Dallas : experiments in progressivism, 1898-1919 /
The end of the nineteenth and the dawn of the twentieth century brought dramatic changes to urban areas. Rapid growth outstripped the ability of nineteenth-century institutions to govern burgeoning cities. Inadequate city charters, state interference with home rule coupled with dramatic growth led...
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| Format: | Thesis Book |
| Language: | English |
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[Place of publication not identified] :
[publisher not identified] ;
1996.
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| Online Access: | http://proxy.library.tamu.edu/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=739653191&sid=1&Fmt=2&clientId=2945&RQT=309&VName=PQD |
| Summary: | The end of the nineteenth and the dawn of the twentieth century brought dramatic changes to urban areas. Rapid growth outstripped the ability of nineteenth-century institutions to govern burgeoning cities. Inadequate city charters, state interference with home rule coupled with dramatic growth led to chaotic distribution of services. A combination of the inability of weak mayors and city councils to manage the political system and ward-based politics, which focused on particularistic, local issues and failed to address the problems of the city as a whole, led to demands for a series of reforms that swept urban centers in the early twentieth century. Reform structures began to evolve that aimed at instituting a more rational centralized form of city government. Many of these institutional changes came from the business community who argued that stronger mayors would provide focus to city government and civil service would end patronage as a function of politics. Reformers acclaimed efficient, professional leadership as the way to end partisanship and political corruption. Many of these reformers rejected group struggle as an essential part of urban politics and believed in the right of qualified individuals to manage municipal affairs without interference. As a citizens of a struggling young city , businessmen in Dallas believed their city needed to illustrate dynamic growth and a healthy business climate while still controlling costs. In the eyes of her energetic, competitive business community, progressive rhetoric and reform offered ideal tools to help in their efforts. Dallas business elements were capable of flexible, cooperative actions to secure benefits for their city. Using nonpartisan, voluntary associations, businessmen controlled city government and thus the process of extending services throughout the city. Dallas women proved equally capable of mobilizing support to bring improvements to the physical and social environment. However, all groups working to change Dallas operated within a political and social framework that practiced exclusion of the poor and minority citizens of Dallas. While this exclusion aided in their control of the political structure, it also had dramatic impact on the living conditions of many of its citizens. |
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| Item Description: | Vita. "Major Subject: History". |
| Physical Description: | vii, 228 leaves ; 28 cm. Issued also on microfiche from University Microfilms Inc. |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references: pages 214-227. |