Progressive Era between 1890s and 1920s in the US history is the era of social activism and political reforms in national level, by the Federal Government across United States.
This era recorded many successes, but it was with limitations.
Explanation:
The malaise of corruption in government triggered this era in US.
The main objective of the Progressive movement was eliminating corruption in government. By so doing, direct democracy would be established.
Also it is means for regulation monopolies and corporations through antitrust laws.
These antitrust laws were seen as a way to promote equal competition.
Succesess-
The movement brought about constitutional change
Banned the manufacturing, sale, and transport of alcohol.
Women were given the right to vote.
Efficiency in movement in every sector that could identify old ways that needed modernizing, and that could bring to bear scientific, medical, and engineering solutions.
Most of its themes are still important parts of industrial engineering and management today. These include analysis, synthesis, logic, rationality, empiricism, work ethic, efficiency and elimination of waste, and standardization of best practices.
Many activists joined efforts to reform local government, public education, medicine, finance, insurance, industry, railroads, churches, and many other areas. Progressives transformed, professionalized, and made “scientific” the social sciences, especially history, economics, and political science. In academic fields, the day of the amateur author gave way to the research professor who published in the new scholarly journals and presses.
Initially the movement operated chiefly at local levels; later, it expanded to state and national levels. Progressives drew support from the middle class, and supporters included many lawyers, teachers, physicians, ministers, and business people. Some Progressives strongly supported scientific methods as applied to economics, government, industry, finance, medicine, schooling, theology, education, and even the family.
They closely followed advances underway at the time in western Europe and adopted numerous policies, such as a major transformation of the banking system through the creation of the Federal Reserve System in 1913. Reformers felt that old-fashioned ways meant waste and inefficiency, and they eagerly sought out the “one best system.”
The limitations were the difficulty they encountered in changing the giant old systems. Most of the progressive team came under criticism between 1990 and 1920. Many of their resolutions were scrapped.
