Progressives and their concerns

Who were the Progressives? Followed the Populists Differences between the two movements: Progressivism was urban, national, more educated

Progressives were Worried by the growth of big corporations and their impact on society- exploitation of workers, unsafe working conditions Anti machine Led by men of the middle class Not communists- distinguished between responsible wealth and the greed of the new industrialists

Progressive accomplishments Social reforms: Meat Inspection Act, civic improvements (stricter housing codes), child labor laws, Prohibition Political reforms: 1. Australian ballot 2. Direct election of Senators 3. Change in how political campaigns could be financed – state corrupt practices acts, fedearl laws of 1910/11 (publicity of ependitures)

Link and McCormick’s assessment of Progressive reforms Rather negative with regard to electoral reforms Electoral changes disenfranchised poor, illiterate, and African Americans, Even contributed to decline in turnout among non-immigrants and whites

Administrative agencies and commissions Many set up at state and national level under Progressives, 1887-1916, to oversee RRs, utilities, banking, insurance and other sectors of the economy Examples: 1887 Interstate Commerce Commission set up to set RR rates and rates for other forms of transportation Trust busting – by Department of Justice

Initiative, Referendum and Recall All forms of direct democracy – Initiative: voters can propose legislation or constitutional amendment Referendum: voters approve or reject a proposed or existing law Recall: voters have chance to remove public officials from office

The initiative How has initiative been used? By whom? Criticisms of initiative Majoritarian (but so is legislative process) Voters don’t understand what they are voting on sometimes, are uninformed

Progressive presidents Roosevelt Wilson (1913-1920)