z Federal Government Takes Action Muckraker z A

z Federal Government Takes Action

Muckraker z. A journalist, author and/or photographer whose work is designed to expose corruption and abuse of power in politics and big business

z Attempts to Expand Democracy § Direct Primaries § Secret Ballot § Direct Election of Senators § Initiative § Referendum § Recall § Women’s Suffrage

z Theodore Roosevelt § Tenement House Commission § Square Deal § protection of the consumer § control of large corporations § conservation of natural resources § Trust Buster

Impact of Sinclair’s “The Jungle” Commerce Department Investigation z Meat Inspection Act- leads to improved regulation over meat sold to the public Pure Food and Drug Act- creates the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) which forces companies to list ingredients in their food they sell and drug companies to list side effects of the medicines they sell

z Election of 1912

z z z Wilson's New Freedom § Realizing that Americans still sought progressive change Wilson embarked on a program to continue reform and he called it the "New Freedom"

z Federal Trade Commission Set up to investigate and halt unfair and illegal business practices. The FTC could put a halt to these illegal business practices by issuing what is known as a "cease and desist order. "

z Clayton Antitrust Act § Prevents companies from acquiring stock from another company (monopolies) § Makes unions legal and supports them! § Strikes, boycotts, and picketing ruled legal § Strengthens the Sherman Antitrust Act

z z Keating-Owen Act 1916 § First bill to restrict child labor! § Banned products sold from any business that employed children younger than 14 § Banned products sold from mines that employed children younger than 16 § Banned the sale of products from businesses that had children under 16 work at night or over 8 hours during the day

z Federal Reserve Act- 1913 z z § Federal Reserve Banks in 12 districts would print and coin money as well as set interest rates. § Control money supply and effect the value of currency § More money in circulation = value § Less money in circulation = value

z Amendments Gives Congress the power to lay and collect income taxes. Allows for the direct election of US Senators. Prohibition of alcohol. 19 th Amendment: Women’s Suffrage