Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL) Practice Test

During which historical context were the government reforms focused on corporate power and labor rights enacted?

1. The New Era

2. The Civil Rights Era

3. The Progressive Era

4. The Industrial Revolution

The correct answer is: The Progressive Era

The correct response highlights the Progressive Era, which spanned approximately from the 1890s to the 1920s. This period was characterized by a strong movement aimed at addressing the issues brought about by rapid industrialization and urbanization in the United States. Progressive reformers sought to tackle corruption in government, reduce corporate power, and advocate for labor rights. During this era, significant legislation was enacted that aimed to regulate businesses and improve labor conditions, such as workplace safety laws, child labor laws, and the establishment of labor unions. Reformers like Theodore Roosevelt and others championed these causes, calling for a more equitable society and the protection of workers' rights against the exploitation by large corporations. In contrast, the other historical contexts mentioned do not primarily focus on corporate power and labor rights in the same way. The New Era primarily refers to the post-World War I period marked by economic prosperity and technological advancement. The Civil Rights Era focused on racial equality and civil rights for African Americans, rather than on labor rights specifically. The Industrial Revolution, while it laid the groundwork for labor issues, occurred earlier and did not feature the same organized reform movements that characterized the Progressive Era.