In the context of early twentieth century United States history, which reform idea did the Progressive movement strongly support?

Introduction / Context:
The Progressive movement in the United States emerged in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries as a response to the problems created by rapid industrialisation, urban growth, and the power of large corporations. Progressives were not a single unified party, but a broad coalition that sought to reform politics, regulate big business, and improve social conditions. This question asks you to identify which type of reform the Progressives strongly supported, a common theme in world and American history sections of general knowledge exams.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question is about the Progressive movement, also called progressives, in the United States.
• Options range from more government regulation to complete laissez faire and even restoration of monarchy.
• We assume a basic understanding that Progressives were reformers who wanted to use government power to correct abuses.
• The focus is on their attitude toward big business and economic regulation.

Concept / Approach:
Progressives believed that unregulated capitalism had produced monopolies, unsafe working conditions, child labour, and political corruption. They did not usually oppose capitalism itself but wanted government to act as a referee to curb abuses. Key goals included antitrust laws to break up monopolies, food and drug safety regulations, labour protections, and political reforms like direct election of senators and secret ballots. Because of this, they supported greater government regulation of big business and measures to protect consumers and workers, rather than leaving the economy entirely to market forces.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the Progressive movement arose partly in reaction to the power of trusts and large corporations in the Gilded Age.Step 2: Understand that Progressives favoured using laws and government agencies to restrain monopolies and improve working and living conditions.Step 3: Note that they supported measures such as antitrust prosecutions, pure food and drug laws, and workplace safety rules.Step 4: Compare this with the idea of laissez faire, which means minimal government interference in the economy and was associated with earlier policies that Progressives criticised.Step 5: Evaluate the options and identify the one that closely matches Progressive goals: greater regulation of big business and protection of consumers and workers.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify this by connecting the Progressive movement with specific leaders such as Theodore Roosevelt, who earned the nickname trust buster for using antitrust laws against large corporations. Progressives also supported legislation like the Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Act, which clearly reflect an emphasis on regulation and consumer protection. There is no historical evidence that Progressives wanted a return to monarchy or complete abolition of taxes on corporations. All standard history texts describe Progressives as reformers who wanted to make capitalism more fair by increasing government oversight.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Complete return to laissez faire policies with no regulation of industry: This describes the very approach that Progressives criticised as allowing monopolies and abuse.
• Restoration of absolute monarchy and hereditary titles in the United States: This is entirely against the democratic and republican values of the Progressive movement.
• Total abolition of all taxes on corporations and wealthy individuals: Progressives often favoured fairer taxation and sometimes supported income taxes on higher earners, not total exemption.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse Progressive era reforms with later or more radical movements. For example, some may think Progressives wanted to end capitalism altogether, when in fact they generally wanted to regulate it, not replace it. Others may wrongly assume that any movement labelled reform is automatically anti tax or anti government. A good way to remember is that Progressives were reformers who believed government should be active in regulating big business and improving society, but they did not generally call for revolutionary change in the economic system itself.

Final Answer:
The Progressive movement strongly supported greater government regulation of big business and protection of consumers and workers in order to reduce abuses of unregulated industrial capitalism.