Progressive Era

Progressive Era The Progressive Era was a period of drastic reform in the United States. The 17th Amendment of 1913 reformed the direct election of Senators by putting the power of the vote in the hands of the people. The 18th Amendment of 1919 placed the prohibition of liquor because of the social and political temperance movements advocating this government regulation. The 19th Amendment of 1920 finally granted women's suffrage by giving women the right to vote in government elections. All three of these amendments reformed problems that Progressives called for after the nationwide depression from 1893 to 1897.The 17th Amendment of 1913 took power of electing the senators of a state from the state legislature and placed it in the hands of the people of state. Many city and state governments were controlled by dishonest business executives and politicians who tried to block economic reforms and with a direct primary election, the command of elections would be in complete control of the citizens.Sup ernatural Fairy Tales: The Progressive Rock EraThe progressive movement was initiated by liberals in both political parties, the fight for government reform can be traced back to Liberal Republicans(An Oxymoron, Mr. Jetel?) during the Grant administration and Mugwumps. Citizens were enraged, with big businesses' growing influence in all branches of government and sought ways to purify it.Big Business was also a target of progressivism. During this time presidents like Roosevelt and William Howard Taft tried to regulate and control big business. Many well educated people of the time, as well as moderately prosperous businessmen and members of other professions(middle class) felt threatened by the increasing power of big business and the tycoons. These people were also disturbed by the Big business' influence in politics, making a mockery of the democratic system. Then with the failure of the interstate commerce act and the Sherman act, made big business look unstoppable. As the...