How Well Do You Know About The U.S. History Progressive Era? Quiz!

Upton Sinclair's novel, The Jungle, had a significant impact on federal legislation regarding meat inspection and pure food and drugs. The novel exposed the unsanitary and dangerous conditions in the meatpacking industry, leading to public outrage and increased awareness about the need for regulation. As a result, the Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Act were passed in 1906, establishing standards for food safety and hygiene. These laws aimed to protect consumers from contaminated and adulterated products, ensuring the quality and safety of the nation's food supply.

The purpose of the Interstate Commerce Act, the Sherman Anti-Trust Act, and the Clayton Anti-Trust Act was to eliminate unfair business practices. These acts were enacted to regulate and prevent monopolistic behavior, price fixing, and other unfair practices that were detrimental to competition in the marketplace. By doing so, these acts aimed to promote fair competition, protect consumers, and ensure a level playing field for all businesses.

A nativist would believe that immigrants take jobs away from Americans. This belief stems from the idea that immigrants are willing to work for lower wages, making them more attractive to employers. Nativists argue that this competition for jobs leads to unemployment and lower wages for American workers.

The 19th Amendment is the correct answer because it is the amendment that granted women the right to vote, also known as suffrage. It was nicknamed the Susan B. Anthony Amendment in honor of the prominent suffragist who played a significant role in the women's suffrage movement.

The Progressive movement, which took place from approximately 1900 to 1918, aimed to bring about reforms in various aspects of society. It sought to address issues and improve conditions at all levels of government, advocating for changes in policies, regulations, and practices. The movement focused on tackling corruption, promoting social justice, and enhancing democracy through initiatives such as direct democracy, women's suffrage, and workers' rights. By demanding reform across all levels of government, the Progressive movement sought to create a more equitable and responsive society.

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is the correct answer because it is a well-known civil rights organization that was founded by prominent activists such as Lincoln Steffens, Jane Addams, and W.E.B. DuBois. The NAACP has a long history of fighting against discrimination and advocating for the rights of people of color.

W.E.B. DuBois was a prominent African American civil rights activist and co-founder of the NAACP. He believed that African Americans should have immediate access to full political and social rights, advocating for equality and an end to racial discrimination. He was known for his intellectual and academic approach to fighting for civil rights, and his work greatly influenced the civil rights movement in the United States.

A progressive is someone who is forward-thinking and seeks to improve society. They are often concerned with social issues and advocate for change and progress. Therefore, a progressive would be a person who wants to make American society better.

The correct answer is the 18th Amendment. This amendment, ratified in 1919, prohibited the manufacturing, selling, and transportation of alcoholic beverages in the United States. It was a result of the temperance movement and the belief that alcohol consumption was detrimental to society. The 18th Amendment was later repealed by the 21st Amendment in 1933.

The Pendleton Act is the correct answer because it reformed the civil service system by introducing competitive examinations for job positions. This meant that job positions would be awarded based on merit rather than political favoritism or nepotism. The act was passed in 1883 and aimed to create a more professional and efficient civil service system in the United States. It established the Civil Service Commission, which was responsible for overseeing the examinations and ensuring that appointments were made based on qualifications and abilities.

Ida Tarbell is the correct answer because she was a journalist who exposed the unfair labor practices of the Standard Oil Trust. She is known for her investigative journalism and her book "The History of the Standard Oil Company," which exposed the monopolistic and unethical practices of the company. Tarbell's work played a significant role in the public's understanding of the need for antitrust regulation.

Upton Sinclair wrote the novel The Jungle, which exposed the unsanitary conditions of the meatpacking industry. The novel depicted the harsh working conditions, exploitation of workers, and the contamination of meat products. Sinclair's work led to public outrage and eventually led to the passing of the Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Act, which aimed to improve food safety and regulation in the industry.

