1. Progressive Era Pt 3: Economic Reforms

2. Muckrakers (again) Muckrakers exposed the problems
Ida Tarbell- used investigative journalism
Exposed monopolistic practices in Rockefeller’s oil company
Led to government trying to bust it and other trusts
Upton Sinclair- The Jungle- novel about meat packing industry; showed how disgusting it was
Activists will attempt to solve the problems
How did muckrakers impact public opinion? How did that influence the government?

3. Upton Sinclair
Ida Tarbell

4. Government Responds
People demand government intervention to stop abuses, problems
President Theodore Roosevelt proposed his “Square Deal” to address major problems
Has 3 parts:
Consumer protection: protecting the people from bad products/companies
Control of corporations: stopping monopolies/unfair practices
Conservation of natural resources: saving nature!
Pres Woodrow Wilson continued policies of Roosevelt and added some New Freedom

5. Consumer Protection
The gov made laws to protect customers from bad businesses or dangerous products
Meat Inspection Act- because of The Jungle
Pure Food and Drug Act
Required accurate labeling of ingredients, strict sanitary conditions, and a rating system to meat

7. Control of Corporations
Government got aggressive against trusts and monopolies
Roosevelt nicknamed “Trustbuster”
Filed 42 antitrust actions- would break up monopolies into smaller companies- but didn’t think all monopolies were bad
Strengthened the Interstate Commerce Commission
Wilson continued fighting trusts
Clayton Antitrust Act- to regulate trusts and monopolies
Strengthened Sherman Antitrust Act
Prevented government from using anti-trust legislation against unions
Protected Unions by preventing courts from ending strike
Federal Trade Commission- FTC- used to prevent unfair business practices
Investigates businesses who do shady things
What were the costs and benefits of using anti-trust laws to break up big businesses?

9. Conservation of Nature
Roosevelt loved the outdoors- thought it needed to be conserved for future use
Forest Reserve Act- allows president to set aside land for public use
Woodrow Wilson- created National Park System- Yellowstone National Park was 1st

12. President Wilson’s New Freedom
New Freedom: wanted to encourage competition, “free” society from big business, privileges for wealthy
Federal Reserve Act- goal was to end “panics” from Gilded Age *** still around!
Local banks put reserve money in reserve banks.
Controlled money supply- so banks wouldn’t run out (Bankers Bank)
Federal Farm Loan Board- loans to farmers.
Created regional farm loan banks
16th Amendment- Income Tax; created graduated tax directly on people
Richer people paid higher rate
Which political group advocated for federal loans for farmers and a graduated income tax before the Progressive Era?

13. Federal Reserve Banks

15. Big Ideas
What did the government do to address the problems of big business?
How did the government change the tax system? Why did they change it?
How did the economic reforms affect the American people overall?