?A Fierce Discontent:? The Progressive Era in American Politics and Economics, Part I Today?s Question 1. Who were the progressives and what were their objectives? Were they effective at solving the problems of the Gilded Age, why or why not? The Progressives Who were the Progressives? Muckrakers Progressive Presidents: Roosevelt, Taft, and Wilson 4 Goals of Progressivism, pt. I Objective 1: To Control Big Business Railroad and Trust Regulation: ICC and Clayton Anti-Trust Act Food and Drug Reform: Upton Sinclair, The Jungle (1906) Political Reform: Direct Election of Senators Objective 2: To End Class Conflict Labor Laws: Triangle Shirtwaist Company Objective 3: To Change Other People Jane Addams and Settlement Houses Prohibition: WCTU Suffrage: 19th Amendment