Political Reforms of the Progressive Era

Political Reforms of the Progressive Era

Gilded Age Politics

During the Gilded Age, city, state, and national governments were in need of reform.

- Corrupt political machines controlled city governments.

- Political positions were gained based on patronage not merit.

- Corruption scandals plagued the national government.

- Monopolists used their wealth and power to influence politicians to favor big business.

Remember Political Reform Goals

-Eliminate corruption in government.

-Establish a more efficient and democratic form of government.

-Expand government’s role as a guardian of workers and the poor.

-More governmental regulation of the economy.

-Expanded role of government in protecting the human welfare.

Political Reform

Political Reformers demanded Political Honesty and Accountability:

- Patronage/Spoils System

- Only Politicians can introduce bills

- Only Legislatures can pass laws

- Only Courts can remove corrupt officials

- Political Machines

- Bribery

Multiple Choice

Key Reforms of the Progressive Era

· Initiative

· Referendum

· Recall

· Direct Primary

· 17^th Amendment

How did the reforms listed above impact the US?

• A system of separate schools for new immigrants

• They gave citizens a greater voice in the democratic process of government

• More sources of revenue and taxes in state governments.

• They successfully brought economic relief to the urban working class

Primary Elections

BEFORE:

Party leaders chose candidates for state & local offices.

AFTER:

Direct Primaries – all party member could vote for a candidate to run in the general election.

Direct Election of Senators- 17th Amendment

BEFORE:

State legislature chose US Senators. Political machines and business interests often influenced these elections.

AFTER:

17th Amendment– People can elect senators directly.

Initiatives- Voter Suggested Laws

BEFORE:

Only members of state legislature can introduce bills

AFTER:

Initiative- permitted a group of citizens to introduce legislation

Referendums- Voters Pass Laws Directly

BEFORE:

Only legislatures pass laws.

AFTER:

Referendum – voters can vote on bills directly. Voters may vote directly to raise tax money to fund libraries, schools, etc. (Milage)

Recalls- Voters remove elected officials from office

BEFORE:

Only courts or legislature can remove corrupt officials.

AFTER:

Recall– voters had an option to demand a special election to remove an elected official from office before his or her time had expired.

Multiple Choice

Progressivism promoted the idea that society's problems could be solved by passing _________

• rights
• jobs
• laws
• presidents

Multiple Choice

This reform allows voters in a state to introduce an idea to the state legislature to be voted on. 

• initiative
• referendum
• primary
• recall

Multiple Choice

Which reform allows voters to vote on an issue on election day. 

• referendum
• recall
• primary
• 16th amendment

Multiple Choice

Which reform allows voters to remove a corrupt office holder?

• primary
• recall
• 17th amendment
• initiative

Multiple Choice

Which reform allows voters to choose who will run for office for each party?

• primary
• initiative
• referendum
• reform

PROGRESSIVE FEDERAL LEGISLATION

16th-19th Amendments

16th Amendment

Established Graduated/Progressive federal income tax.

The more money you make the higher percentage you have to pay.

17th Amendment

Direct election of Senators

18th Amendment

Prohibition of Alcohol.

Women's Temperance Union influenced this legislation.

Thought it would help with Alcoholism and Domestic Abuse.

19th Amendment

Women's Suffrage (Women's right to vote)

Only occurred after WWI (we'll talk more on this later)

Multiple Choice

Suffrage means the right to _______________.

• own a firearm

• vote in political elections

• practice your religion

• free speech

Multiple Choice

Which of the following movements sought to ban alcohol?

• The Temperance Movement

• The Suffragette Movement

• The Trust Busters

Multiple Choice

During the Progressive Era, one goal of state-level political reformers was to —

• prevent party leaders from amending campaign platforms

• increase the influence of business owners on regulatory legislation

• promote the principle of direct democracy

• limit the use of judicial review by circuit courts

Multiple Choice

The campaign to stop abuse in the homes by urging people and the government to stop alcoholism was called

• Women Suffrage

• Temperance Movement

• Alcoholics Anonymous

• Fair Weather Fan

Multiple Choice

The idea that the government will tax at different rates based on how much money you make.

• Tax Invasion

• Salary Tax

• Sales Tax

• Graduated Income Tax

Multiple Choice

Prohibition banned the making, selling, buying, or drinking of alcohol. Which amendment made this possible?

• 17th Amendment

• 18th Amendment

• 19th Amendment

• 21st Amendment

Multiple Choice

The growing political influence of this group led to the ratification of the 18^th and 19^th Amendments.

• Nativists

• Women

• Men

• Activists

Multiple Choice

These reforms made the government directly accountable to the citizens.

• Referendum, recall, initiative, and 17th amendment

• 19th and 22nd Amendments

• Pendleton Act & Homestead Act

• 16th and 18th Amendments

Multiple Choice

The Temperance Movement, Women’s Suffrage Movement, and outlawing child labor were reform movements that took place during this era-

• Gilded Age

• Imperialism

• Progressive Era

• Roaring 20's

Multiple Choice

The ratification of this amendment granted women’s suffrage -

• 18^th Amendment

• 19^th Amendment

• 16^th Amendment

• 17^th Amendment

Multiple Choice

What amendment provided suffrage for women (1920)?

• 16th
• 17th
• 18th
• 19th

Addressing Local Corruption

Pendleton Act of 1883

- Created merit-based exams for most civil service jobs in the federal government.

- Reformers tried to make government more efficient and break the power of political machines by shifting power to city commissions and city managers.

City Commissioner Plan

- Cities hired experts in different fields to run a single aspect of the city government. Sanitation commissioner would be in charge of garbage and sewerage removal.

- Rather than 1 mayor making all decisions, a committee oversaw different aspects of local government.

City Manager Plan

- A professional city manager is hired to run each department of the city and report directly to the city council.

-Other cities adopted the City Commissioner plan, but added a trained city manager to carry out the day-to-day operation of government

Multiple Choice

Under the Pendleton Act of 1883, some government jobs were filled by

• appointments made by members of Congress
• people who raised money for a political party’s election campaign.
• job applicants who performed well on competitive written examinations
• a quota system that balanced the number of jobs going to each party’s supporters.

Multiple Choice

What was the name of the law, passed in 1883 during the Gilded Age, that sought to reform government? It required government applicants to take competitive exams so that they would be hired based upon merit rather than political affiliation. This law was passed in response to widespread political corruption and the assassination of President Garfield.

• Sherman Antitrust Act

• Pendelton Civil Service Act

• Underwood Tariff Act

• Celler-Kefaufer Act

Multiple Choice

Why did many immigrants support city political machines?

• Political machines were free of corruption
• political machines provides them with jobs
• political machines put powerful "bosses" out of business
• political machines fought against crime in the slums

Multiple Choice

Legislation to reform the spoils system.

• Chinese Exclusion Act
• Blue Laws
• Pendleton Civil Service Act
• Political Machine

Multiple Choice

What civil service reform legislation led to less corruption in the government because it established a merit-based system for government jobs?

• Interstate Commerce Act

• Pendleton Act

• Teapot Dome Scandel

• Pure Food & Drug Act