Final answer:
While Oklahoma's Constitution included progressive elements such as improved labor laws, initiative, and referendum, and the regulation of public welfare, it also contained Jim Crow laws, which contradicted the inclusive and egalitarian objectives of the Progressive movement.
Step-by-step explanation:
Oklahoma's Constitution passed in 1907, displayed a combination of modernity and restriction for the era. One of the aspects that reflects its progressive nature is improved labor laws, which shortened workdays to 8 hours. This change was part of a progressive movement that advocated for better working conditions and laws that protected workers. Such labor reforms echo the sentiments of progressives like Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, who believed the law should reflect the "felt necessities of the time," aligning with social ends.
Another progressive characteristic of Oklahoma’s Constitution is the authorization of initiative and referendum, drawing from the Progressive Era's push to expand democracy by allowing citizens more control over legislation. These reforms enabled citizens to propose laws or challenge existing ones directly, bypassing potentially obstructive legislative bodies.
The establishment of boards to oversee and regulate aspects such as health, dentistry, and food production was also in line with the national progressive trend towards governmental involvement in ensuring public welfare and combating corporate abuses.
However, the inclusion of Jim Crow laws within the Constitution does not represent the progressive ethos that is typically aimed towards increasing equality and democratic processes. In contrast, Jim Crow laws were restrictive and enforced racial segregation, which is contradictory to the broader motives of the Progressive movement that sought to advance social justice.