 1907. -
Federal Trade Commission Act
Passed by Woodrow Wilson, the act outlaws unfair methods of competition and practices that affect the economy amongst businesses. The act also allowed for the founding of the Federal Trade Commission.
