Progressive Era Quiz #1- Review

During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Populist and Progressive movements proposed an increased

• commitment by the Federal Government to big business

• public acceptance of government corruption

• use of Federal Government power to correct social and economic problems

• effort to reduce discrimination against minority groups in employment

Base your answer on the speakers’ statements below and on your knowledge of social studies. Speaker A: “The business of America is business, and we would be wise to remember that.” Speaker B: “Government ownership of business is superior to private enterprise.” Speaker C: "Government regulation of business practices is a means to insure the public good.” Speaker D: “Only through personal effort can wealth and success be achieved.” Which speaker would support the ideas of the Progressive movement?

• Speaker A

• Speaker B

• Speaker C

• Speaker D

The term muckraker was used during the Progressive Era to describe

• dissatisfied workers who went on strike

• Northerners who went South following the Civil War

• investigative journalists who exposed societal problems

• women who supported the Prohibition movement

Laws requiring individuals to pass civil service examinations to obtain government jobs were enacted to

• eliminate patronage and corruption in government hiring

• allow the government to compete with private industry for employees

• support the development of public employee labor unions

• encourage the growth of local political parties

Why did political machines flourish/grow in United States cities at the turn of the century?

• the machines maintained high standards of honesty in government

• Americans were too preoccupied with foreign affairs to deal with domestic political affairs

• reform movements concentrated on social problems and ignored political issues

• the machines provided jobs and services to the immigrants and the poor

During the Progressive Era, muckrakers published articles and novels primarily to

• advance their own political careers

• make Americans aware of problems in society

• help the federal government become more efficient

• provide entertainment for readers

What is Nast (the cartoon illustrator) accusing Boss Tweed's organization of doing in the cartoon above?

• intimidation

• stuffing ballot boxes

• voter fraud

• all of the above

Many reformers who opposed the laissez-faire attitude of the late 19th century believed that

• the National Government should not interfere in the activities of big business

• national wealth could best be assured by the accumulation of gold

• the idea of rugged individualism is vital to the nation's economic growth

• government should protect society through the regulation of business

Why were the Interstate Commerce Act (1887) and the Sherman Antitrust Act (1890) created by the Federal Government?

• to regulate business

• to expand the positive features of the trusts

• to favor big business over small companies

• to move toward government ownership of key industries

Support for civil service reform in the 1880s was a reaction to the

• abuses in the electoral college system

• principle of separation of powers

• spoils system

• gold standard