Progressive Era- Day 3 Clear your desks and be ready to start today’s notes as soon as roll is taken.

Wilson’s “New Freedom”

Objectives Analyze and explain the impact of social movements and presidential policies on expanding democracy in America. Analyze and explain the impact of congressional actions and presidential policies on promoting the general welfare of the people in the United States.

Wilson’s Progressive Reforms During his first term as President, Wilson focused on three types of reform: Tariff Reform Banking Reform Business Reform

Priming the Pump Cartoon

Tariff Reform Passage of the Underwood Tariff Act of 1913, which lowered tariffs for the first time since the American Civil War, despite the protectionist lobby.

Clayton Anti-trust Act Business Reform Federal Trade Act Clayton Anti-trust Act The Clayton Anti-trust Act specified these “unfair and illegal” business practices in legislation. Stronger than Sherman Anti-trust. Created the Federal Trade Commission. Investigated and halted unfair and illegal business practices.

Banking Reform Federal Reserve Act (1913) Creates the Federal Reserve to control the money supply and set monetary policy. Republicans opposed the law because they didn’t like the idea of the Federal Reserve printing money at Congress’ Command.

Federal Reserve Continued The compromise was a plan that placed twelve federal reserve banks in the hands of the federal government with interest being controlled by a board. Making the Federal Reserve independent of Congress kept it free of political influence.

Federal Reserve Key Term Elastic Currency Basically, if we need to print more or less money to control the value of the dollar the Federal Reserve will do so. The Federal Reserve can also control interest rates to promote investment if needed. Currency that can, by the actions of the central monetary authority(Federal Reserve), expand or contract in amount warranted by economic conditions.

Banking Reform Continued Federal Farm Loan Act (1916) Set up Farm Loan Banks to support farmers. This was a way of increasing credit to farmers and making it safer for them to take out loans. Farmers could then buy more machines and grow more crops.

Other Progressive Accomplishments Wilson also sought to establish child labor laws and laws that established maximum hour work weeks and minimum wages; in addition he made great strides in improving the environment, farmer’s rights, and veteran affairs.

Adamson Act (1916) Federal Law that established an eight-hour workday, with additional pay for overtime work for interstate railroad workers.

Keating-Owen Child Labor Act (1916) Sought to address the evils of child labor by prohibiting the sale of interstate commerce goods to any of the following businesses: Factories that employed children under 14. Mines that employed children under 16. Any facility where children worked at night or more than 8 hours a day.

Social Movements of the Progressive Era The Temperance Movement and the Women’s Suffrage Movement were social movements led primarily by women that attempted to reform society.

The Temperance Movement A social movement urging reduced or prohibited use of alcoholic beverages. This movement was heavily influenced by religious values and religious organizations. The Women’s Christian Temperance Union was formed to promote the ideas of the movement.

The 18th Amendment Prohibited the sale of any alcoholic beverage in the United States. Often, this is described as legislating morality. During the Prohibition Era, outlaws like Al Capone made fortunes smuggling booze.

Women’s Suffrage Dating back to the days of Susan B. Anthony, women’s suffrage (or the right to vote) had been a major issue in the United States. Women in most Western states had already gained the right to vote in their state constitutions.

Women’s Suffrage The 19th Amendment, passed in 1919 and ratified in 1920, gave women the right to vote. This is a huge milestone in expanding democracy in the US.

Political Reforms of the Progressive Era 17th Amendment- Direct Election of Senators Initiative and Referedum- allows citizens to place new laws on the ballot or vote on recently passed laws. Recall- citizens can petition to remove elected officials.

Wilson’s Administration Big Business Clayton Anti-Trust Act Strengthened Anti-trust laws and made them more easily enforced by the federal government. Tariff’s Women’s Rights