Monopolies Vs Progressives

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The era of industrialization in the U.S. happened rapidly and caused many changes for people around the country. Industries such as railroads, steel making and coal energy were growing larger and it opened up a whole new job market for individuals. Industrialization brought great improvements to machinery and the economy. It also brought lots of people to more urban areas compared to rural areas. It was the start of a new Nation. Industrialization also brought economic stratification, social problems, and class conflict. Monopolies and trusts shared the top 1% of wealth in the U.S., while most of the country was poor and working long hours to provide for their families. Issues like these triggered the social/political movement of progressivism. Progressives …show more content…

They wanted a transparent and accountable government that would work to improve the U.S. for its citizens. There was reform to be done at both the state and national level and progressives believed that the government was one of the biggest forces to change society. On a state level, progressives thought party rule was most damaging to the city. Machines and party bosses were controlling the polls, and progressives wanted to get rid of them. One of the ways they did this was they “tried to make city councilors run “at large”, meaning that all city voters could cast ballots as opposed to just district voters, to limit the influence of ward leaders and district bosses.”(Brinkley, p.493). In 1913, the states ratified the seventeenth amendment which transferred the right to elect U.S. senators from the state legislatures to ordinary voters. This was a big step in the right direction, and after the seventeenth amendment all states enforced primary elections to limit the power of parties. One of the most influential governors of the progressive era was Robert La Folletten of Wisconsin. Under his leadership, Wisconsin had a direct primary, initiative and