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William Jennings Bryan
A Democrat associated with the Populist Party. -
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Progressivism
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H.G. Wells
Although H.G. Wells was a strong proponent of socialism, his books talked about change in a progressive and idealistic sense. He believed that the world would be saved by education rather than revolution. -
Jacob Riis
Jacob Riis's book "How the Other Half Lives" causes a mass reaction to the conditions in the inner city and caused New York City to pass building codes to promote safety and health. -
Thomas Nast
Thomas Nast's powerful politcal cartoons helped tyo expose the corruption of the Tweed Ring and the Tammany Hall Machine. His cartoons led to the conviction of Boss Tweed on embezzelment and graft charges. -
Eugene Debs
Eugene Debs played a large role in labor reform as the first President of the ARU (American Railroad Union), and was a big part of the Pullman Strike. He was aslo a socialist and ran for President under that party. -
Ida B. Wells
Ida B. Wells book "A Red Record" provided statistics on the lynching of African-Americans. In reaction to this book the NAACP joined the fight for Federal anti-lynching legislation. -
Teddy Roosevelt
Teddy Roosevelt was the originator of the Progressive Party, also known as the Bull Moose Party when Roosevelt ran for President in 1912. He pursued many reform ventures in business, social, and labor reform. -
Frank Norris
Frank Norris's book "The Octopus" brought the monopolistic railroad practices in California. This lead to the breaking up of Northern Securities, the company controlling the railroads in the northwest. -
Social Justice Reform
The Temperance Movement, Prohibition through the 18th Amendment, and womens sufferage were the main focuses of social reform during the Progressive Era. -
Ida Tarbell
Ida Turbell's "History of the Standard Oil Company" is published. The book is hailed as "the Uncle Tom's Cabin" of its time and "the most spectacular success of the muckraking school of journalism." -
National Child Labor Comitee
The National Child Labor Comitee worked to intitute laws that would outlaw child labor and other corrupt business practices. -
Lincoln Steffans
Lincoln Steffans book "The Shame of Cities" examined political corruption in cities across the United States. In reaction to this book cities began to use city commissions and city managers to help prevent corruption. -
Jane Addams
Jane Addams was a promintent progressive in social reform. She was an elected member of Chicago's Board of Education, founded the Hull House (a settlement house in Chicago), -
The Hepburn Act
The Hepburn Act served to strengthen the Interstate Commerce Commission. This gave the federal government greater control over the railroad companies and the ability to set maximum fare prices. -
Upton Sinclair
Upton Sinclair was the author of "The Jungle", a novel describing the atrocities of the Chicago meatpacking industry. Although Sinclair hiself was a socialist, his book encourged progressivists such as, President at the time, Teddy Roosevelt to create legislation that would reform the food and drug industries. -
W.E.B. DuBois
Founded the NAACP a group that focused on the need for a traditional liberal arts education for African-Americans who could then insist upon equal treatment and rights from white society. -
Corrupt Practices Reform
The institution of the Direct Primary, Secret Ballot, Referendum and Recall reformed the corruption within the election of government offcials. -
Public Service Reform
The Direct Primary, Secret Ballot, Referendum and Recall were put in place to weaken political machines and give voters more control over who was elected to public office. -
Break Up of the Standard Oil Company
The Supreme Court dissolved the Standard Oil Company due to its violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act. This is a huge victory for Progressivists as it marks the end of a large opponent and trust. -
Hiram Johnson
Hiram Johnson was elected govenor of California under the Progessive Party, and ran as Teddy Roosevelt's prospective vicepresident in 1912 under the Progressive Party. -
Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson was President from 1912-1920 under the Democratic Party. He was a strong supporter of progressive reform and worked to have many acts passedfor reform. -
16th Amendment
The 16th Amendment allowed the federal government to put a graduated income tax into place. The concept of a graduated income tax was high on the Progressive Party's agenda and the 16th Amendment was a big win for the Party. -
17th Amendment
The 17th Amendment helped the Progressive agenda by weakening political machines through allowing people to vote directly for senators. -
Business Reform
The Clayton Antitrust Act and Federal Trade Comission helped to better regulate corrupt practices in big business, and to protect small businesses. -
Establishment of The Federal Trade Commission
The Federal Trade Commission was established and begans to function to regulate interstate commerce. This allowed for regulation of railroads and good that travelled on them. -
Charles Evans Hughes
Charles Evans Hughes ran for President in 1916 under the Republican party and was a Supreme Court Justice. -
Robert La Follette
A founder of the Progressive movment and Govenor of Wisconsin Robert La Follette pushed a reform program that became known as the Wisconsin Idea that became a guide for other states. -
Labor Reform
The Federal Farm Loan Act, Adamson Act, Federal Workmen's Compensation Act, and the Keating-Owen Child Labor Act all were steps in reglating labor and child labor. They did such things as provided loans to farmers, shortened the workday for railroad workers, provided compensation for inured federal workers, and attempted to outlaw child labor. -
18 Amendment
The 18th Amendment pushed social reform of alcohol use, known as the Temperance movement. It banned the production, sale, and distribution of alcohol. -
19th Amendment
The 19th Amendment granted womens sufferage (right to vote). This was a Progressive belief and was also pushed by many pro-womens rights organizations.
