New Federal Agencies

The Women's Bureau (1920) and the Children's Bureau (1912) were new agencies added to the Department of Labor that gave women reformers a stage for advocacy and social investigations. Women fought for social issues such as child labor, pensions for mothers with dependent kids, and disease in tenements, and food safety.

The Federal Reserve Act (1913) set up 12 regional reserve districts headed by a central bank. It issues Federal Reserve notes backed by commercial paper to increase circulations.


The Federal Farm Loan Act (1916) made credit available at low interest rates for farmers. It was one of several laws that benefited rural America.

The Federal Trade Commission Act (1914) allowed a presidentially appointed commission to inspect interstate commerce industries to crush monopoly by forbidding unfair practices like unlawful competition, false advertising, mislabeling, adulteration, and bribery.