1. Progressives and their concerns

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

3. 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

4. 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)

5. 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

6. Administrative agencies and commissions
Many set up at state and national level under Progressives, , 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. Progressive presidents
Roosevelt
Wilson ( )