Progressivism was not an organized set of reforms via political movement but it was

a collection as well as prevailing of different ideas and their practice. Progressives

had many different views and solutions to the ills of American society. Their major
belief was industrialization as well as urbanizations has created most of problems
for the American society. Most of them were of the opinion that government should
play its role in solving the social problems and creating solutions for them.
Progressives were from both the political parties and usually were urban, educated
middle-class Americans. Many leaders of the Progressive movement worked as
journalists, social workers, educators, politicians, and members of the clergy.
Progressivism was actually a reaction against laissez-faire economics and its forceful
agenda of free market economy. Looking on to the filth and problems of middle
class society these progressives believed that free market economy is failing the
economic system and cannot address the problems in a right way. They also
believed the government to be responsible for these results of the free market
economy. They concluded that government had to be fixed first before it could be
used to fix other problems. Progressives were strong supporters of science and
technology therefore they believed in public logically that masses can change the
situation. They thought application of scientific knowledge had produced the
lightbulb, the telephone, the automobile, and the airplane also social science is the
solution to their social problems. It had built skyscrapers and railroads. Science and
technology had benefited people; thus progressives believed using scientific
principles could also produce solutions for society.