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Jane Addams
Jane Addams was a social reformer who was dedicated to the progressive movement. She was a supporter of settlement houses and established the hull house in chicago to help numerous groups of peopple including immigrants. -
Business Reform
Florence Kelly was a progressive leader in trying to improve/eliminate working conditions for women and children. She and her followers persuaded Illinois legislature to ban child labor in 1893. -
Eugene Debs
Eugene Debs was a business reformer. He was sentenced to six months in jail for being a leader in the Pullman strike. This shows his dedication to his progressive ideas. -
American Federation of Labor
The American Federation of Labor, led by Samuel Gompers is formed to back skilled workers in a major effort towards labor reform. It is a big step in the progressive movement. -
Wisconsin Idea
Rober La Follette introduced the Wisconsin idea which called for numerous reforms including in creased taxes on railroads, public utilities, gas, electric, and streetcar companies. It was a very progressive reform movement. -
Public Service Reform
The Woman's City Club, and other reform organizations enlist to help in cleaning up the city of Chicago. This public service reform was fueled by the progressive ideas that cities should be presentable. -
Teddy Roosevelt
Teddy Roosevelt was president of the United States from 1901 to 1909. He was a leader of the progressive movement and founded the "Bull Moose" party with these ideas in mind. Roosevelt promoted the Square Deal which promised that every man would have equal oppurtunities in business and labor. -
Newlands Reclamation Act
The Newlands Reclamation Act was passed in 1902. It allowed money from the sales of public land to be used for reclamation. It was beneficial towards the environment and defenitly a progressive act. -
Elkins Act Passed
The Elkins Act was passed in 1903 which made it illegal for shippers to accept rebates for their business. This progressive act reformed trade corruption. -
Lincoln Steffens
Lincoln Steffens was a muckraker who published articles exposing business and political corruption. His aim was to end the corruption in local government. -
Upton Sinclair
Upton Sinclair was a muchraker during the progressive era and is famous for publishing "The Jungle" in 1906 which exposed corruption and unsafe conditions in the meatpacking industry. He was a leader in exposing corruption hoping to lead to business reform. -
H.G. Welles
H.G. Welles wrote "The Future of America" in 1906. In this book he indiectly demmanded reform by posing the question of: where will America be in 30 years? He promoted his progressive ideas through writing. -
Hepburn Act Passed
The Hepburn Act was passed in 1906, it allowed the ICC to set railroad rates and regulate other companies that were involved in interstate commerce. This was progressive because it regulated an aspect of the railroad industry. -
Food and Drug Act Passed
The Food and Drug Act was passed in 1906. It made the manufacture, sale, and transporation of food containing harmful ingridients illiegal. This was obviously good for the public health and a much needed reform effort. -
Meat Inspection Act Passed
The Meat Inspection Act was passed in 1906. It required government inspection of meat shipped between states. This was in response to the demmand for reform brought up in "The Jungle". -
Charles Evans Hughes
Charles Evans Hughes was a Governer of New York. He fought to stop corruption in New York's Politics. -
Social Reform - NAACP Formed
In an effort to reform social justice, the NAACP was formed to demmand equal rights for African Americans. -
City Planning Movement
The city planning movement originated in 1909. It was a progressive idea that a clean city would naturally produce better citizens. Daniel Burnham produced a plan for redesigning Chicago, for example. -
William Jennings Bryan
William Jennings Bryan was connected to the progressive movement in that he supported prohibition. He strongly endorsed it and fought to get it passed. This shows that he was a man with progressive ideals in mind. -
Mann-Elkins Act Passed
The Mann-Elkins Act was passed in 1910, it extended the powers of the Interstate Commerce Comission to telphone complanies. -
Society of American Indians Formed
The Society of American Indians was a progressive party adressed problems and seeked reform specifically related to Natvie Americans. -
Hiram Johnson
Hiram Johnson a governer of California whose administration pushed for reform in the area of women's rights. He also was a founder of the progressive party in 1912. -
Courrupt Practices Reform
Progressives push for the direct primary. This would allow voters to directly elect candidates who will run in a general election. It would help to stop corrupt practices of the government which was a major goal of progressives during this time. -
Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson was a business reformer who wanted to limit the power of monopolies. He became president of the United States in 1913 and was known for his progressive ideas. -
Federal Reserve Act
The Federal Reserve Act of 1913 created a three level banking system for the federal government. It was a form of economic reform and was succesful in strengthening the economy. -
16th Amendment
The 16th amendment was passed in 1913. It established a graduated income tax and was a major part of the progressive movement because it helped in trying to eliminate the large gap between the rich and the poor. -
17th Amendment
The 17th amendment was passed in 1913. It allowed citizens to elect senators directly. It was progressive because it allowed people to have a greater say in their government. -
18th Amendment
The 18th amendment was passed in 1919. It prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcohol. It was a short lived, but a major social reform effort and progressive movement in the early 1900s. -
Robert La Follette
Robert La Follete was an American senator whose progressive ideas included speaking out against railroad trusts, and the american involvment in World War I. He even ran for president as a member of the progressive party in 1924. -
Nineteenth Amendment Ratified
The 19th amendment was ratified in August of 1920. It granted women full voting rights and related to progressivism in that it was a major step in the direction of women's rights and social reform.
