Progressive Era

In this article, historians argue over the motives of the progressives during the Progressive Era. The Progressives were seen to some as an organization that benefitted the elite and professional figures in society. The progressives', "status anxiety," made some historians think that the reforms of the Progressive Era were a diguise to manipulate American society. Other historians just believe that the progressives actually were there for the enhancement of American culture. I think that both are true in their own ways. There were progressives interested in just helping America genuinely become a better nation, but there was also "progressives" that were just there benefit for themselves in the perfect scheme.

Populism

In this article, they talk about how historians believe that populism was antidemocratic and dangerous. I believe that having that particular social group is greatly important. They are just like the thousands of other groups formed because a group of Americans dissatisfaction with the direction of the country, just as the Ku Klux Klan or the American Temperance Society were. America has always been a nation where people could speak their minds, and though they may of had some radical ideas, like the demands for the remonetization of silver or the government warehouse, their intentions of trying to keep and heighten the lives of farmers were reasonable.