Matthew Mazzotta Essay

In John Milton Cooper Jrs Why Wisconsin? The Badger State in the Progressive Era he talks about why Wisconsin was the blow overing state in the modern movement and if it was just by a freak accident or not. Wisconsin became known as the science laboratory of democracy around this time period by prima(p) the crystalize movements that became known as progressivism. umteen people like to accredit this to its peoples natur every(prenominal)y bright, creative, forward looking attitudes. Yet in that respect was no good reason why Wisconsin should throw been the state to take the lead with this movement.Urban reforms be what archetypal made an impact in the deviate in Wisconsins laws. There were many municipal reforms in many of the larger cities and towns but none of them ever grew into full-fledged movements that made it to other cities and states.Wisconsin took the lead in this movement in 1900 when Robert M. La Follette won the governorship at the idea of an insurgent republ ican political party that wanted to reform railroad taxation, railroad regulation, and the direct primary. From that moment on Wisconsin would remain at the head of the movement. The timing of this was one of the big factors that contributed to Wisconsins success. There were state wide reform movements appearing whole over the mid-west, Ohio or Michigan may have beaten Wisconsin to the punch if it wasnt for La Follettes election at that time.Historians like to say that a person does not a movement make. entirely without La Follette Wisconsin probably would never had advanced as far as it did. Another fact that helped Wisconsin come out the reform as advance(prenominal) as it did was its relative weakness of the conservative business allied elements that held advocator in the Republican Party, there was no political machine that ran the state. So clearly Wisconsins leading role in the progressive movement was not all due to one man, but that doesnt make La Follettes impact in t he state any less real.Wisconsin became the lead in this movement by being the first to enact laws on a state level, which would never have happened so fast if it wasnt for La Follette. Between his elections he made sure to keep his denomination out there in the peoples minds by tirelessly speaking about reform issues, he also contacted likeminded leaders in counties and towns across the state and kept their names in an detailed filing system, talking with them through frequent letters and meetings. La Follettes followers called themselves progressives one of the first measure the word that would become the signature for this era was used.Thanks to Muck-raking journalists who were pointing to La Follette and his state as shiny examples on how to make things better, Wisconsin become renowned as the flagship state for reform. The progressives in the state would have times where the Stalwarts took carry of the state but after a few of those times the progressives help on to contro l for over 20 years.So in conclusion, there were many reasons why Wisconsin was the leading state in the reform policies of the progressive era. Some of the reasons are directly related to people and their actions, and some are thank to good luck and frightful timing. La Follette was the main reason that Wisconsin was able to do so puff up for itself, his amazing charisma unrelenting drive for changed is what pushed Wisconsin to pass all the reform laws thats it did so early in the era. Yet if La Follette didnt get elected when he did Wisconsin may have been wooly in the confusion because other states would have beat them to the punch. Another reason why they did so hearty was because of their lack of a strong political machine that ran the state making it easy to pass laws and change things that have been the same in the state for so very long. So all in all La Follette was the main reason that Wisconsin was the flagship of the progressive movement, but he had plenty of help fr om luck, good timing, and amazing circumstances.