reform in the progressive era government legislation
TRANSCRIPT
Reform in the
Progressive Era
Government Legislation
Early Attempts (Gilded Age) 1887 – Interstate Commerce Commission
Created to oversee railroad operations (due to rampant corruption)
Could only monitor interstate lines
At first could only require that RR companies send their records to Congress
1890 - Sherman Antitrust Act – outlawed any trust that “restrained trade or commerce”
Rarely enforced (and usually against unions) but started to establish a greater role for the government in the economy
New Amendments
16th Amendment (1913) – income tax
Allowed for a progressive/graduated income tax
Not based on which state, or the census
17th Amendment (1913)
Allowed for the direct election of Senators (under original Constitution – appointed by state legislatures)
Federal Reserve System“The Fed”
Replaced idea of National Banks
1913 – Federal Reserve Act
Created to stabilize the monetary supply/economy and regulate the banking industry
Resurgence of the Women’s Rights Movement