Name ___________________
Modern U.S. History
Mr. Kraft
Progressive Reform Era
Unit Research
Introduction
The Progressive Reform Era took place from about 1890 to about 1920. It was a time of great
economic prosperity in the U.S., but at the same time it was a period of hard times and
uncertainty for many U.S. citizens.
The industrial boom in the U.S., fueled by the abundance of newly found natural resources out
west, lead to a population explosion in the U.S. as millions of people flocked to the “land of
opportunity” to make their riches in capitalist America. This situation and the opportunity to
claim some free land in the newly civilized west consequently led to having more people in the
U.S. More people means more opinions about what is right and wrong for the citizens of the
U.S., which translates into more problems for the U.S.
Authors, artists, politicians, and the average people of the U.S. began to press the U.S.
government for widespread changes throughout every facet of American life. These people and
their ideas have come to be known as the Progressive Era. The name is very fitting for this era,
or time period, because many Americans fought for America to progress, or get better, as a
country.
Progressive Era Goals
Below are the four goals of the Progressive Era, which can also be found on pg. 383 in your
American History text book.
1. Government should be more accountable to its citizens.
2. Government should curb or limit the power and influence of the wealthy people.
3. Government should be given expanded powers so that it could become more active in
improving the lives of its citizens.
4. Government should become more efficient and less corrupt so that they could competently
handle an expanded role.
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Progressive Legislation
Below is a list of laws (legislation) passed by the U.S. government during the Progressive Era,
which can also be found on pg. 394 in your American History text book.
Legislation / Law
1. National Reclamation Act (1902)
2. U.S. Forest Service (1905)
3. Hepburn Act (1906)
4. Pure Food and Drug Act (1906)
5. Meat Inspection Act (1906)
6. Department of Labor (1913)
7. 16th Amendment (1913)
8. 17th Amendment (1913)
9. Federal Reserve Act (1913)
10. Clayton Anti-Trust Act (1914)
11. National Park Service (1916)
12. 18th Amendment (1919)
13. 19th Amendment (1919)
14. Women’s Bureau (1920)
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Progressive
goal this
law meets
Progressive Reformers
Below is a list of people who worked hard to help get the above pieces of legislation passed.
They can be found in Ch. # 11 (The Progressive Era Reform) in your textbook on pgs. 380 –
409.
Person
1.
2.
3.
4.
Upton Sinclair
Lincoln Steffens
Ida Tarbell
Samuel Hopkins
Adams
5. Frances Kellor
6. Thomas William
Lawson
7. Frank Norris
8. Jacob Riis
9. Charles E. Russell
10. John Spargo
1. Edward Bellamy
2. Eugene Debs
1. Florence Kelley
2. Mary Harris
“Mother”Jones
1. Teddy Roosevelt
2. Robert “Fighting Bob”
La Follette
1. Susan B. Anthony
2. Elzabeth Cady Stanton
Label
Muckraker (investigative
journalists / reporters)
Socialist
Civil Rights
Goal / Cause
Exposed the evils of the “big
businesses” under the U.S.
capitalist economy as well as
the other problems facing the
U.S. in this time period.
Limit the evils of U.S.
capitalism.
Workplace equality for women
and children.
Progressive Party (Bull Moose Win the presidency and make
Party) Candidates
huge changes in U.S.
legislation.
Women’s Suffrage
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Help women gain the right to
vote.
Assignment
Part # 1: Match the 14 progressive laws with the progressive goal the law is trying to meet. This
is to be done on the chart on pg. 2.
Part # 2: In “I’m a not so smart sophomore terms”, explain the Federal Reserve Act. This is to
be done on a separate sheet of paper.
Part # 3: Choose one “muckraker” (except Upton Sinclair since you have already read part of
his novel The Jungle), give a brief description of their background, choose one of their books
and explain what problem they are trying to bring to the attention of the American public. This
is to be done on a separate sheet of paper.
List the muckraker of your choice: _________________________________
Part # 4: Explain the four Constitutional Amendments (16, 17, 18, and 19) that were passed
during the Progressive Era. This is to be done on a separate sheet of paper.
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