The Progressive-era was a period that brought a series of reforms to America, the reforms covered many areas including politics.
The Progressives aimed to stop corruption and one way to do so was increase the political power of citizens. They created the initiative and referendum that are methods which the citizens can vote directly on the legislation they are interested in without their representatives “in the middle” of the process.
The direct primaries were also a creation that made possible for voters to chose their party’s candidates, which made the system more democratic since the beginning.
