KEY TERMS Key Terms and People to Know for the Regents Exam
Progressive Era
In response to the social problems created by industrialization, Progressives worked reform society by calling for government regulation of business, morepolitical power for people, and support for the poor (ex: Jane Addams’ settlement house for the poor).
Initiative / Referendum / Recall
Progressives introduced these voting measures to give people greater control over political decisions. The initiative and referendum allow people to vote directly on new laws. The recall allows voters to remove an elected official.
16th Amendment
This “progressive” amendment gave the federal government the power to collect income taxes. The US has a “progressive” income tax, where the people who make more money pay a higher tax percentage than the people who make less money.
17th Amendment
This “progressive” amendment gave people more control of the government by allowing the direct election of Senators. Members of the Senate used to be elected by state legislatures, who sometimes had corrupt connections to businesses and other politicians.