US History From a Brasilian's Perspective

Hero Wilson also had his own agenda in serving the people.

16th Amendment - 1913 - Taking Congress in hand, Hero Wilson bravely confronted the tariffs and came up with an amendment to the constitution which dictated that Congress could levy and collect income taxes from the American people.

However, the progressives wouldn't let the heroes do all the work.


17th Amendment - 1913 - As a result of progressive pressure, this amendment came into being and established the direct election of Senators. Reformers believed that this way they could "downsize", at least money-wise, the "Millionaires' Club".




18th Amendment - 1919 - Although not passed until a later time, this amendment had its strongest movement in the late 1800s by progressives who sought to shut down all saloons and alcohol supplying businesses. it worked because by 1900 the number of saloons had decreased dramatically and multiple states had passed "dry laws". The reform wasn't complete because of immigrant influence, old-worlders who wanted free flowing beer and wine.

19th Amendment - 1920 - although the actual
amendment was not written until 1920, women fought for their voting rights since the early 19 century. With the progressive movement they even made potential progress, but only in the West. In the East, the idea of separate spheres had a stronghold that was hard to get by. Women argued for their rights saying that they would be the "Mothers of Society" and would help elevate the political tone.

Hero Wilson was a capable replacement of Hero Roosevelt and soon turned to labor issues.

Overworked, Overwhipped, and Overeverything Sailors and workingmen: Help...help us Hero Wilson... we can't take anymore.

Hero Wilson: Why, my brave sailors and working class, I will help you!

And so our hero used his super brain power to come up with two acts that could save these two groups of society:

1. La Folette Seaman's Act of 1915 - required
decent treatment and wages on American merchant ships. It unfortunately had the unintended effect of making train freight rates to rise as well.


2.Workingmen's Compensation Act of 1915 - granted federal assistance to civil-service employees while they were incapable of working.

Suddenly, Americans were sent into a flashback as new Hero Wilson came into the scene. The trust had always been a big, bad bully of small businesses and the people looked back to a time under McKinley's saving:

The Sherman Anti-Trust Act of 1890 - A "baby toothed" law that was meant to end the restraint of trade at the hands of big businesses. In fact, it ended up putting restraints on *Labor Unions*.


So the people once again began to call for the down fall of trusts. Hero Wilson, being the good hero he was, instantly began working on a solution. And after many toils, he came up with a solution:

The Clayton Anti-Trust Act of 1914 - expanded the list of unlawful business practices that was first given in the Sherman Anti-Trust Act, including "interlocking directorates", and gave benefits to labor, such as legalizing peaceful strikes and protests.

Our resolute hero was once again called upon with the publication of The Jungle, Upton Sinclair's book in 1906 that revealed the revolting, unsanitary process of meat packing.

Furious Females: Teddy, you better do something quick about our food or we're making sure all the slaughterhouses go down in flames!!

Hero Teddy: Ugh, I agree. But I'll need help on this one. let me call in my sidekick.....congress!

So once again the hero flew in to save the day, and save the day he did with another two acts of inspection and sanitation:

1. Meat Inspection Act of 1906 - allowed federal inspectors to oversee any preparation of meat that was planning to be shipped over state lines from the slaughterhouse to the canning. Most businesses rejected some features of the act but overall agreed to get competitors out of the way and to recieve the government's seal of approval. Fancy, fancy.


2. Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 -
designed a to prevent the corruption (mixing in foreign substances to dilute or change the medicine or food) and mislabeling of foods and pharmaceuticals.

And the females rejoiced and didn't burn down the slaughterhouses.

Once upon a time there was a savvy hero who fought for the American progressives.

Hero Teddy: "What appears to be the problem?"
Progressive Peoples: "Corrupted railroads run by railroad barons!"
Hero Teddy: "Have no Fear!!! I'll save you!!!"
Progressive Peoples: "Yay!!! Go TR!!"

And so the hero went and established two acts against the rotten railroads:

1. Elkins Act of 1903 - Imposed fines on any and all railroads that gave rebates to shippers to use their services. The laws even applied to any shippers that accepted rebates!



2. Hepburn Act of 1906 - Restricted free passes and led to the growth of the Interstate Commerce Commision, which coudl soon nullify and change rates.

So, as I am a professional procrastinator, I will slack (don't worry Lawson, I've already researched the Acts). There's this curious tab in the Posting section that is labeled "Stats". Just to delay my work I clicked on it, and discovered one of the coolest features on blogger!
Apparently I have 1 reader from Germany. There's been 280-some visits to my blog (of course, no where close to Pardi's 2,000-some). I encourage all bloggers to check this stats tab and see just how cool it is. Maybe you're like Alexis and have readers from all over the world, including Russia, Canada, and the Middle East.

P.S. I'm still awaiting my "Procrastinator and Proud of It" buddon...

Some images to make you smile....whoever you are ^^: