Machines, Progressives, and Women’s Suffrage

Abstract

The Machine Era of the late 19th and early-to-mid 20th centuries represents a time of widespread voter fraud, as immigrants and migrating southerners were incorporated into the electorate of large, northern cities and statewide machines took hold in the South. To stop the fraud, the Progressive reforms included the Australian (secret) ballot, ballots allowing ticket-splitting, and voter registration. Political scientists have had heated debates about whether or not these changes depressed voter turnout or simply stopped fraud. The movement for women’s suffrage gained support from President Wilson after activists softened the strong arguments for absolute equal treatment with a focus on good government that mirrored the Progressives’ priorities.