The Gilded Age believed in a very limited government. All that changed during the Progressive Era. It was the Progressives belief that Government did have a role and could help change people’s lives for the better. What was good about the Progressives is that they believed they could make every life better and for many they did help. What was bad about the Progressives is that the way they wanted to help was to make everyone else like them. A good example is bringing American Indian children East to White schools to teach the “Indian” out of them. If all people acted and believed the way they did everyone could be happy.
Historically Speaking 