Question

to what degree and in what ways were progressives able to make the american political systme more democratic at national, state, and local levels?

Answer 1

At the national level, new legislation under President Roosevelt and other candidates of the progressive party reduces the power of the big businesses by limiting trusts and monopolies.

However, at the state level, the new ideas of initiative and referendum aimed to limit the power of the machines and give more power of the electorate. Also, direct primary and recall elections gave more people power over their political candidates. At the local level, city governments became more democratic through "commision plans" and city managers.