The Progressives: Their Objectives and Accomplishments

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The Progressives
“The progressive movement is a local, state, and national campaign for economic, social, and political justice” (Bales). The movement remained active from 1898 (the Spanish American War) to 1918 (at the end of World War I), with roots in the Jacksonian reforms and the populist party. Progressives were made up of middle-class professionals, including teachers, lawyers, and doctors, among others. These educated individuals thought that the wealthy were taking far too much from the country's resources while the rest of the populace languished in poverty. Unlike the progressives, the wealthy conservatives intended to retain the status quo because, for them, life was great. Thus, conservatives were the direct opposite of the progressives.
For instance, factory workers, miners, and farmers wanted better working conditions within factories and workplaces besides better pay to sustain a decent life. The movement was also pro-union leading to the Americ...