Question

How did the "Wisconsin idea," proposed by Wisconsin governor Robert M. La Follette, help progressives achieve "a happier and better state to live in"? And how did it seek to ensure "that its institutions are more democratic, that the opportunities of all its people are more equal, [and] that social justice more nearly prevails"?

Answer 1

Progressivists believed that the purpose of government was to serve the people. They argued that corporations, oligarchs and factory owners had way too much power, and that the government needed to control this, as well as the economy.

Robert La Follette was the governor of Wisconsin between 1901 and 1906, and senator between 1906 and 1925. During these years, La Follette implemented some progressive ideas in government. He created the "Wisconsin Idea," which argued that an efficient government could be the result of expert advice and good government. The state invested heavily on education, with the intention of creating good leaders and educated citizens. It also passed many types of legislation that led to a more educated, fairer and more democratic state.