Progressives sought to break the power of political bosses by reforming the election process. They used direct primary to take the power of choosing candidates away from political machines. Then they pushed for the 17th amendment to give voters the power to elect their senators directly. Finally, progressives urged states to adopt initiative, referendum, and recall.
<span>Progressives sought to break the power of political bosses by reforming the election process. They used direct primary to take the power of choosing candidates away from political machines. Then they pushed for the 17th Amendment to give voters the power to elect their senators directly. Finally, progressives urged states to adopt initiative, referendum, and recall.</span>
Progressives generally believed that industrialism and urbanization had created many social problems. Most agreed that the government should take a more active role in solving society's problems. Progressives belonged to both major political parties and usually were urban, educated middle-class Americans.
In March 1865 the Freedmen's Bureau was passed; many Northern's disagreed on this bill. In January 1865 Gen. Sherman divided the land along the SC and GA coast into 40 acre plots.
