Progressive Era Quiz

Which of the following describes the tenements that were typical of many urban areas in the early twentieth century?

• Government-subsidized housing for the poor
• Modern and sleek no-frills apartments that housed poor families
• Buildings that housed many families in cramped, airless apartments
• Light-manufacturing factories prevalent in many urban warehouse districts

Around 1900, if an ordinary American city dweller, whether immigrant or native-born, needed a favor done by a person with authority, he or she would have most likely turned to whom?

• A newspaper columnist
• An alderman or ward boss
• An ombudsman
• A member of Congress

Which of the following describes the urban political machines of the late nineteenth century?

• They mediated between municipal governments and state and federal governments.
• Machines acted as social service agencies, providing assistance in times of trouble.
• Political machines were an obstacle to the creation of urban infrastructure.
• They protected American city-dwellers from powerful economic interests.

Which is an example of the idea of assimilation?

• Native Americans following their ancient religious traditions. 
• German immigrants learning to speak English.
• The development of ethnic neighborhoods like "Chinatown".
• The trend for wealthy Americans to dress like Italians. 

How were the "new" immigrants who came to the U.S. in the late 1800s and early 1900s different from the "old" immigrants who came previously?

• The new immigrants were more widely accepted into American culture. 
• The new immigrants mainly settled in the southern states and became farmers. 
• Most of the new immigrants came from eastern and southern Europe. 
• Most of the new immigrants came for a short time to earn money.

What motivated many immigrants to come to the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries? 

• The lack of discrimination and prejudice in the U.S.
• The fair treatment and short work hours in American factories. 
• The desire for better social and economic opportunities. 
• The hope of becoming sharecroppers in the south

What was one factor that led to the creation of large ethnic neighborhoods in most American cities in the early 1900s?

• Immigrants were assigned housing by the federal government that worked to create ethnic neighborhoods. 
• Immigrants could not afford to live in the cities so they were forced to live in the countryside. 
• Immigrants felt more comfortable living with or around people of the same ethnicity.
• Immigrants were not able to live anywhere except neighborhoods that were assigned by ethnicity.

Many Irish-Catholic and Chinese immigrants helped improve the infrastructure of the United States by building what?

• The Erie Canal
• The interstate highway system
• The transcontinental railroad
• The White House

America's realization of Manifest Destiny leads to the civilized conquering the frontier.

• Westward Expansion
• Progressive Era
• Globalization
• Urbanization

Improvements in technology and business structure leads to the growth of American cities; also leads to growth in corruption and pollution.

• Americanization
• Westward Expansion
• Progressive Era
• Urbanization