A Study Of Raffleite And The Progressive Movement

America was experiencing a serious of shocks caused by the social transformation during the late 19 th and early 20 th century, which have several performances, for example, the unprecedented charge of traditional free economy and the appearance of the private monopoly; the destroy of the Jeffersonian Democracy that was replaced by the leader’s excessive power and political corruption; the decline of personal values and the growth of collectivism and state concept. Dramatic social transformation lead to the change of the original social structure, wealth and power was more concentrated on the minority, the middle class was gradually marginalization, social wealth became more disparity. The middle class and the intellectual whom with social responsibility, one after another walk to the history reception for reform, of them, Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson and Robert La Follette were representatives, the first two are the delegates of federal reform, La Follette is the delegate of state reform.It was tortuous that La Follette’s political experience is, who has served as the Dane District Attorney, the Congressman, the Governor of Wisconsin, the Senator, and played different roles in different positions. However, the most brilliant period for La Follette lies in the position of the Wisconsin governor, because during that time he could concentrate the power into his hands, so it assured him carry on a radical reform, and made a effective cooperation with Wisconsin University, which was called “the Wisconsin Idea” in history. During the time of his service in the senate, La Follette also gave impetus to some Progressive legislation, however, compared with the reform results in Wisconsin, is appears insignificant. Although the death of La Follette constituted of a great loss for the Progressivism Movement, his Progressive tradition left to American became precious wealth in spiritual and system field. This article regard the Progressive Movement as the great background, consider La Follette as the study object, take La Follette’s experience as the trail, to revisit the Progressive Movement in a micro perspective through the analysis of La Follette’s political experience and major reform measures.