Progressive movement

Cultural  

1. A movement for reform that occurred roughly between 1900 and 1920. Progressives typically held that irresponsible actions by the rich were corrupting both public and private life. They called for measures such as trust busting, the regulation of railroads, provisions for the people to vote on laws themselves through referendum, the election of the Senate by the people rather than by state legislatures, and a graduated income tax (one in which higher tax rates are applied to higher incomes). The Progressives were able to get much of their program passed into law. Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson were associated with the movement.

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Example Sentences

This has brought in migrant workers from other regions, and also created an urban middle class which is more responsive to the reformist ideas of the progressive movement.

From BBC • Feb. 24, 2026

McElwee left the progressive movement and joined forces with moderate Democrats before becoming embroiled in ethical scandals.

From Slate • Jan. 12, 2026

His proposals shocked the city’s corporate elite and minted him a new leader of the progressive movement.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 1, 2025

The work to educate, empower, and mobilize young people has always been about building a progressive movement that is larger than any single candidate or election year.

From Salon • Nov. 29, 2024

One German writer says that we must eliminate from our belief the last drop of faith in the idea of a progressive movement of humanity as a whole.

From The Psychology of Nations A Contribution to the Philosophy of History by Partridge, G.E.