Definition of Progressive and Examples of Progressive Thinking in Essay

Definition of Progressive and Examples of Progressive Thinking in Terms Of History - Essay Example According to Lawson (357), progressivists tried to expose corruption and injustice in the government and undercut political machines. They wanted the citizens to have a direct rule through the power of their vote as well as including women in the political voting arena. In education there was a need to move from rote learning into child-centered and experiment-based learning. Parker argued that it was pointless to acquire knowledge without understanding it. Reforms The progressive era is basically the period between1895-1925. It was marked by social activism and reforms. Examples of reforms during the progressive era include the initiation of direct primary elections by the legislature. This gave voters the right and freedom to choose primary candidates instead of limiting it to party officials. This was a tool of reducing the power of political machines and bosses. This was accomplished by the progressive movement under La Follette’s governance. At this time also state forest s were preserved, monopolies were broken up and railroad taxes doubled. The government started to defend small farmers and small business holders by intervening on their behalf. This was through trade control which ensured that there was competition and free enterprise. In 1911, the first national workers’ compensation program was instituted, cooperatives were encouraged, laws governing factory safety were passed and state income tax was established. The income tax was directed to high incomes alone. Limited labor hours for children and women were also instituted. These were achieved under the governance of Francis McGovern (Lawson 421) In 1913, ratification was done to the Seventeenth Amendment. The ratification required that all senators be directly elected by voters instead of the state legislature. This served to reduce their power and ensure they served the interests of the people not particular individuals who put them in office (Lawson 364). Women were allowed to enjoy their rights to vote. This was achieved through the Nineteenth Amendment of the constitution of the US in 1920. There was a widespread formation of labor unions. These were meant to protect the rights of workers. A restriction in immigration was also passed to control the influx of foreigners into the US at this period. In terms of local governance, many cities instituted municipal reference bureaus to look into the local government’s administrative structures and budgets. Major reformations of state government were done in many states for example Illinois. In terms of educational reforms, a new curriculum was developed at the Lincoln School. This curriculum was meant to eliminate obsolete material while integrating material that could be adapted to the changing needs of modern living. The new curriculum was build on ‘units of work’ which reorganize subject matter in the previous curriculum to a design that considered development of children and their future rol es as adults. Major figures that advanced progressivism Some of the major figures that advanced progressivism include Robert La Follette. He was sparked into action when Philetus Sawyer, a Republican leader wanted to bribe him as an attorney so as to fix a court case. He spends the rest of the decade traveling around the state while making a stand and speaking against corrupt railroad interests, powerful lumber barons and crooked politicians.

World History Since 1945 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

World History Since 1945 - Essay Example The writers advocate for total relook into the various governmental systems which are both embedded in totalitarianism and aloof to the social realities of ordinary masses. Thus, both books are radical and transformative in scope. The books cry out for change which is aimed at the social and economic lives of the people. Smith (2010) reckons that Belli’s ‘The Country under My Skin’ is a powerful memoir entailing both love and war. The Nicaraguan, Giaconda Belli, presents quite powerfully, her eye-openness to social realities facing the people of Nicaragua as well as her association with the Sandinistas using the rider of love and war to expose totalitarianism. In the book, she categorically illuminates on her present life with her American husband as well as children and seemingly compares this to Nicaragua with a passionate appeal. It is at the time when the poet meets Panamanian dictator Omar Torrijos in the year 1978 that she sets out the book; The Country under My Skin. Gicoonda Belli describes political battles of emancipation that the country of Nicaragua went through since the years 1970s. She brings it out quite powerfully using her personal experiences especially with the authorities at that time and irrationalities around the country that were transformational (Smith 2010). She thus brings out a powerful juxtaposition in her quality writing exploring in details her adventure while working in the field of advertisement and later getting involved in politics. Saten (2010) observes that her poem creates a vantage entry point into the Sandinista Guerilla Movement from quite a young age. This involvement makes her transition into the unknown away from the comfort zone and the social as well as political security that she was always involved in and it is at this point that she brings out the spirit of activism in her (Staten 97). Using these experiences she exposes government indifferences to the plight of the