Government Reforms during The Progressive Era

Government Reforms during The Progressive Era By: Danielle Johnson & Jonathan Rivas Period 5

PROGRESSIVE ERA • The Progressive Era had caused a lot of controversy, because many had exposed the true horrors of society. • Many associations were started to support the movement to change. • The Progressive Era went on through the 1890’s-1920’s • Muckrakers were people of the press determined to expose the truth to society.

THE TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT • Many women had agreed that men who had consumed alcohol were more likely abuse their wives, and neglect their families. • The Women’s Union (WCTU), had strongly supported this movement, and were also known to have lead the idea. • The Eighteenth Amendment had outlawed the production and sale of alcohol.

WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE • Women had earned the right to vote in the year 1920. • Women had argued that the only way the government would protect children, foster education, and support for family life, was if women could vote. • Since the 1860’s reformers such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony had struggled for the right for all women to have a say in political issues. • Carrie Chapman Catt had created the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA), to show support for women’s rights.

POPULIST PARTY REFORMS • The Secret Ballot was created so people could vote without their employers or bosses knowing. • The Referendum would allow voters to decide if a bill or a proposed amendment should be passed. • A Direct Primary would ensure that voters select candidates to run for office, rather than party bosses. • A Recall would allow voters to petition to have an elected representative removed from office.

CHILD LABOR REFORM • In 1919 President Woodrow Wilson approved and signed into law the "Tax on Employment of Child Labor." This placed a ten percent tax on net profits of businesses that employed children under age fourteen or made them work more than eight hours a day, six days a week. • The Smith-Hughes Act, passed in 1917, provided one million dollars to states that agreed to improve their public schools by providing vocational education programs. The National Child Labor Committee and other organizations believed that these programs would offer children an alternative to work.

PURE FOOD AND DRUG ACT • The first Pure Food and Drug Act was passed in 1906. The purpose was to protect the public against adulteration of food and from products identified as healthful without scientific support. • President Theodore Roosevelt began the process by ensuring the passage of the Meat Inspection Act of 1906, which was followed by the Pure Food and Drug Act, passed in 1906 to become effective at the start of 1907.

CONT. • Provisions included, Creation of the Food and Drug Administration, which was entrusted with the responsibility of testing all foods and drugs destined for human consumption. • The requirement for prescriptions from licensed physicians before a patient could purchase certain drugs. • The requirement of label warnings on habit-forming drugs.

FOCUS QUESTION • What was the Progressive Eras’ effect on the people of America?

WORKS CITED PAGE • "Pure Food and Drug Act: A Muckraking Triumph." United States American History. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Oct. 2013. <http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h917.html>. • Werner, Lapsansky. United States History. Boston, Massachusettes: Premtice Hall, 2008. Print. • "[Regents Prep U.S. History] Reform: Progressive Era Reform." Oswego City School District Regents Exam Prep Center. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Oct. 2013. <http://regentsprep.org/Regents/ushisgov/the • provision, 1929 every state had a. "Documenting "The Other Half": The Social Reform Photography of Jacob Riis and Lewis Hine." American Studies @ The University of Virginia. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Oct. 2013. <http://xroads.virginia.edu/~MA01/Davis/p

Government Reforms during The Progressive Era