What was the progressive era?

Progressivism was a way of proposing reform or changes in American society. Progressive reformers developed a theory in which they would substitute social Darwinism with reform Darwinism. Progressivism was a general spirit of reform with certain goals in mind. Progressives hoped to make government more responsive to the direct voice of Americans. They believed that through democracy, efficiency, regulation of large corporations and monopolies, and social justice they could achieve their goals to change America. Progressivism was most important from the 1890s to World War I. The kinds of people that formed the core of Progressive reform effects were urban and suburban, and mostly middle class Americans. Women played major roles in Progressive reforms. Jane Addam’s who wished to do things with, not just for the poor, expanded the Hull House offering nurseries and kindergarten for neighborhood children, classes, lectures, musical instruction, and many other things for Chicago’s poor. Along with Jane Addams, Julia Lathrop and others launched campaigns to better neighborhood housing, end child labor, and make laws to protect workers. Lillian Wald and others she convinced left medical school and moved to New York City’s lower east side to live in the neighborhood as nurses, and contribute their citizenship to the lower-class neighborhoods. Producing a new profession for women, social work, women formed the skeleton of the settlement house movement.