Chapter 18 Section 2

Progressive Legislation

Summarize the Progressives’ views on regulating business.

• Progressives sought government regulation to protect workers’ rights and business competition.

• They opposed government control– Except in the cases of

companies that supplied services like water and electricity

Social Welfare Program

• Progressives believed that government ought to increase its responsibility for the well-being of people

• Social welfare programs would help insure a minimum standard of living– Unemployment benefits– Accident and health

insurance– Social security for disabled

and elderly

Municipal

• Many of the earliest Progressive reforms were made at the city, or municipal, level

Give examples of government reforms and social welfare programs at the municipal and state levels during the progressive era.

• Municipal- public baths in Detroit; free kindergarten in Toledo

• State- workers’ accident insurance, child labor legislation

Home Rule

• A system that gives cities a limited degree of self-rule– Allows cities to escape

domination by state governments controlled by political machines or by business or rural interests

Direct Primary

• An election in which citizens vote to select nominees for upcoming elections

Initiative

• A process in which citizens can put a proposed new law directly on the ballot in the next election by collecting voters’ signatures on a petition

Describe the effect of each of these reforms: a.)home rule; b.)direct relief; c.) initiative.

• Home rule- frees cities from domination by state governments

• Direct primary– voters, not party leaders, choose candidates

• Initiative- voters introduce a bill, then vote on it in the next election

Referendum

• A process that allows citizens to approve or reject a law passed by the legislature

Recall

• Procedure that permits voters to remove public officials from office before the next election

Holding Company

• A firm that buys up stocks and bonds of smaller companies

• In doing so, it creates a monopoly

• Railroads tended to do this

What reforms did Theodore Roosevelt achieve under his square deal?

• Antitrust activism; railroad regulation; transforming Interstate Commerce Commission into first regulatory agency; Pure Food and Drug Act; Meat Inspection Act; protecting the environment

Choose 2 constitutional amendments passed during the Progressive Era and explain how they expanded the role of government in citizens’ lives.

• 16th Amendment- Congress could create an income tax

• 17th Amendment- direct election of senators

• 18th Amendment- Prohibition

• 19th Amendment- Women’s suffrage