At the turn of the century, America entered a new era that many historians call the Progressive Era. During this period, the American political system changed its view of how America should be created. This allowed a purification of the American government through direct democracy. This era included many social and political reforms, brought about by monopolies and trust companies. One of the key pieces of legislation that was a great example of the Progressive Era was the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906. This law was passed. because of the controversy, but also because of public and political interests. Muckraking, like Upton Sinclair's work, "The Jungle," contributed to the timing of this legislature's passage. This piece of legislation authorized the regulation of processed food products in United States food markets. The Pure Food and Drug Act was assigned to the Department of Agriculture, under the Bureau of Chemistry (2004 Act). The main reason this law was put in place was the lack of regulations regarding health and food safety. There were also market failures due to the lack of food regulations, as the public could not know whether a certain food product had been modified in some way. Additionally, many food markets have completely neglected the environment due to a lack of established standards for environmental protection. This law also provided an economic boost depending on how it was interpreted. Many companies have used this new process to raise prices on their competitors. They achieved this by imposing constraints on entry restrictions (Woods 1986). At the state level, other laws were put in place to support the Food and Drug Act, primarily to assist local and regional producers who were and would be faced with new natural testing. (Law, 2004). They also now must obtain FDA approval before a certain food or drug can be sold directly to consumers. The market has also changed due to new ways of processing the product more safely and efficiently. There have also been changes due to political, economic, social, and cultural changes since 1906. In conclusion, the Food and Drug Act paved the way for the progressive movement and food safety in America. Works Cited Berkin, Carol. Making America. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1995. Print. Law, Marc. Determinants of Progressive Era Reform: The Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906. Cambridge, MA: National Bureau of Economic Research, 2004. Print. “Theodore Roosevelt Collection: His Life and Times in Cinema.” Preview. Np, and Web. February 20. 2014. .