Political Reforms & Third Party Power

1. Warm Up #4 • Common Vocabulary Unit 3 page. • What do the following words mean? Write definitions down in your own words. • You may use your phone or a dictionary to look up words you don’t know. • Lynching • Advocating • Conservation • Dedicated • Regulate

2. Progressive Era 1890-1920 Day 4: Political Reforms and The Power of Third Parties

3. Political Reforms & Changes • During the Progressive era, political reforms were initiated which gave the people more say in how their government was run and operated, resulting in a more participatory and democratic government. The goal for the Progressives was to strive for a “more perfect union”. This enabled voters instead of political machines, to choose candidates for public office and for government officials to be more responsive to voters.

4. Political Reforms & ChangesChanges in the way that people participate in government • Initiative–the power or right of citizens to introduce a new legislative measure and the right and procedure by which citizens can propose a law by petition and ensure its submission to the electorate Colorado Amendment 64 was a popular initiative that legalized recreational use of marijuana.

5. Political Reforms & ChangesChanges in the way that people participate in government • Referendum– the submission of a proposed public measure or actual statute to a direct popular vote; this allows the people to have more influence on the decision-making process

6. Political Reforms & ChangesChanges in the way that people participate in government • Recall– the procedure by which a public official may be removed from office by popular vote; with the right to employ this procedure, the people can hold their elected leaders accountable for their actions Example: California gubernatorial recall election of 2003 Governor Gray Davis Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger

7. Political Reforms & ChangesCivic Responsibility Civic Responsibility: An important aspect of progressivism • Right to vote, participation in various levels of politics, recall, referendum • Right to assemble and be active in political debates • Writing Congressional representatives

8. Discussion Question • What effect did political reforms like recall, referendum, and initiative have in the relationship between the government and the people? • Gave the people a greater voice in government and made government officials more responsive to the people.

9. Political Reforms & ChangesAmendments of the Progressive Era • 16thAmendment • income taxes (the purpose was to raise revenue for government programs and reduce reliance on tariffs) • 17th Amendment • Direct elections of senators (Stronger voice for the people)

10. Discussion Question • How did the 17th give more power to the people? • It allowed the people to directly vote for senators they wanted to represent their state.

11. Political Reforms & ChangesAmendments of the Progressive Era • 18th Amendment • Prohibition of alcohol • 19th Amendment • Women’s suffrage (Stronger voice for the people)

12. Political Reforms & ChangesThe Power of Third Parties Emergence of third party politics • Third parties often focus on issues the main parties ignore • Third-party candidates can split the major party with which they are most similar, leading to the other major party's victory • Example: Election of 1912. The Republican Party split in two to form the Progressive Party. Because of the split, the Democrat party won the presidency.

13. Discussion Question • What is a lost cause? • a person or thing that can no longer hope to succeed or be changed for the better. • Do you think Third Parties are a lost cause? • Why do you think Third Parties emerge? • To focus on the issues that the two main parties ignore.

14. Political Reforms & ChangesThe Power of Third Parties The Two Main Parties Republicans • Civil War victors – Blame democrats as party of disunion • Adhere to Puritan roots, focus on old stock immigrants • Stress code of morality and believe govt. should play role in economy and moral affairs • Push for big govt., tariffs, and land grants • Very active in helping corporate capitalism in America Democrats • Party of disunion • Oppose govt. interference in economy, tariffs and land grants • Anti-Prohibition – claims it limits freedom • Immigrants and Catholics tend to flock to this group • Had a solid electoral base in the South and immigrants in the North

15. Political Reforms & ChangesThe Power of Third Parties The Third Parties of the Progressive Era Progressive Party • formed in 1912 as a result of a split in the Republican Party • also known as the “Bull Moose Party; • Theodore Roosevelt most popular candidate Populist Party • established in 1890s • comprised of poor farmers from the south • generally opposed to banks, railroads, and upper class • William Jennings Bryan most popular candidate When this party dissolves, these people will join the Democrats.

16. Political Reforms & ChangesThe Power of Third Parties Rise of Socialism and the Socialist Party • More radical than Progressive agenda • Public ownership of railroads, utilities, oil & steel industries • Don’t want to fix democratic system—want to get rid of it completely • Eugene V. Debs – helped organize the American Socialist Party in 1901. Said that there was an uneven balance among big business, government, and ordinary people under the free-market system of capitalism (he ran for President 4 different times.) • Peaks in 1912 Election—over 1 million votes

17. Critical Writing Question for Day 4 • Day 4:What is the purpose of a third party trying to compete with the two major political parties? How did a third party like the Progressive party affect the presidential election of 1912?