Progressives started reforming society. They promoted laws to improve living conditions, public health, and schools. They urged government to regulate businesses. They believed that careful social planning would make American life better. These reforms were created to help make a better society.
1. Political
Direct Primary
· An election in which citizens themselves vote to select nominees for upcoming elections
Initiative
· Gave people the power to put a proposed new law directly on the ballot in the next election by collecting citizens’ signatures on a petition
Referendum
· Allowed citizens to approve or reject laws passed by a legislature
Recall
· Gave voters the power to remove public servants from their office before their terms ended
16th (1913)
· Granted Congress the power to tax income.
17th (1913)
· Provided for the direct election of U.S. Senators.
19th (1920)
· Provided women suffrage (voting).
2. Economic
Sherman Antitrust Act
· Outlawed monopolies and practices that restrained trade, such as price fixing
Elkins Act
· Imposed fines on railroads that gave special rates to favored shippers
Hepburn Act
· Authorized the federal government to regulate railroad rates and set maximum prices for ferries, bridges tolls, and oil pipelines
Underwood Tariff Act
· Lowered tariffs on imported goods and established a graduated income tax
Federal Reserve Act
· Created the Federal Reserve Board to oversee banks and manage reserve funds
Federal Trade Commission Act
· Established the Federal Trade Commission to monitor business practices, false advertising, and dishonest labeling
Clayton Antitrust Act
· Strengthened the Sherman Antitrust Act by spelling out specific activities businesses could not
Meat Inspection Act
· Allowed the federal government to inspect meat sold across state lines and required inspection of meat-processing plants
Pure Food and Drug Act
· Allowed federal inspection of food and medicine and banned the shipment and sale of impure food and the mislabeling of food and medicine
3. Environmental
National Reclamation Act
· Provided federal irrigation projects by using money from the sale of public lands
4. Social
18th (1919)
· Prohibited making, selling, or transporting alcohol.
19th (1920)
· Provided women suffrage (voting).
1. Political
Direct Primary
· An election in which citizens themselves vote to select nominees for upcoming elections
Initiative
· Gave people the power to put a proposed new law directly on the ballot in the next election by collecting citizens’ signatures on a petition
Referendum
· Allowed citizens to approve or reject laws passed by a legislature
Recall
· Gave voters the power to remove public servants from their office before their terms ended
16th (1913)
· Granted Congress the power to tax income.
17th (1913)
· Provided for the direct election of U.S. Senators.
19th (1920)
· Provided women suffrage (voting).
2. Economic
Sherman Antitrust Act
· Outlawed monopolies and practices that restrained trade, such as price fixing
Elkins Act
· Imposed fines on railroads that gave special rates to favored shippers
Hepburn Act
· Authorized the federal government to regulate railroad rates and set maximum prices for ferries, bridges tolls, and oil pipelines
Underwood Tariff Act
· Lowered tariffs on imported goods and established a graduated income tax
Federal Reserve Act
· Created the Federal Reserve Board to oversee banks and manage reserve funds
Federal Trade Commission Act
· Established the Federal Trade Commission to monitor business practices, false advertising, and dishonest labeling
Clayton Antitrust Act
· Strengthened the Sherman Antitrust Act by spelling out specific activities businesses could not
Meat Inspection Act
· Allowed the federal government to inspect meat sold across state lines and required inspection of meat-processing plants
Pure Food and Drug Act
· Allowed federal inspection of food and medicine and banned the shipment and sale of impure food and the mislabeling of food and medicine
3. Environmental
National Reclamation Act
· Provided federal irrigation projects by using money from the sale of public lands
4. Social
18th (1919)
· Prohibited making, selling, or transporting alcohol.
19th (1920)
· Provided women suffrage (voting).