What was the origins and philisophical basis of the Progressive Movement &how did it shape political reform?

Answer 1

The Progressive movement was from 1900-1920 and occurred after the infamous Gilded Age, in which nothing was done. It was a swing from conservatism to liberalism. Most "progressives" were white middle class citizens. They based their reforms on the idea that only the government can help improve citizens' conditions. They saw the dirtiness of the streets and of the people living on them as able to be reformed by a better government, and so to fix their conditions the government had to be fixed. They did this with the establishment of a secret ballot, initiative, referendum, the direct election of senators, and lots of other stuff. However, black rights were not included in this movement.

Also, referring to the "philosophical" aspect, the social gospel is something else you might want to talk about. It was the common sermon given by churches and just influential people that it was a Christian's, and everyone's, duty to contribute to society and to help it improve. Tenements and slums were a new and widespread thing in the progressive era.