Progressive Movement Comparison

Populism Populism was a nationwide movement of rural Americans who felt that they had not benefited from the growth of industry and wanted the government to help them. The Farmers’ Alliance was an organization that was started by farmers, ranchers, and agricultural laborers due to this movement. They eventually organized a new political party in 1891 known as the Populist Party. The Populist Party demanded government regulation of businesses and public ownership of railroads, telephone, and telegraph lines. They also wanted the national banking system eliminated. They called for labor reform, income tax reforms, and the direct election of US Senators. The Populist Party helped elect James Hogg. In the end there was some economic relief for farmers but the movement faded and the Populist issues were adopted by the Democratic Party.

Terrell Election Law The Progressives believed that voting was the basis of democracy and that it should be regulated by the government. The Texas Progressives worked at passing such reforms. The Terrell Election Law was passed in The law called for secret ballots and restricted campaigning near polling booths. It also required the major political parties of Texas to hold primary elections before general elections. The Terrell Election Law has been amended several times but remains the basic election law today.

Prohibition Prohibition was a period of time that aimed at making the sale and manufacture of liquor illegal. Two groups that supported prohibition were the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union and the Woman’s Suffrage movement. They believed that drinking was immoral and that a state enforced prohibition would improve public morality. The brewing industry, German and Italian immigrants, and conservatives opposed prohibition; in the end the federal government passed the 18 th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution which stated that the sale, manufacture, and transportation of liquor was illegal. Prohibition existed between 1920 and This law did reduce the amount of alcohol consumed by Americans but it became so unpopular that it was repealed in 1933 with the 21 st Amendment

Women’s Suffrage By the turn of the century, Texas women were organizing to win their right to vote. The Texas Equal Rights Association and the Equal Suffrage league were formed. Many Texans opposed this movement believing that if women had the right to vote they would neglect their home and children. Between 1915 and 1918, suffragists wrote letters, signed petitions, and lobbied the state legislature to allow woman to vote. Governor James Ferguson fought against women’s suffrage, but in 1917 he was impeached and removed from office. In 1918, the “Petticoat Lobby” made a deal with William P. Hobby. The Suffragists promised that if he would sign a bill granting women the right to vote in the sate primaries, they would support him as the next governor. Hobby won by a landslide and women were able to vote in the state primary. Nationally, the 19 th Amendment was passed in 1920 granting women the right to vote.

Punish KKK In early 20 th century, the Democratic Party supported laws that segregated the races. These laws were known as the Jim Crow Laws. By the 1920’s, the Ku Klux Klan was not happy with the changes happening in Texas. Women had earned the right to vote and minority groups were beginning to participate more fully in the Texas economy. The Klan was beginning to become more active by using violence against African-Americans, Hispanics, Catholics, and other minority groups. They also were being elected to public office. In 1924, Miriam “Ma” Ferguson was governor or an anti-Klan platform. Along with her husband, who had been impeached and removed as Governor of Texas previously, she made some headway at weakening the Klan in the state. Real reforms came with the election of Dan Moody as governor. He became famous for getting the government to prosecute Klan members for violent crimes and encouraging Texans not to tolerate the Klan.