Discuss the political reforms sought by Progressives. What were these political reforms supposed to accomplish? How successful were they in practice?

The political reforms sought by Progressives in the late 19th and early 20th centuries aimed to address the issues of corruption, inefficiency, and inequality in the American political system. These reforms were supposed to accomplish a more transparent and accountable government, as well as a more responsive and representative democracy.

Some of the key political reforms sought by Progressives included the direct election of senators, as opposed to their previous appointment by state legislatures, in order to make the Senate more accountable to the people. They also pushed for the initiative, referendum, and recall processes, which allowed citizens to directly propose and vote on legislation, as well as remove elected officials from office. Additionally, Progressives advocated for the adoption of primary elections to select party candidates, rather than leaving it to party bosses and political machines.

In practice, these political reforms had varying degrees of success. The direct election of senators was achieved with the ratification of the 17th Amendment in 1913, which increased the accountability of the Senate to the public. The initiative, referendum, and recall processes were also adopted in many states, giving citizens more direct control over the legislative process. However, the success of primary elections in reducing the influence of political machines and party bosses was more limited, as these forces continued to exert significant control over the candidate selection process in many areas.

Overall, the political reforms sought by Progressives made important strides in making the American political system more democratic and accountable. However, the extent of their success varied depending on the specific reform and the local political context. Nonetheless, these reforms laid the groundwork for further advancements in political accountability and representation in the years to come.