In the United States (US), progressive reform was driven by a loose-knit group of reformers that were focused on social and governmental change. The late 18th and early 19th century American reform movement instituted legal changes to end political corruption. Also, it sought to pass laws at all levels of government to regulate child labor, support women’s rights, protect the public against corrupt business practices, and to enforce basic human rights.

The progressive reform movement organized politically in 1912 to support the Progressive Party ticket of Theodore Roosevelt and again in 1924 to push the independent presidential candidacy of Robert LaFollette. Progressive supporters’ concerns varied widely, but the reform movement focused on social issues related to fair wages and safe working conditions. Legislation outlawing child labor, limits on working hours, and a minimum wage for working women were important national issues of the progressive era. Although both candidates failed to win election, laws were passed to address the social ills the movement opposed.

In 1883, the federal government passed the Pendleton Act to regulate federal civil service hiring — also motivated by progressive reform. Prior to the passage, federal positions were assigned to the political party in power and the winning party generally looked forward to hiring supporters. Friends and relatives also expected new, well-paying jobs.

The Pendleton Act required potential federal employees to provide proof of qualifications related to the job. Competitive scores on standardized exams were also mandated under the new law. A federal Civil Service Commission was established to enforce the provisions of the law. The 1883 act, with additional provisions to prohibit the demoting or firing of federal employees based on political beliefs, is the basis of the current civil service requirements.

Passage in 1914 of both the Clayton Antitrust Act and the Federal Trade Act — prohibiting business monopolies and protecting the public against dangerous food manufacturing practices — was also a result of the progressive reform movement. The federal laws outlawed price-fixing by large corporations. Artificially low prices shut out small businesses and any competition; once the competition was eliminated, higher prices were restored by large producers and consumers were left with limited product choices. The progressive legislation also gave the Federal Trade Commission the duty to protect the public against business fraud and set up regulations to protect consumers. Large companies were prohibited from selling shoddy and dangerous products.

Local and state reform movements were more successful in enacting legal changes during the height of the progressive era. California and Wisconsin led the nation in numbers of supporters, as well as in passing legal reforms. Modern California voting operations incorporate the progressive reforms of the initiative, referendum and recall, allowing direct public participation in government. Political innovations of the progressive reform also include the secret ballot and the direct primary. All reforms provided direct involvement of the voters and were motivated by the desire to eliminate the political corruption that flourished under the ward voting system where party bosses courted favors from candidates in exchange for turning out the vote.

Ratified in 1913, the Seventeenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States provided for the direct election of US Senators by the people of the state. The Constitution stipulated appointment of national senators by the state legislature but the progressive movement noted problems with corruption in the selection process. Cases of corruption and disputed elections faced the US Senate after each election cycle. Progressives in Oregon lead the nation in 1907 by selecting Oregon's US Senator through a direct election.

The Nineteenth Amendment of 1920 guaranteeing female suffrage was another important progressive reform that gained national support. Wyoming was the only state that allowed women to vote in 1890 and Utah, Idaho, and Colorado passed female suffrage laws by 1900. A national progressive movement to collect the required two-thirds votes in the US Congress was required to send the national constitutional amendment to the states for ratification.

City government operated by professionals, including a commissioner and manager, was another popular progressive reform. The trained professionals did not owe any allegiance to an election machine and could make unpopular changes based on sound business practices. Galveston, Texas stands out as a progressive municipality that passed significant numbers of reforms beginning in 1900, including shifting local operation to a city manager.