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Theodore Roosevelt Elected President
Theodore Roosevelt became the 26th President after McKinley was assassinated. Known for his large presence and strength of spirit, Roosevelt was a major supporter of many progressive movement including the Conservation Movement. -
Upton Sinclair's "The Jungle" Published
The novel that caught the attention of America was written by Upton Sinclair in 1906. The book described the harsh conditions faced by immigrants and factory workers. Disgusting descriptions of meat packaging plants forced the issue into the spotlight, and brought about laws to change the poor conditions. -
Federal Meat Inspection Act Passed
Partly as a response to outcry caused by Upton Sinclair's The Jungle, the FMI Act was passed in 1906. The Act required mandatory inspection of pre-slaughter livestock, inspection of dead livestock before processing, new sanitary standards, and gave the U.S Department of Agriculture the power to monitor the plants. -
Pure Food and Drug Act Ratified
The PFD Act was passed into law by Theodore Roosevelt as a way to inspect food and drugs by the federa government. Its passage eventually led to the forming of the Food and Drug Administration. The Act came to attention by the muckrackers, specifically Upton Sinclair and his novel The Jungle. -
Progressive Party Formed
Also called the "Bull Moose Party" after Theodore Roosevelt, the Progressive party was created after President Taft deviated from what Roosevelt had done while in office. The party would continue Roosevelt's work in progressivism, but he was not re-elected. -
16th Amendment Ratified
The 16th Amendment introduced an income tax to the United States levied by Congress. The tax was meant to bring balance between the very rich and the very poor. The rich payed a higher tax percentage, while the poor payed a lower percentage. -
17th Amendment Ratified
The 17th Amendment created the direct election of U.S senators by popular vote. The amendment was created to help stop the corruption of government that was prevalent during this time. -
18th Amendment Ratified
Also known as "Prohibition", this amendment prohibited liquor consumtion and sales in the United States in an effort to inprove the moral standings of many people. The demand for alcohol caused the government to criminalize distributors and brought about an underground system of liquor sales. The 18th Amendment was later nullified by the 21st. -
19th Amendment Ratified
The 19th Amendment prohibited the denial of voting rights based on sex as a result of women's suffrage. States were still allowed to set other voting requirements. The 19th Amendment took 41 years to become fully ratified in 1920.
