INTRO TO GILDED AGE & PROGRESSIVE ERA Progressive Politics

Populist Party Represented Farmers, common people and Industrial workers 1896 their candidate was William Jennings Bryan who ran as a Democrat. Defeated by McKinley. Their goals were coinage of silver, government regulation of Railroads, direct election of senators, and income tax

Women’s Rights Women were fighting for suffrage – the right to vote. Susan B. Anthony was one the main leaders of this movement. She proposed an amendment in 1878 that would eventually become the 19th Amendment in 1920. Helped organize the first Women’s Rights Conference the Seneca Falls Convention in New York Also many women supported temperance – the limitation of alcohol consumption.

Key Progressive Amendments 16th 17th 18th 19th I S A W Congress can tax Income Direct election of Senators by state voters Prohibited the manufacture and sale of Alcohol Women earn the right to vote

TEDDY ROOSEVELT The first of the 3 progressive Presidents. Created the reform “Square Deal” to help workers, broke up trusts (trustbuster), and passed ”Pure Food & Drug and Meat Inspection Acts of 1906” and also supported women having the right to vote. He also was a conservationist starting the National Parks.

WILLIAM TAFT The second of the 3 progressive Presidents. He signed the Payne – Aldrich Bill which raised tariffs Controversy over the Baller-Pinchot Dilemma

Impact of Third Parties Progressive Party- founded on the ideals of reform 1912 Election- Theodore Roosevelt runs as a “third party” candidate (a political party outside the two party system) Called the “Progressive Party” or “Bull Moose Party” Caused a Republican split between Roosevelt and Taft Democrat Woodrow Wilson wins election

WOODROW WILSON Last of the 3 progressive Presidents and created the reform “New Freedom” to try and eliminate all trusts.

Economic Issues of Progressive ERA Federal Reserve Act of 1913- Passed by President Wilson. US divided into 12 regions, each with a Federal Reserve Bank Private banks remain independent, but operate under the Federal Reserve System rules “The Fed” loans money to banks if they run short of funds Makes the US financial system more stable