Progressivism expanded all throughout American cities which ended in political mechanisms full of monopolies and corrupted leaders. The Progressive Movement was a major phase of liberalism between 1900 and 1920 changed the life of the average Americans by restoring economic opportunities, protecting social welfare, promoting moral improvement, creating economic reforms, and fostering efficiency. The Progressive Movement was most successful in changing political views but wasn't as greatly successful in the social and economic extent even though they improved the average lifestyle.
The principles of the Progressive Movement which improved the life of an average American, were to limit the power of big businesses, protect labor and by reforming the banking system. It all started with Theodore Roosevelt and his Square Deal that was based off various progressive reforms. Which lead to the Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914 which sought to strengthen the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890, prohibiting corporations from taking possession of another to avoid creating monopolies. Another major act of the 1900s was the Hepburn Act of 1906 which increased the authority of the Interstate Commerce Commission over railroads and other specific types of carriers, the law strengthened the Elkins Act of 1903, that dealt with personal discrimination, This all lead to reforms at the local level such as banning child labor, minimum wage and maximum amount of hours of labor for women and city employees, Workmen's compensation for widows, building codes and state inspections, regulations of insurance and income tax.
The success of the Progressive movement through federal legislation and greater social awareness instituted standardized measures for the average American citizen. This was done by promoting human and social rights of deprived groups. Such as the NAWSA, National American Woman Suffrage Association, the strategy of the organization was to get ratification of enough state suffrage to force Congress to approve a federal amendment.
