What were the causes of the progressive movement and how did it affect national, state and local government?

Entering into the new century, there were millions of immigrants entering the nation seeking new opportunities for themselves and their families. Nearly 1 in 7 American’s were born in a foreign country. With the great influx of new people at this time period came a time of reform. Seeking to rid the country of such evils as monopolies, graft, and corruption, the progressives as they dubbed themselves, were prepared to wage this war. These people believed in one unifying principle-“Strengthen the State”. Rallying around this battle cry, the progressives sought to use the government as an instrument of human welfare; in order to better the country at all levels. These causes elicited radical reform throughout all levels of government, from local to the federal level. Through the muckrakers and the progressive’s believers, the necessary changes were made to adapt America to a more pragmatic approach to their society and their overall way of life.

            There were several contributing factors to the need for massive reformation methods throughout the nation. Dramatic increase in immigrant population diversified the nation in a way that had never been seen before. In an era where the do-it-yourself, laid back lassiez faire attitude reigned supreme, the need for change was clear. Also, the dramatic upsurge in machinery and the impersonal attitude toward industry made the Jeffersonian ideals of the people running their own lives was not feasible. The only way to manage the nation in a democratic fashion was to have the people now instruct the government directly on the dealings of the nation. Both social and economic conditions were far too intense to be under the control of a few people. One of the ways the people were informed of the great ills of the evils throughout America was through the muckrakers. A group of publishers whose business centered on revealing wrongdoing, the muckrakers made it their business, and the business of Americans everywhere, the misdeeds of those failing to behave in a manner becoming of the power their positions entailed.

            In America, the way to dramatically change the country is to successfully motivate the middle-class to act. During progressivism, the priority was to return the power to the people so as to have effective and competent voices instructing the government on behalf of the people. In order to accomplish this, the voter needed to have more direct access to electing government officials at all levels. Furthermore, they affirmed that final approval by the people was necessary to pass laws and the use of recalls would be available in the event of officials gone a rye. Beginning at the federal level, the people began to reform the government one step at a time. After the federal came state governments, to adapt to unique beliefs of those in the state. And to take that even further, the local government adopted even more specific amendments to their laws and governments. With some of the biggest gains occurring at the lowest levels of government, the success of progressivism reached the people and transformed the nation in both the social and economic arenas.

The Progressive movement was the biggest reform movement since the 1840’s.  Instead of mainly being supported by the minorities of the United States, it was widely supported by the majorities of the United States.  A large part of the Progressive reformers were from the Middle-Classes. 

            The progressive movement’s basic desire was to reform the present government of the United States.  “Social and economic problems were now too complex for the intentionally feeble Jeffersonian organs of government.” (683).  The people of the United States, especially the workers in the many industries, no longer wanted to follow the laissez faire economic policies.  The Greenback Labor party of the 1870’s and the Populists of the 1890’s were groups that called for this reform.  Many authors also helped to get people more interested in reforming the government and following the theories of progressivism.  Progressive reformers primarily were from the middle-classes.  The two main goals of the progressive movements were to improve the common person’s life and labor conditions and to “curb the trusts.” 

            People who were part of the progressive movements could be found in both of the major political parties.  They wanted there to be direct primary elections.  Progressives also wanted initiatives, referendums, and recalls; all would help the people to have more control over the government.  They also wanted there to be a direct election of United States senators so that the people elected would be less likely to be controlled by someone else.  This desire of the progressives was fulfilled when the Seventeenth Amendment to the Constitution was approved in 1913.  Progressives also wanted women to have the right to vote, which was what feminists had been wanting for decades. 

            Progressives were also able to make reforms on the governments of the local areas.  Some of these city governments followed the example of Galveston, Texas.  This city appointed “experts-staffed commissions” to manage the matters of the city.  Other cities used the city-manager system.  Both of these reforms took away some of the power of the people in order to have a more efficient way of dealing with problems.  Other reformers in the cities wanted to stop “slumlords. Juvenile delinquency, and wide-open prostitution (vice-at-a-price)” (687).  They also wanted to get ride of the corrupt sales of permits for streetcars and other public objects.

            Progressivism was also widely seen in the governments of the states.  Robert M. La Follette, sometimes called “Fighting Bob” was a progressive republican who became the governor of Wisconsin.  He fought against Monopoly before becoming governor in 1901.  He also took away the power of the lumber and railroad corporations and gave it to the people.  “Fighting Bob” La Follette also regulated public utilities.  Oregon was also a state that followed some of the progressive theories.  Hiram W. Johnson was another progressive republican that was elected as governor of California.  Charles Evans Hughes, the governor of New York, was another progressive republican fighting to reform the government of the states.  All of these reformers were working to make reforms that would help improve the lives of all people.