Progressivism facts for kids

John Gast, American Progress, c. 1872. This painting shows new settlers moving west. It suggests that this movement was a good thing for the country.

Progressivism is a way of thinking that supports making society better. It is about believing that people can improve things. This includes using new ideas in science and technology. It also means making our economy and how we organize society better. The main goal is to improve life for everyone.

What is Progressivism?

Progressivism is a belief that society can get better over time. It suggests that humans can improve their lives. This happens through new ideas, discoveries, and better ways of organizing things. People who support progressivism often want to fix problems in society. They believe in using reason and science to find solutions.

Key Ideas of Progressivism

The main idea behind progressivism is "progress." This means moving forward and improving. People who are progressive believe in:

• Using science and new technology to solve problems.
• Making the economy fair for everyone.
• Improving how society is organized.
• Working to make life better for all people.

This way of thinking often leads to calls for social reform. Social reform means making big changes to improve society. These changes might help workers, protect the environment, or make government fairer.

Important Leaders

Many important people have been part of progressive movements. Some well-known leaders include:

• Theodore Roosevelt: He was a U.S. President who worked to break up large monopolies. He also helped protect natural lands.
• Hiram Johnson: He was a governor and senator from California. He fought against corruption in government.
• William Howard Taft: Another U.S. President, he continued many of Roosevelt's progressive policies.
• Robert M. LaFollette: He was a senator from Wisconsin. He pushed for reforms to make government more democratic.

These leaders worked to make government more responsive to people. They also tried to make businesses more responsible.

Images for kids

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  Immanuel Kant was a philosopher. His ideas helped shape the concept of progress.

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  John Stuart Mill was another philosopher. He wrote about individual freedom and social progress.

See also

• In Spanish: Progresismo para niños