Proffesor
Political ideologies and in the progressive era
For all the benefits that we live in today, in an America with democracy and freedoms; an America that allows for different ethniv groups to intergrate and work together, we have the progressives to thank among other activtists. The progressive era had a series of ideological and intellectual conflicts, which led to direct democracy reforms and the continued development of America. A famous newspaper journalist, William White branded the progressives as a “populist who had just shaved his whiskers, put on a different shirt and a derby hat.” This is because the progressives shared the same goals and demands as the populists. The progressives were mainly comprised of the middle classes as compared to the struggling workers and farmers who were in the populist movements Progressives dominated much of the twentieth century and the legislative history then. Some of their policies included lowering import duties, income tax, direct election of senators in a popular vote, and on then the election of Teddy Roosevelt came others passed law. The benefits of these policies we continue to enjoy to this day.
With the Underwood-Simmons Tariff of 1913, progressives at the federal level rallied for the government to lower import duties substantially. They also rallied for the creation of import tax. Through the first more than 100 years of American history, the American government drew a bulk of the government revenues from tariffs seeing as there was no such thing as federal income tax. Progressives pressed for the reduction of tariffs and congress needed a way to recover the lost revenue hence the introduction of income tax. Americans then since complained about their taxes.
Progressives also secured the passage of the warehouse Act. This act offered credit to the farmers who stored their harvest and crop in federal likened warehouses. Progressives also introduced the Adamson Act, which introduced the eight-hour working for the railway workers. Progressives, bypassing the eighteenth amendment of 1918, supported the prohibition of alcohol. Progressives also rallied The Nineteenth Amendment act in 1920 and ended women suffrage.
Despite all of their successes, the progressives legislation faced compromised by the influence of elites like Woodrow Wilson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Henry Stimson. These prominent people positioned themselves as the champions of the cause, but they were willing to compromise in order to satisfy some key constituents and aid them to remain in power. Progressivism championed very noble aims, but businessperson often co-opted it by seeking to enact symbolic or less radical reforms, and faced hampering by the diverse and contradictory identities and motives of its own activists.
Good governance should be unresisting allowing its people, irrespective of gender pursue their dreams and interests and work towards their full potential. Fostering individuality is of benefit to the entire society as people would not feel marginalized and restricted. The progressive era fought for the America in place today that respects these features of government, which in the end allow people to take part in the political processes involved in government.
