Editing Great Plains (section)

===Progressive Era===
{{Further|Progressive Era}}
The Progressive movement was a reform movement that took place in all parts of the country during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The movement sought to address social, political, and economic problems that had arisen as a result of the Industrial Revolution. Progressives believed that the government could play a role in solving these problems by regulating businesses, protecting workers, and providing social welfare programs.<ref>Lewis L. Gould, ''America in the Progressive Era, 1890–1914'' (2000).</ref><ref>Robert W Cherny, "The Great Plains" in Michael Kazin, ed. ''The Concise Princeton Encyclopedia of American Political History'' (2011) pp. 275–276.</ref>

The Plains states were a hotbed of Progressive activity. Many of the reforms that were enacted at the national level were first implemented in the Plains states.<ref>R. Douglas Hurt, ''The big empty: the Great Plains in the twentieth century'' (University of Arizona Press, 2011) [https://books.google.com/books?id=U5kwEAAAQBAJ&dq=progressive+reform+%22great+Plains%22&pg=PR7 online] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230814011515/https://books.google.com/books?id=U5kwEAAAQBAJ&dq=progressive+reform+%22great+Plains%22&pg=PR7 |date=August 14, 2023 }}, pp 12–17.</ref> For example, the initiative and referendum process, which allows voters to directly enact laws, was first adopted in South Dakota in 1898. The direct primary, which allows voters to choose their party's candidates in primary elections, was first adopted in Wisconsin in 1903.<ref>Jon K. Lauck et al. ''The Plains Political Tradition: Essays on South Dakota Political Culture '' (South Dakota Historical Society Press, 2018).</ref><ref>Robert W. Cherny, ''Populism, Progressivism, and the Transformation of Nebraska Politics, 1885–1915'' (1981).</ref>

Progressive reformers in the Great Plains focused on high priority issues, especially:<ref>John D. Buenker, and Edward R. Kantowicz, eds. ''Historical dictionary of the Progressive Era, 1890–1920'' (Greenwood, 1988). covers each state. [https://archive.org/details/historicaldictio0000buen online]</ref><ref>David J. Wishart, ed. ''Encyclopedia of the Great Plains'' (2004) pp.649-650.</ref>
*Regulation of railroads and public utilities
*Prohibition<ref>Patrick G. O'Brien, "Prohibition and the Kansas Progressive Example". ''Great Plains Quarterly'' (1987): 219-231.</ref>
*Employer liability and workers' compensation
*Protections for consumers
*State-owned enterprises
*Woman suffrage

Progressives in the Great Plains were more likely to support direct democracy, woman suffrage, and Prohibition than their counterparts elsewhere. They were also more likely to favor state-owned enterprises, especially those devoted to economic development. Plains progressivism was more radical than progressivism in eastern states, with a greater focus on direct democracy, woman suffrage, and Prohibition. Plains progressives were more isolationist regarding foreign policy, largely in response to the large German and Scandinavian elements. Socialists were more active than elsewhere, Progressive reforms had a significant long-term impact on the region. They helped to improve the lives of workers, farmers, and consumers. They also helped to make the Plains states more democratic and responsive to the needs of their citizens.<ref>William D. Rowley, "The West as Laboratory and Mirror of Reform" in Gerald D Nash and Richard W Etulain, eds, ''The 20th century West: historical interpretations'' (1989) 339-359</ref>