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Jane Addams
Jane Addams was a public philosopher, author, and the leader in woman's suffrage as well as World Peace. Addams was the first American woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize due to the actions she took to make sure woman can vote. She believd that if women were supposed to take care of their children and clean their communities, they could do so by choosing representatives. Her role, in making sure women can vote, gave her the title of being the most prominent reformer in the Progressive Era. -
H. G. Wells
H. G. Wells was an English writer, best known for his science fiction genre type books. H. G. Wells was known as the father of the Progressive Movement. -
Eugene Debs
Eugene Debs was a candidate of the Socialist Party of America for President of the United States, several times. Debs was part of the Democratic Party. Debs worked for several unions, like the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen. His contributions to the Progressive Movement included strikes over pay cuts for several unions. -
Corrupt Practices Reform
An example of a law set to reform corrupt practices is the Sherman Antitrust Act. This Act requires the federal government to investigate trusts, companies, and organizations that presumed to have violated the rules. -
Public Service Reform
As Public Service Reform, local public associations were formed. This was to keep the families together, as the Progressives believed that family was the most important foundation of American society. -
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States and he led the Progressive Movement. Roosevelt was the one to persuade the Republican Party toward Progressivism and Trustbusting. Roosevelt put the Square Deal in action, to make sure each citizen receives a fair share of his policies. Roosevelt nominated William Taft for the elections and taught him the Progressive policies so Taft would use them when he would be elected for the next presidency. -
Social Justice Reform
As Social Justice Reform, a society, that didn't recongnize the dignity of the citizens as the society, would become a socially just society. This type of society would be based on the principles of equality and the understanding of human rights. -
Ida Tarbell
Ida Tarbell was a muckraker. Muckrakers were journalists who investigated businesses and exposed their wrong practices. Muckrakers dug under the surface and "raked" up the corruption beneath. Tarbell was known for exposing the tactics of the Standard Oil Company, and published articles on the company in a magazing. This resulted the company to break up due to it's declaration of being a monopoly. -
Upton Sinclair
Upton Sinclair was the author of the novel, The Jungle, which was based on the meatpacking industry. Sinclair investigated the Chicago meatpacking industry to inspire his book. The distasteful truth written in this book caused the government to examine the processes in the meatpacking industry. Sinclair's book ensured the safety of the people, by disclosing the secrets of the meatpacking industry. -
Robert LaFollette
Robert LaFollette was the Governer of Wisconsin. LaFollette was also the first nominee for the National Progressive Republican League. He was the most agressive of all the Progressive Republican leaders. LaFollette took the power from the railroad interests and gave it back to the people. -
Business Reform
Progressivism sought to appoint presidents to reform corporate businesses. As a way to bring reform, Roosevelt had tried to control the power of corporate businesses by establishing a Bureau of Corporations. He also developed a department in the Justice Department that was responsible for investigation business practices. These reforms were for the rate of the monopolies to decrease. -
16th Amendment
The 16th Amendment of the United States Constitution states that the Congress has the power to collect and lay taxes on any income without a second glance. -
Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow WIlson was the 28th President of the United States. He was also another leader of the Progressive Movement. Wilson was successful in persuading the Democratic Congress to pass progressive reforms. Wilson was able to pass legislative agenda that other presidents haven't succeeded in passing, such as the Clayton Antitrust Act. -
William Jennings Bryan
William Jennings Bryan ran for President of the United States three times but only served two terms as part of the United States House of Representatives from Nebraska. Bryan was also the 41at United States Secretary of State. Bryan, along with many other Progressives, was a firm believer in Prohibition and fought for it during the Progressive Movement. -
17th Amendment
The 17th Amendment to the United States Constitution gave approval to election by popular vote. This law was created to prevent government officials to bias or indirectly receive all the powers and funds of the states. -
Hiram Johnson
Hiram Johnson was the 23rd governer (1911-1917) and the United States Senator (1917-1945). Johnson ran for the 1912 presidential election, with Theodore Roosevelt, as a Progressive. Johnson was thought to be the most important person behind the intoduction of the law that allowed state officials to be called again. Hiram Johnson set up his own political machine and helped break the grip of some policies. -
18th Amendment
The 18th Amendment created the law that prohibits alcoholic beverages in the United States. This Amendment was a result of a Temperance Movement during the Progressive Movement. -
19th Amendment
The 19th Amendment was formed to allow every citizen to vote, regardless of gender. At this point, African American men already had the right to vote, but women didn't. This law permitted woman to legally vote and have the same rights as men. This Amendment was a result of the Women's Suffrage Movement. -
Charles Evans Hughes
Charles Evans Hughes was a lawyer and Republican politician. He became the Governor of New York in 1907. In the 1916 U.S. Presidential Election, Hughes was a running candidate, for the Republicans, but lost to Woodrow Wilson. Hughe was an important leader of the Progressive Movement. Hughes was the one who added reform in the processes of the government, public services, etc. -
Labor Reform
The conditions for labor workers were very poor. After witnessing the extreme conditions that labor workers had to work in and the intense labor they were made to do, the Progressives sought to help them. The Progressives established ground rules regarding the eight-hour workday, workmen's compensation, minimum wages for women, and no child labor.
