The populist and progressive movements known for their various reforms and movement led series of actions that resulted in democratic culture in politics, gender roles, and the economy as such as civil service reform, food safety laws, the direct election of U.S. senators, increased political rights for women, anti-elitist sentiments, among others.
The progressive movement established a more transparent and accountable government that improved America in the aspects of civil service reform, food safety laws, women’s rights, and political corruption. The women’s movement called for the equality of sexes and pushed for women’s suffrage. Using yellow journalism, many progressives exposed injustices done to the common public by political machines and in food industries which improved many policies that are now used today. In addition, the Populist Party was created by farmers in order to represent the “common” people and access the political power necessary to aid the weak in their causes of reform. This group supported the free-silver policy which counteracted the effects of deflation and tried to improve the economy. In regards to Democratic culture, the Populist party believed in giving more political parties to the people by the direct election of senators, improving working conditions, giving tax relief, and fighting deflation. Both movements used these concepts and gained the attention of other political parties. In 1892, the Populist party decided to run for national office and allied themselves with Democrat James B. Weaver. While the Populist Party did not win the election, the Democratic party adopted many of their views which widened their culture in the concepts of politics, gender roles, and the economy.
The National Archives is the U.S. Government's collection of documents that records important events in American history. The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is the Government agency that preserves and maintains these materials and makes them available for research.
