The Progressive Era
Amy Milner
10/7/14
The Progressive Era was a movement of reform, not radical change. Flourishing from the 1890’s to the 1920’s the Progressive Era was a period of social activism, political, and economic reform in America that lead to many important reforms still enforced today. The major main goals of the Progressive Era were to eliminate corruption in the local and national governments. Previously during a time known as the Gilded Age, political bosses had run governments all over the country buying votes, intimidating the public and keeping themselves and their fellow elite in power. Progressives wished to end this corruption. Progressives also wished to rid the economy of monopolistic trust corporations which dominated …show more content…
Politics in the Gilded Age were overrun by corruption. Many crooked politicians took bribes and rewarded anyone who supported them with high end jobs in government. Progressives attempted to fix this issue in a number of ways. The first was a reform referred to as initiative, referendum and recall. It was included in the Populist Party platform in 1891 and all intended to make the people more responsible and allow them to make political decisions rather than the legislature having all of the power. Initiative meant that the common people would have the right to propose a new law or bill. This gave people the ability for the first time to personally play a role in lawmaking as opposed to only elected representatives. Referendum meant that a law passed by the legislature can be sent to the people for approval or veto. The people themselves could now turn down a law that they felt unconstitutional as opposed to relying on the government. Recall meant that the common people could petition and vote to have an elected official removed from office. A corrupt official could now be removed from office with the peoples consent and didn't need to serve out their term in office. These reforms all gave more power to the people, making government more receptive to their needs. Greater power in the hands of the people would reduce corruption and make government more …show more content…
The Progressive Era made great strides in its effort to make government more directly democratic and reducing corruption through secret ballots, the idea of initiative, referendum and recall, and the seventeenth amendment to the constitution. Progressives were against the laissez faire attitude that the America possessed and instead wished that government would step in and regulate the unjust actions of big businesses. The enforcement of the Sherman Anti-trust Act helped to break apart monopolistic corporations while, the Elkins act equalized prices for all customers on railroads and further tightened regulations on these companies. Roosevelt’s square deal and the United Mine Workers strike of 1902 finally put government on the side of justice instead of siding with powerful business men automatically. The progressive’s ability to mitigate many of the effects of industrialization and urbanization while promoting human and social rights was due in part to the legislation and accommodations made during the time. Settlement houses helped immigrants to adjust to America and ease some of the poverty they faced. The nineteenth amendment to the constitution helped
Amy Milner
10/7/14
The Progressive Era was a movement of reform, not radical change. Flourishing from the 1890’s to the 1920’s the Progressive Era was a period of social activism, political, and economic reform in America that lead to many important reforms still enforced today. The major main goals of the Progressive Era were to eliminate corruption in the local and national governments. Previously during a time known as the Gilded Age, political bosses had run governments all over the country buying votes, intimidating the public and keeping themselves and their fellow elite in power. Progressives wished to end this corruption. Progressives also wished to rid the economy of monopolistic trust corporations which dominated …show more content…
Politics in the Gilded Age were overrun by corruption. Many crooked politicians took bribes and rewarded anyone who supported them with high end jobs in government. Progressives attempted to fix this issue in a number of ways. The first was a reform referred to as initiative, referendum and recall. It was included in the Populist Party platform in 1891 and all intended to make the people more responsible and allow them to make political decisions rather than the legislature having all of the power. Initiative meant that the common people would have the right to propose a new law or bill. This gave people the ability for the first time to personally play a role in lawmaking as opposed to only elected representatives. Referendum meant that a law passed by the legislature can be sent to the people for approval or veto. The people themselves could now turn down a law that they felt unconstitutional as opposed to relying on the government. Recall meant that the common people could petition and vote to have an elected official removed from office. A corrupt official could now be removed from office with the peoples consent and didn't need to serve out their term in office. These reforms all gave more power to the people, making government more receptive to their needs. Greater power in the hands of the people would reduce corruption and make government more …show more content…
The Progressive Era made great strides in its effort to make government more directly democratic and reducing corruption through secret ballots, the idea of initiative, referendum and recall, and the seventeenth amendment to the constitution. Progressives were against the laissez faire attitude that the America possessed and instead wished that government would step in and regulate the unjust actions of big businesses. The enforcement of the Sherman Anti-trust Act helped to break apart monopolistic corporations while, the Elkins act equalized prices for all customers on railroads and further tightened regulations on these companies. Roosevelt’s square deal and the United Mine Workers strike of 1902 finally put government on the side of justice instead of siding with powerful business men automatically. The progressive’s ability to mitigate many of the effects of industrialization and urbanization while promoting human and social rights was due in part to the legislation and accommodations made during the time. Settlement houses helped immigrants to adjust to America and ease some of the poverty they faced. The nineteenth amendment to the constitution helped