Progressive Era Study-Guide
Name ____________________
1. What did muckrakers do?
 Muckrakers were reporters who told Americans about the corruption and other
problems with big businesses, government, and the cities.
2. Who was an example of a muckraker, and what problem did he/she want to fix?
 Ida Tarbell was a muckraker who exposed Standard Oil’s unfair business practices.
 Upton Sinclair was a muckraker who exposed the unsanitary conditions in
meatpacking.
 Jacob Riis was a muckraker who exposed the terrible conditions in the slums and
tenements in the cities.
3. What does “reform” mean?
 Reform is an effort to fix or improve some aspect (part) of a community. In other
words, it is working to fix a problem in the community.
4. Why did many the Progressives believe that reform was needed?
 Progressives believed that reform was especially needed to fix problems that arose
because of industrialization (big business), urbanization (growth of cities), and
immigration.
5. Why did factory owners use child labor?
 Factory owners could pay children very low wages.
6. What were problems that Progressives tried to address, and what reforms did they
attempt for these problems?
 unsafe working conditions, low pay, long workdays (reforms: labor unions that used
protests and strikes; child and women’s labor laws)
 monopolies and trusts (reform: anti-trust laws)
 unsanitary meatpacking (reforms: Meat Inspection Act, Pure Food and Drug Act)
 urban poverty (reform: settlement houses like Hull House)
 government corruption (reforms: secret ballots, primary elections, civil- service
reform, 17th amendment)
 negative effects of alcohol (reform: temperance movement, 18th amendment)
 no right to vote for women in most states (reform: 19th amendment)
7. What was the purpose of a labor union?
 Labor unions were organizations for workers that tried to get higher pay, shorter
hours, safer conditions, and other improvements for workers. They could bargain
with business owners or go on strike.
8. What was an example of an important U.S. labor union, and who was its leader?
 The American Federation of Labor was led by Samuel Gompers.
9. Why was Susan B. Anthony important?
 Susan B. Anthony was a leader of the women’s suffrage movement who helped to
create the National American Women’s Suffrage Association (NAWSA).
10.Why was Elizabeth Cady Stanton important?
 Stanton was an early women’s rights leader and the first leader of NAWSA.
11.What are Progressive reforms that Teddy Roosevelt supported? What was the
purpose of each of these reforms?
 Teddy Roosevelt supported conservation (wise use and protection of natural
resources for future generations), including the creation of national parks.
 He was also a trustbuster, who worked to break up monopolies and trusts in order to
protect consumers.
12.Whose cartoons helped to show Americans how corrupt Boss Tweed was?
 Thomas Nast
13.Which amendment to the U.S. Constitution banned the manufacturing (making), sale,
and transportation of alcoholic beverages (drinks)?
 18th Amendment
14.Which amendment to the U.S. Constitution guaranteed women’s suffrage (women’s
right to vote) after World War One?
 19th Amendment
15.Which amendment did the temperance movement support?
 18th Amendment