Fighting Bob La Follette: The Righteous Reformer

Fighting Bob La Follette: The Righteous Reformer

by Nancy C. Unger

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	5643 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	409 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Item Weight	:	6.4 ounces
Dimensions	:	4.72 x 7.87 inches

FREE

Robert M. La Follette, Sr. was a leading figure in the Progressive Era, a time of great social and political change in the United States. Born in Primrose, Wisconsin, in 1855, La Follette was the son of a Norwegian immigrant farmer. He grew up in poverty, but he was a bright and ambitious young man. He attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he studied law. After graduating, he returned to Primrose and began practicing law.

La Follette quickly became involved in politics. He was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1885, and he served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1887 to 1891. As a congressman, La Follette was a strong advocate for farmers and workers. He supported measures to regulate railroads and trusts, and he fought for an income tax and a graduated inheritance tax.

In 1891, La Follette was elected governor of Wisconsin. He served as governor for three terms, and he used his office to implement a number of progressive reforms. He established a railroad commission to regulate railroad rates, and he created a state income tax. He also passed laws to protect workers and to improve the state's educational system.

La Follette's progressive reforms made him a popular figure in Wisconsin, but they also made him a target of the state's Republican Party establishment. In 1906, La Follette was defeated for re-election by a conservative Republican. However, La Follette did not give up on his progressive ideals. He continued to campaign for reform, and in 1910, he was elected to the U.S. Senate.

La Follette served in the Senate for 20 years. He was a leading voice for progressive causes, and he fought against the power of big business and corruption in government. He supported measures to regulate child labor, to protect workers' rights, and to create a more just and equitable society.

La Follette was a controversial figure, but he was also a respected and admired leader. He was known for his honesty, his integrity, and his unwavering commitment to progressive ideals. He was a true champion of the people, and he left a lasting legacy of reform in Wisconsin and throughout the United States.

Legacy

Robert M. La Follette, Sr. is remembered as one of the most important figures in the Progressive Era. His reforms helped to improve the lives of millions of Americans, and his legacy continues to inspire progressives today. La Follette's fight for social and economic justice is a reminder that even the most powerful interests can be defeated when the people stand up and demand change.

La Follette's legacy is also visible in the many institutions that he helped to create. The University of Wisconsin-Madison, the Wisconsin State Capitol, and the Wisconsin Historical Society are all monuments to La Follette's progressive vision.

Robert M. La Follette, Sr. was a true American hero. He was a man of great courage, integrity, and vision. He fought for what he believed in, and he never gave up on his dreams of a more just and equitable society. La Follette's legacy is a reminder that one person can make a difference in the world.

Fighting Bob La Follette: The Righteous Reformer

by Nancy C. Unger

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	5643 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	409 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Item Weight	:	6.4 ounces
Dimensions	:	4.72 x 7.87 inches

FREE