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USH2.H.4
Conflict & Compromise
• The Progressive Movement (1890-1914)
• The learner will analyze the economic, political, and social
reforms of the Progressive Period.
• Generalizations:
• Innovation designed to solve problems may result in the creation
of new problems.
• Coordinated action by groups or individuals may result in
economic, political, and social changes to a nation.
• The perceptions and actions of individuals can be influenced by
the economic priorities of a nation.
• City, state, & national governments were
in need of reform:
•Corrupt political machines controlled
city governments
•Monopolists used their wealth to
Quick Classencourage
Discussion:
influence politicians,
What problems
existedlaws
within the
monopolies,
& fight labor
city, state,
& national
governments?
•Political
positions
were gained
based on
patronage not merit
•Corruption scandals plagued the
national government
• In the 1880s, reformers began to demand
change in city gov’ts:
•Reformers tried to end patronage
(appointment based on loyalty) by passing
the Pendleton Act which required meritbased exams
•Reformers tried to make gov’t more
efficient & break the power of machines
by shifting power to city commissions &
managers
After a hurricane destroyed the
city of Galveston, Texas…
Rather than 1 mayor making all
decisions, a committee oversaw
different aspects of local government
…politicians created the 1st city commission gov’t
Other cities adopted this model, but
added a trained city manager to carry out
the day-to-day operation of government
Some cities created their own government-run
water, gas, electricity utility companies
These changes were much more efficient
& less corrupt than traditional city gov’ts
• Progressive reformers impacted state
governments too:
•Most states created commissions to
oversee state spending
•States began regulating railroads & other
big businesses to help workers & promote
competition
•States passed laws limiting work hours for
children & women
• The most significant state reform was governor
Robert La Follette’s “Wisconsin Idea”:
• Used academic “experts” from the University of
Wisconsin to help create state laws
• Wisconsin was the 1st state to create an income tax,
form industrial commissions, & regulate railroads
State of Texas
Recall:
Citizens
can vote to
remove an
elected
official
Initiative:
Referendum:
Citizens
can put an
Citizens
vote to
issue
on a state
increase
taxes
ballot
& vote
to for
newitprograms
make
a law
• Progressives helped make state governments
more democratic:
• Most states had direct primary elections to allow
voters to choose candidates, not parties
• In 1912, the 17th Amendment was ratified which
allowed for the direct election of Senators by the
people