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"How the Other Half Lives"
Jacob Riis published "How the Other Half Lives" in 1890. This book perfectly ememplified the poor quality of life that the impoverished had to live. The public was shocked by this book and it caused numerous acts and laws to be passed that bettered living conditions, bettered building codes, and promoted safety and health. -
Period: to
First Half of the 1900s
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Sherman Antitrust Act
The Sherman Antitrust Act was the fist major progressive act. It was passed on July 2nd of 1890. This act prohibited monoplies. However, it was problematic because the Nation's courts deemed labor unions and agricultural cooperatives as a forbidden corporation as well. -
Newlands Reclammation Act
On June 17th of 1902, the Newlands Reclammation Act was passed. This federal law funded irrigation projects in 20 US western states. It mainly dealt with the construction and maintenance of irrigation projects. Acts such as these were very important to the conservation movement. -
"The Jungle"
On February 26th of 1906, the book "The Jungle", by Upton Sinclair, was published. Said book was published to reveal the horrors committed in the meatpacking industry on the workers and the food that they produced. Sinclair's goal was to achieve better working conditions for the employess, but the majority of the public outrage was directed to the poor qualtiy of the meat. -
Pure Food and Drug Act
The Pure Food and Drug Act was passed on June 30th of 1906. It's main purpose was to ban forgein and interstate traffic in adulterated and mislabeled food and drug products. It eventually led to the creation of the Food and Drug Administration. -
NAACP
On February 12th of 1909, the NAACP was founded by Ida B. Wells, Archibald Grimke, Henry Moskowitz, Mary White Ovington, W.E.B. DuBois, and others. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored Peoples(NAACP) mission is "to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination". -
US Department of Labor
On March 4th, of 1913, the US Department of Labor was created. The purpose of this organization was to improve working conditions, assure worker's benefits and rights, advance oppurtunities for profitable employment, and assist and develop the worker's and retiree's welfare. -
Federal Trade Commission
On Septemeber 26th of 1914, the Federal Trade Commission was created by President Woodrow Wilson. The purpose of this commission was to act against trusts. However, after awhile, the FTC succumbed to big businesses that it's goal was to regulate. -
Keating Owen Act
The Keating Owen Act was passed on September 1st, 1916. The goal of this act was to prohibit the selling of goods created by child laborers over statelines. It was meant to combat child labor, however, it was deemed unconstitutional shortly after it was passed. -
Espionage Act
The Espionage Act was passed on June 15th of 1917, shortly after the US entered World War One. The purpose of the act was to prohibit interference with military operations or recruitment. -
19th Amendment
On August 18th of 1920, the 19th Amendment was passed. This amendment granted women the right to vote. This issue was first introduced to Congress in 1878 by Senator Aaron A. Sargent. Women's suffrage was also discussed at the Seneca Falls Convention in July of 1848.
