Populist and Progressive Movements in America

Populist and Progressive Movements in America
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Populist and Progressive Movements in America The populist and progressive movements in the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries came up as social movements that aimed at improving the livelihoods of Americans. Both movements had similar goals that focussed on low- and working-class citizens that had long faced difficulties living in the country. The populism movement looked to having an inclusive government mainly through the empowerment of farmers to participate in enhancing the livelihoods of lower-class citizens. More so, the progressive movement aimed to counteract the problems brought about by industrialization by introducing social and political reforms (Seidman, 2021). While these movements were largely successful in introducing essential legislation to reform the United States of America, their role in subverting the fight for racial justice and immigration reform is highly notable. The progressive movement was responsible for expanding the Federal government’s power with regard to regulation on the protection of American citizens. For instance, the 1906 legislation of the Pure Food and Drug Act enabled the regulation of food and pharmaceuticals to protect people (Gould, 2014). Further, amendments to the Constitution enabled important aspects to be changed, such as the introduction of the federal income tax and, importantly, allowing women to vote (Gould, 2014). These changes were considered turning points for the country based on their focus on improving the livelihoods of working-class citizens while also regulating the private industries. On the other hand, the populist movement aimed at enhancing the democracy of citizens while supporting the citizens to gain economic parity with the busi...