Americans grew angry at the lack of government control over business and began to call for reform. 

“There is filth on the floor, and it must be scraped up with the muck-rake.” —Theodore Roosevelt 

When President Roosevelt made this statement in a 1906 speech, he coined the term “muckraker,” referring to crusading journalists who exposed corruption and appalling social and working conditions. 

Progressives sought to strengthen government by reducing corruption at the state and local levels and giving voters a greater voice. 

As president, Theodore Roosevelt worked to control corporations, protect consumers, and conserve the environment. 

During William Taft’s presidency, progressive gains included the growth of labor unions and the adoption of the 16th and 17th amendments to the Constitution. 

During his presidency, Woodrow Wilson fought tariffs and trusts and established the Federal Reserve System. 

New technologies and ideas that arose during the Progressive Era helped companies become more efficient and produce goods quickly. 

The Progressive Era brought important changes to the roles of women in American society. 

In the early 20th century, women’s roles became key to social reform movements in the United States. 

Strong leadership and the organization of woman suffrage groups finally helped women gain the right to vote. 

In the second half of the 19th century, the United States gained new territories and began to take on a larger role in world affairs. 

Due in part to exaggerated claims reported in the press, the United States waged the Spanish-American War, which resulted in new territorial acquisitions. 

The people of the Philippines fought for independence from American rule in the Filipino-American War. 

During the Progressive Era, the United States became increasingly involved in the affairs of Latin American and Asian countries. 

In the early 1900s, the United States overcame geographic challenges and built the Panama Canal to connect the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.