Robert La Follette Sr.Robert La Follette Sr.By: Will SmithBy: Will Smith

June 14, 1855 – June 18, 1925

VocationVocation

Served 2 terms as Dane County District Served 2 terms as Dane County District AttorneyAttorney

Served 3 terms as a Representative in the Served 3 terms as a Representative in the House House

Served 2 terms as Governor of WisconsinServed 2 terms as Governor of Wisconsin Ran for President as the nominee of his own Ran for President as the nominee of his own

Progressive Party in 1924, winning 17% of Progressive Party in 1924, winning 17% of the national vote, but not the election itselfthe national vote, but not the election itself

Spent the last 19 years of his life serving in Spent the last 19 years of his life serving in the U.S. Senatethe U.S. Senate

BackgroundBackground

Education - Graduated from the University of Education - Graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1879 and in 1880, he attended Wisconsin in 1879 and in 1880, he attended law school, where he got his law license.law school, where he got his law license.

Family – His father died in 1856, and the bad Family – His father died in 1856, and the bad relationship with his step-father made for a relationship with his step-father made for a bad childhood. He married Bella Case in bad childhood. He married Bella Case in 1881. Bella soon became a leader in the 1881. Bella soon became a leader in the Feminist movement, and advocate of women Feminist movement, and advocate of women suffrage and an important influence on the suffrage and an important influence on the development of La Follettedevelopment of La Follette’’s ideas.s ideas.

Defining MomentsDefining Moments In 1891, he claimed that Philetus Sawyer, a In 1891, he claimed that Philetus Sawyer, a

Wisconsin Senator and powerful republican leader, Wisconsin Senator and powerful republican leader, bribed La Follette in order to fix a case. Afterwards, bribed La Follette in order to fix a case. Afterwards, La Follette resolved to reform the Progressive party, La Follette resolved to reform the Progressive party, which really sparked his career as an influential which really sparked his career as an influential politician.politician.

In 1900, he formed a coalition that temporarily In 1900, he formed a coalition that temporarily disrupted the opponents of his reforming of the partdisrupted the opponents of his reforming of the partyy ’’s (known as the s (known as the ““StalwartsStalwarts””) hold on the nomination ) hold on the nomination process. After winning the nomination for the process. After winning the nomination for the Wisconsin Governorship, he began touring Wisconsin, Wisconsin Governorship, he began touring Wisconsin, giving speeches, and speaking in front of hundreds of giving speeches, and speaking in front of hundreds of thousands of Wisconsinites. As a result, he won the thousands of Wisconsinites. As a result, he won the 1900 campaign by over 100,000 votes.1900 campaign by over 100,000 votes.

ContributionContribution He formed the Progressive party in 1891, that He formed the Progressive party in 1891, that

pushed for direct voter control, championed pushed for direct voter control, championed consumer rights and direct election of consumer rights and direct election of nominees.nominees.

As Governor, he passed numerous progressive As Governor, he passed numerous progressive reforms, including the first workers reforms, including the first workers compensation system, railroad rate reform, compensation system, railroad rate reform, direct legislation municipal home rule, open direct legislation municipal home rule, open government, the minimum wage, non-partisan government, the minimum wage, non-partisan elections, the open primary system, direct elections, the open primary system, direct election of U.S. Senators, womenelection of U.S. Senators, women’’s suffrage s suffrage (inspired by his wife) and progressive taxation.(inspired by his wife) and progressive taxation.

Contribution (continued)Contribution (continued)

He developed a close cooperation between He developed a close cooperation between the Wisconsin state government and the the Wisconsin state government and the University he graduated from, the University he graduated from, the University of Wisconsin in development of University of Wisconsin in development of his progressive policy, the goals of which his progressive policy, the goals of which included recall, referendum, direct primary included recall, referendum, direct primary and initiative.and initiative.

As a Senator, he campaigned for child As a Senator, he campaigned for child labor laws, social security, womenlabor laws, social security, women ’’s s suffrage and other progressive reforms. suffrage and other progressive reforms.

SourcesSources

www.wikipedia.org