Compare And Contrast The Populist Movement And The Progressive Movement

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The Populist Movement and the Progressive Movement were two significant social and political movements in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in the United States. Although there were some similarities in their goals and objectives, there were also more differences between the two movements. The women’s goal to be viewed as equal, and have more social standing.

The Populist Movement emerged in the late 19th century and was primarily a response to the economic and social difficulties faced by farmers and workers in rural areas. The movement's goals were to promote the interests of small farmers and workers by advocating for a number of reforms, including an increase in the money supply, government regulation of railroad rates, and the establishment …show more content…

Populists first saw this during the Gilded Era and sought to change these circumstances. Nonetheless, the Progressive movement's efforts contributed to its eventual collapse.
The state-level initiatives listed in Document 6 to improve working conditions for Americans include minimum wage laws and controls on working hours. The goal of progressive reformers was to make everyone's lives better. The implementation of these fresh concepts demonstrates how the Progressive movement was more successful than the Populist movement.
Farmers made up the bulk of the populist party. They experienced more economic problems that were linked to the "farmers vs. affluent" conflict. In document 3, a political cartoon depicts a sizable group of farmers serving as the masterminds of a wealthy businessman. This is meant to demonstrate how farmers were taken advantage of in exchange for their produce.
The struggle of having mortgages on their land because of the little financial assistance at the time is also depicted in this cartoon. This populist movement sought to overthrow the powerful individuals they saw as the source of their issues. Because of this, as well as their battle with railroad firms, they felt that the nation was against …show more content…

The Progressive Movement's goals were to address the social, economic, and political problems caused by industrialization and urbanization. They aimed to promote good government, break up monopolies, and promote social welfare. Key progressive reforms included direct primaries, secret ballots, and the regulation of food and drug safety.

In terms of achievements, the Populist Movement had a significant impact on American politics, particularly in the areas of rural reform and women's suffrage. The movement's ideas also influenced the development of the Democratic Party, which adopted some of the Populists' platform in the early 20th century.

The Progressive Movement achieved a wide range of reforms that significantly impacted American society, including the establishment of the Federal Reserve System, the 16th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which created a federal income tax, and the passage of the Pure Food and Drug Act, which established the FDA. Progressives also played a key role in promoting labor rights, including the eight-hour workday and the establishment of child labor