In which period did political reforms significantly weaken party machines?

Political reforms significantly weakened party machines during the early 1900s due to a series of movements and structural changes aimed at reducing the influence of political parties over government and elections.

During this time, various Progressive Era reforms were implemented, which included measures such as the direct election of senators, the introduction of secret ballots, and the establishment of primaries for selecting party nominees. These reforms were designed to make the electoral process more democratic and less susceptible to corruption, thereby undermining the power of entrenched party institutions that thrived on patronage and machine politics.

The emphasis on direct participation by the electorate and the reduction of party control over nominations and elections diminished the capacity of party machines to exert influence over voters and political processes. This era set a foundational shift in American politics where individual voters gained more power, leading to a decrease in the dominance of traditional party structures.