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Progressive Era Through the Great Depression

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Running head: PROGRESSIVE ERA THROUGH THE GREAT 1
Progressive Era Through the Great Depression
Zarick L. Robinson
Contemporary U.S. History – II
Professor Patrick Peacock
Strayer University
August 1, 2013

PROGRESSIVE ERA THROUGH THE GREAT DEPRESSION 2 The progressive era in America describes a broadly based reform movement that reached its height early in the 20th century. In the decades following the Civil War, rapid industrialization transformed the United States. A national rail system was completed; agriculture was mechanized; the factory system spread; and cities grew rapidly in size and number. The progressive movement arose as a response to the vast changes brought about by industrialization. Two major turning points during this period was reform at the state level and of course the national level. At the state level, reformers turned to state politics, where progressivism reached its fullest expression. A model of progressive reform was Robert La Follette’s term as governor of Wisconsin. He won from the legislature an anti-lobbying law directed at large corporations, a state banking control measure, and a direct primary law. Taxes on corporations were raised, a railroad commission was created to set rates, and a conservative commission was set-up. In state after state, progressives advocated a wide range of political, economic, and social reforms. They urged adoption of the secret ballot, direct primaries, the initiative, the referendum, and direct election of senators. They struck at the excessive power of corporate wealth by regulating railroads and utilities, restricting lobbying, limiting monopolies, and raising corporate taxes. To correct the worst features of industrialization, progressives advocated worker’s compensation, child labor

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