The Progressive Era (1895–1914) Review Questions for AP U.S. History

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The Progressive Era (1895–1914) for AP U.S. History

1. Successful reforms initiated by the progressives included all but which of the following:
   1. Governments became more efficient in American cities such as Cleveland
   2. Health and safety conditions improved in some large factories
   3. The conditions of migrant farmers improved to some degree
   4. Some state governments became more democratic with the introduction of measures such as referendum and recall
   5. The federal government began to collect a national income tax

(Correct Answer: C. Progressives did much less for workers in the agricultural sector than they did for factory workers.)

2. Theodore Roosevelt ran for president in 1912 because
   1. the policies of William Howard Taft's administration were almost exclusively antiprogressive
   2. he desired to split the Republican party and give the election to the Democrats
   3. he was appalled by the results of the Ballinger-Pinchot Affair
   4. of the Taft administration's decision to apply the Sherman Antitrust Act to United States Steel
   5. he felt that Taft was not adequately preparing America for potential war with Europe

(Correct Answer: D. The Taft administration enacted many important progressive measures. Roosevelt considered the actions against United States Steel to be a personal affront to him.)

3. American blacks were discouraged by their lack of racial progress during the Wilson administration. Which of the following is not true?
   1. The film Birth of a Nation presented a positive view of blacks in Reconstruction states after the Civil War
   2. Black and progressive leaders forged tightpolitical bonds during the Wilson administration and battled for many of the same causes
   3. Springfield, Illinois, was one city that demonstrated positive relations between white citizens and newly arrived blacks
   4. Booker T. Washington and Theodore Roosevelt developed close politicalties after their two meetings together
   5. All of the above

(Correct Answer: E. D. W. Griffith's film presented a very negative view of blacks during Reconstruction. Progressives and black leaders never worked closely together. Race riots were held in Springfield, Illinois.Theodore Roosevelt met twice with Booker T. Washington but did little to help the conditions of blacks.)

4. Many progressives agreed with socialists that A. capitalism had created massive inequality in America
   1. capitalism had created massive inequality in America
   2. the American factory system had to be fundamentally altered
   3. labor unions were inherently evil
   4. revolutionary tactics were needed to reform the economic and social systems
   5. factory owners were inherently greedy and could not be trusted

(Correct Answer: A. Progressives and socialists were both critical of the effects of capitalism in the United States. Progressives, however, were intent on reforming that system.)

5. Which of the following was least likely to be a progressive in this era?
   1. A member of the Industrial Workers of the World
   2. A member of the Protestant Social Gospel movement
   3. A large stockholder in United States Steel
   4. A follower of Eugene Debs
   5. A member of the Bull Moose party

(Correct Answer: C. Progressives were insistent that corporations like U.S. Steel be made to reform. The IWW shared goals with progressives, as did members of the Social Gospel movement and socialist followers of Debs.)