Following independence from Britain’s regime, U.S. statesmen revolted against any forms of centralized government and incorporated a separation of power into the constitution by leaving out the administrative branch of the government. This paved the way for the dominance of boss politics as a form of governance at the state and local branches of government in the United States for a hundred years. With presidents no longer overseeing complex executive agencies, boss politics operated on the basis of keeping one political party in power by informally electing one individual to be at the center of political control in a city or region. This resulted in bosses dictating voting patterns, controlling appointments and influencing other political processes. To garner support, they supplied tangible rewards to their supporters that ranged from jobs, money and even city contracts all in return for their continuous votes.
After 100 years of boss politics and the patronage (spoils) systems in place, American government was highly unregulated. As a result, social forces that converged during this time which would be coined “The Progressive Era”. One force was the closing of the American frontier due to technological developments in which workers now sought employment at steel plow, automobile, railroad and other industries thereby leading to the rapid urbanization of major cities throughout America. Another force during this period was the American Industrial Revolution which had major developments such as railroad expansion and the shift from goods being made at home to machine and factory production. There were also inventions such as the light bulb, telephone and automobile. Other forces that contributed to the progressive movement were the Pendleton Act, women’s suffrage movement, voting reforms and child labor laws.
Upon the election of Woodrow Wilson, this era of change would have it biggest leader yet. Wilson passed many progressive reforms and legislative agendas...