Progressivism is a political and social-reform movement that seeks to advance the human condition through social reform based on advancements in science, technology, economic development, and social organization. It arose during the Age of Enlightenment out of the belief that civility in Europe was improving due to the application of new empirical knowledge to the governance of society. Progressivism is often associated with social liberalism, a left-leaning type of liberalism, in contrast to the right-leaning neoliberalism, combining support for a mixed economy with cultural liberalism.
In the United States, progressivism was a political and social-reform movement that brought major changes to American politics and government during the first two decades of the 20th century. The Progressive movement accommodated a diverse array of reformers who formed new organizations and institutions with the common objective of strengthening the national government and making it more responsive to popular economic, social, and political demands.
Progressivists believe that individuality, progress, and change are fundamental to ones education. They center their curricula on the needs, experiences, interests, and abilities of students, and try to make school interesting and useful by planning lessons that provoke curiosity. In a progressivist school, students are actively learning, interacting with one another, and developing social qualities such as cooperation and tolerance for different points of view.
The goals of progressivism include making American society a better and safer place in which to live, making big business more responsible, and promoting social justice. Progressivism is grounded in the idea of progress, moving beyond the status quo to more equal and just social conditions consistent with the values of democracy, freedom, and equality.
