Progressivism was a reaction to 19th century greed and ignorance. They were against the corruption of big business/political relationships. They supported fair treatment for immigrants, equal rights for women and social programs for the poor. They supported the rights of small farmers against the railroad oligopoly that made transportation costs untenable. They supported conservation.
The Progressive Party came into existence in 1912. The platform called for women’s suffrage, recall of judicial decisions, easier amendment of the U.S. Constitution, social welfare legislation for women and children, workers’ compensation, limited injunctions in strikes, farm relief, revision of banking to assure an elastic currency, required health insurance in industry, new inheritance taxes and income taxes.
If I were doing this assignment I would do a comparison between 19th century progressivism and 21st century progressivism, but that would require research of both.