Identify the events that led to the Progressive Era, and explain who the Progressives actually were.

The events that led to the Progressive Era-which was a period of predominant social and political reforms in the United States between the 1890s and 1920s-were the socioeconomic challenges and problems caused by political corruption and inefficiency, urbanization, immigration, and industrialization. The Progressive Era aimed at tackling and removing corruption from many aspects of government and daily living, and strengthening democracy.

Generally speaking, the progressives were/included both government (political) and non-governmental leaders alike: political leaders included people like Robert M. La Follette Sr., Roosevelt Franklin, Charles Evans Hughes, Woodrow Wilson, William Jennings, etc. On the other hand, non-governmental leaders included Sophonisba Breckinridge, Jane Addams, Edith Abbott, etc.