Editing History of Missouri (section)

===Progressive reform and politics===
The Progressive Era (1890s to 1920s) saw numerous prominent leaders from Missouri trying to end corruption and modernize politics, government and society.

====St. Louis World's Fair of 1904====
{{Main|Louisiana Purchase Exposition}}
Governor [[David Rowland Francis]] was a key main promoter of the St. Louis World's Fair of 1904, serving as President of what was formally titled [[Louisiana Purchase Exposition]]. Historians generally emphasize the prominence of themes of race and empire, and the Fair's long-lasting impact on intellectuals in the fields of history, art history, architecture and anthropology. From the point of view of the memory of the average person who attended the fair, it primarily promoted entertainment, consumer goods and popular culture.<ref>James Gilbert, ''Whose Fair?  Experience, and Memory, and the History of the Great St. Louis Exposition'' (2009)</ref><ref>David Rowland Francis, ''The universal exposition of 1904.'' (Louisiana purchase exposition Company, 1913). [https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=lang_en|lang_fr&id=rpUhAQAAMAAJ online].</ref>

====Governor Joseph Folk====
[[Joseph Folk]] was a key leader who made a strong appeal to middle class and rural evangelical Protestants. Folk, a Democrat, was elected governor as a progressive reformer in the [[Missouri gubernatorial election, 1904|1904 election]]. He promoted what he called "the Missouri Idea", the concept of Missouri as a leader in public morality through popular control of law and strict enforcement. He successfully conducted antitrust prosecutions, ended free railroad passes for state officials, extended bribery statues, improved election laws, required formal registration for lobbyists, made racetrack gambling illegal, and enforced the Sunday-closing law. He helped enact Progressive legislation, including an initiative and referendum provision, regulation of elections, education, employment and child labor, railroads, food, business, and public utilities. A number of efficiency-oriented examiner boards and commissions were established during Folk's administration, including many agricultural boards and the Missouri library commission.<ref>Steven L. Piott, ''Holy Joe: Joseph Folk and the Missouri Idea'' (1997)</ref>

During 1892–1904 the Democratic Party lost its dominance of Missouri state politics, and by the 1920s the Republican and Democratic parties were roughly evenly matched in strength. Partly this was due to corruption among Democrats in St. Louis, but also Republicans gained from presiding over the swift, decisive American victory in the [[Spanish–American War]] of 1898.<ref name="meyer 1982 548-9">Meyer (1982), 548–549.</ref> In the [[United States presidential election, 1904|1904 presidential election]], Missouri was carried by President [[Theodore Roosevelt]], the first time the state had voted Republican in ten presidential elections, and was on course to become a swing state for most of the 20th century.

====Farming====
Between the Civil War and the end of [[World War II]], Missouri transitioned from a rural economy to a hybrid industrial-service-agricultural economy as the Midwest rapidly industrialized. The expansion of railroads to the West transformed Kansas City into a major transportation hub within the nation. The growth of the Texas cattle industry along with this increased rail infrastructure and the invention of the [[refrigerated boxcar]] also made Kansas City a major [[meatpacking]] center, as large [[cattle drives]] from Texas brought herds of cattle to [[Dodge City]] and other Kansas towns. There, the cattle were loaded onto trains destined for Kansas City, where they were butchered and distributed to the eastern markets. The first half of the twentieth century was the height of Kansas City's prominence and its downtown became a showcase for stylish [[Art Deco]] [[skyscrapers]] as construction boomed.

====Children====
The Missouri Children's Code Commission was the product of a Progressive reform movement which involved prominent educators and social workers and a coalition of citizens' groups. The first commission began in 1915 to develop proposals to protect children from harsh working conditions and deal with delinquency, neglect, and child welfare. Its proposals were rejected by the conservative legislature. Appointed in 1917, the second commission revised the earlier proposals and actively engaged in an educational promotional campaign, gaining the support of various organizations such as the Women's Christian Temperance Union, The Red Cross, women's clubs, suffrage groups, and others. The Missouri Children's Code was finally passed in 1919.<ref name="romanofsky 1974 204-222">Romanofsky (1974), 204–222.</ref>

In 1919 Missouri became the 11th state to ratify the [[Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution|19th amendment]], which granted women the right to vote.

====Environment====
During the Progressive Era in the early twentieth century, there were three competing visions of appropriate control and use of water resources of the Missouri River; they were expressed by three organizations: the [[Kansas City Commercial Club]] (KCCC), the Missouri River Sanitary Conference (MRSC), and the Missouri Valley Public Health Association (MVPHA). The KCCC's vision of commercial development envisioned the "Economic River." MRSC's vision of a shared water supply requiring protection through community cooperation emphasized the "Healthy River." MVPHA's vision of commercial development coupled with individual efforts to prevent pollution was a compromise blending of the first two. The "Economic River" represents the Progressive approach focused on professional elites and federal solutions, whereas the "Healthy River" represents the approach focused on community leadership and solutions, as well as an early example of holistic, locally oriented conservation.<ref name="mallea">Mallea (2002).</ref>

Sarvis (2000, 2002) traces the controversy over the creation of the [[Ozark National Scenic Riverways]] (ONSR) in southeastern Missouri. Boasting clear rivers and spectacular landscape, the area saw a political contest for control of river recreational development between two federal agencies, the [[National Park Service]] (NPS) and the [[U.S. Forest Service]]. Local residents opposed NPS plans that included eminent domain acquisition of private property. Both agencies presented rival bills in Congress, and in 1964 the NPS plan was selected by Congress. In the long run the NPS has successfully accommodated and supervised OSNR recreation for two million visitors a year. By contrast, the Forest Service's nearby recreational activities have handled no more than 16,000 visitors yearly.<ref name="sarvis 2000">Sarvis (2000).</ref><ref name="sarvis 2002">Sarvis (2002).</ref>