ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Progressivism in the United States

Okay kiddo, let's talk about progressivism in the United States. Progressivism is like taking steps forward to make things better for everyone. Imagine you're trying to climb a big tree and you need a boost to get higher. Progressivism is like someone giving you a boost to help you climb higher.

In the United States, progressivism was a movement that started in the late 1800s and early 1900s. People saw problems in society and wanted to fix them. They wanted to make things better for everyone, especially those who were suffering.

One problem was that many people were working long hours in dangerous factories. Progressives wanted to make sure workers were safe and had reasonable hours. They also wanted to make sure workers got paid fairly.

Another problem was that some people weren't allowed to vote. This was especially true for women and people of color. Progressives fought for the right for everyone to vote.

Progressives also wanted to make sure that food and medicine were safe. Before progressivism, there weren't really any rules about what could be sold as food or medicine. People could sell things that were dangerous or unhealthy. Progressives fought for laws to make sure food and medicine were safe.

Overall, progressivism was about making things better for everyone. It was a movement of people who saw problems and wanted to help fix them.