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Difficulty: EasyProgressive Era Reforms and Influences

"The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote..."
— Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, ratified in 1913

Which of the following best explains the primary goal of the constitutional reform described in the excerpt?

  1. A
    To grant equal protection under the law and guarantee citizenship to all individuals born in the United States.
  2. B
    To address the economic concerns of rural farmers by establishing government-owned warehouses for agricultural goods.
  3. C
    To restore a pure laissez-faire economic policy by eliminating federal government regulation of state legislatures.
  4. To expand democratic participation by allowing citizens to vote directly for their United States senators.Answer

Answer

To expand democratic participation by allowing citizens to vote directly for their United States senators.
The Seventeenth Amendment, ratified in 1913, established the direct election of U.S. senators by the public. Prior to this reform, senators were chosen by state legislatures. This change was a key Progressive Era reform designed to increase democratic participation and reduce the influence of political machines and corporate bosses over state governments.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the provided historical document excerpt to identify the specific reform described.
The excerpt quotes the Seventeenth Amendment, which outlines the process of electing U.S. senators directly by the people rather than by state legislatures.
Identifying the subject of the document is necessary before determining its goals or significance.
2
Evaluate the options to find the primary purpose of this direct election reform during the Progressive Era.
The correct option explains that the reform aimed to expand democratic participation by allowing citizens to vote directly for their senators.
Progressives sought to make the political system more democratic and responsive to the public, reducing the influence of corrupt state party bosses.

Key Concept

Seventeenth Amendment and expansion of democracy during the Progressive Era
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Topics

Progressive Era Reforms and Influences

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