Monopolies During The Progressive Era

During the Gilded Age technological innovation was king and so were the corporations that owned them. These corporations developed into monopolies that ruled over every aspect of the American people’s lives. These trusts owned the businesses, owned the money, owned the housing and owned most of the government. The Progressive Era was a time when the people and the government tried to rein in these trusts/monopolies and make life better for the American people. This Era focused on economic, government and social reforms.
President Roosevelt endorsed a Square Deal program which featured the “Three Cs”. His program would provide greater control over government, conservation and protect consumers. Also, Roosevelt went after trust companies
Reformers wanted protection for workers and consumers and needed a way to enforce the Federal Regulations against business and industry. In 1913, the Department of Labor became a separate entity. This Department protected the welfare of working people and improved their working conditions.
Centralized the banking system, effectively creating a more stable and efficient way to benefit the economy. This Act was passed on December 23, 1913, and a bank had to agree to Federal Regulation to become a member of the Federal Reserve System. This system was needed to encourage growth and create stability and integrity to all banks that joined.
During this period there were three main reforms that dealt with federal efficiency issues and safety issues concerning city and state government. Louis D. Brandeis, Woodrow Wilson’s adviser, believed that “efficiency is the hope for democracy.” To that end, Taylorism was applied to all government operations. Taylorism, created by Frederick Winslow Taylor, was the first to implement “scientific management” in his approach to industrial management. His goal was to improve productivity and profits, increase pay for the fastest workers and reduce worker strikes. Taylorism was used to eliminate duplicate forms of state and federal agencies, hire trained specialist, and point out clear lines of
The Sixteenth Amendment, allows for a “graduated” income tax. The more income one made the more tax was imposed on this person. This Amendment was passed in hopes that the wealth flowing to the wealthiest Americans would slow. The Seventeenth Amendment, provides for the direct election of senators and was passed in 1913. Before this Amendment, senators were elected by the state legislature. This practice led to corruption and vote buying by lobbyist. The Eighteenth Amendment, more widely known as National Prohibition, banned the transportation, sale and manufacturing of alcoholic beverages. No “intoxicating liquors” were allowed, except for those used in some forms of religious services. Last but not least, the Nineteenth Amendment, more widely known as the Woman’s Suffrage Amendment, allowed 9.5 million women the right to vote in national elections. This amendment was passed in the spring of 1919 and in the 1920 presidential election, about 40 percent of the electorate were