Jacob Riis was a photographer who focused on exposing the problems faced by the poor and in city slums. He used his photography skills to capture the harsh living conditions and poverty experienced by these communities. Riis's work brought attention to the social issues and helped to bring about reforms in housing and living conditions for the less fortunate.

The correct answer is "Meat Inspection Act of 1906." This federal law mandated inspections of meatpacking plants.

The correct answer is the 17th Amendment. This amendment to the United States Constitution, ratified in 1913, established the direct election of U.S. Senators by the citizens of each state. Prior to the 17th Amendment, Senators were chosen by state legislatures. The amendment was a result of progressive-era reforms aimed at increasing democracy and reducing corruption in the political system.

William Howard Taft is the correct answer because he was a Progressive Republican President who initiated several antitrust lawsuits and expanded government reserves. His friendship with Theodore Roosevelt was strained due to a dispute over conservation and a tariff issue.

The Federal Reserve Act created a national banking system that regulated the economy and the nation's banks. It established the Federal Reserve System, which is responsible for controlling monetary policy, supervising banks, and maintaining stability in the financial system. The act was passed in 1913 in response to a series of financial panics and aimed to provide a more stable and flexible banking system for the United States.

Recall allows voters to remove a public official from office for wrongdoing. This process allows citizens to petition for a special election to determine whether the official should be removed from their position. It is a mechanism of direct democracy that gives power to the electorate to hold their elected officials accountable and remove them if they are not fulfilling their duties or engaging in misconduct.

Woodrow Wilson is the correct answer because he was a Progressive Democratic President who implemented various economic reforms. He lowered the tariff, strengthened laws against monopolies, and created the Federal Reserve to regulate banking. He also established the Federal Trade Commission to investigate and penalize unfair business practices. Wilson's economic programs were known as the "New Freedom."

The correct answer is Theodore Roosevelt. This is because he was a Progressive Republican President who was known as a "trustbuster" for breaking up some trusts. He also supported the Meat Inspection and Pure Food and Drug Acts. He helped settle a coal miners' strike by supporting labor over management and through this created the "Square Deal" for all Americans. He was also a conservationist who doubled the number of national parks and preserved 150 million acres of forest.

Thomas Nast was the artist whose political cartoons exposed the corruption of New York City boss William Marcy Tweed. His cartoons, published in Harper's Weekly, played a significant role in raising public awareness about Tweed's corrupt practices and helped bring about his downfall. Nast's cartoons were known for their satirical and critical depiction of Tweed and his associates, making him a prominent figure in the fight against political corruption in the 19th century.

The Sherman Antitrust Act was a law that prohibited the creation of monopolies or trusts that restricted trade. It was enacted in 1890 and aimed to promote fair competition in the marketplace. The act was designed to prevent businesses from engaging in anti-competitive practices such as price-fixing, collusion, and monopolistic behavior. It remains an important piece of legislation in the United States to prevent unfair business practices and protect consumers.

Lincoln Steffens is the correct answer because he exposed corrupt city governments in his book, The Shame of the Cities. This book, published in 1904, was a collection of articles that Steffens wrote for McClure's Magazine, where he investigated and exposed political corruption in various American cities. Steffens' work shed light on the corrupt practices of city governments and helped to bring about reforms in urban politics.

The correct answer is the Federal Trade Commission. This federal organization was established to investigate and penalize unfair business practices. Its main purpose is to protect consumers and promote fair competition in the marketplace. The Pendleton Civil Service Commission is responsible for overseeing the merit-based selection of government employees. The Federal Reserve Commission is not a correct answer as it does not deal with unfair business practices. The National American Women's Suffrage Association (NAWSA) is also unrelated to investigating and punishing unfair business practices.

The Wisconsin Idea was a series of Progressive reforms that aimed to improve government efficiency and promote social welfare. It was introduced by Governor Robert La Follette in the early 20th century and included measures such as direct primaries, regulation of public utilities, and workers' compensation. The Wisconsin Idea was influential in shaping progressive policies at both the state and national levels, and it became a model for other states to follow.