Identify the causes of Progressivism and compare it to Populism

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressivism_in_the_United_States

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Populism

identify the causes of progressivism and compare it to populism

Progressivism and Populism were two significant political movements in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in the United States. While they shared some common concerns and goals, there were distinct differences in their causes and approaches.

Progressivism was a reform movement that aimed to address various social, economic, and political issues caused by industrialization and urbanization. Some key causes of progressivism include:

1. Industrialization and Urbanization: As the United States shifted from an agrarian society to an industrial one, cities expanded rapidly, which led to overcrowding, unsanitary conditions, and labor exploitation. Progressives sought to improve living and working conditions for the urban poor.

2. Social Inequality: Progressives were concerned with the growing wealth gap and the concentration of power in the hands of a few industrialists and monopolies. They wanted to curb corporate influence and regulate business practices to ensure a fairer distribution of wealth.

3. Political Corruption: Rampant political corruption, fueled by corporate influence and machine politics, undermined fair representation and accountability. Progressives sought to eliminate corruption through political reforms like direct primaries, campaign finance regulation, and the initiative and referendum processes.

Populism, on the other hand, emerged as a reaction to the perceived neglect of farmers and rural interests in an increasingly industrialized nation. While there are some overlapping concerns with progressivism, populism had distinct causes, such as:

1. Agricultural Crisis: Farmers faced falling crop prices, increasing debt burdens, and exploitation by banks and railroads. Populists called for government intervention to regulate railroads and implement policies to protect farmers' economic interests.

2. Monetary Policy: Populists championed the free coinage of silver to increase the money supply, which they believed would alleviate debt burdens and lead to inflation, benefiting debtors. They saw it as a way to challenge the gold standard and the interests of financial institutions.

3. Representation and Political Power: Populists felt marginalized by the political elite and criticized the power held by banks, corporations, and trusts. They advocated for direct democracy, including initiatives like the direct election of senators, to counter concentrated political power.

While both progressivism and populism sought to address societal and economic issues, they differed in their primary motives, with progressivism focusing on urban reform and corporate regulation and populism prioritizing agrarian interests and challenging economic policies.