As America entered the twentieth century, it was a nation transformed by immigration, industrialization, and urbanization. As the nation abandoned its agricultural past and embraced its factory-driven future, tremendous tensions gripped its society. These challenges led in part to the rise of the progressive movement, which sought to strengthen the American economy and political structure. The progressives were successful to a great extent in improving urban life and eliminating much of the political corruption which plagued the nation.

An important area of reform was urban living conditions. Cities were constantly growing due to the increasing availability of jobs. This led to a need of lots of housing, quickly. It was built cheaply and most areas in the city turned into tenements and slums where crime went unpunished. Many families were crammed into the small buildings, most of which were unsanitary. Thus, disease quickly spread. However, the industrial revolution the nation experienced around the early 1900s led to improved city housing. This is because of the new technology that let richer people move farther out of the city and ride back in on the new automobiles and trolley systems. Since the wealthy moved out, a larger amount of poorer people could move in. Although there were no great reform movements due to the changing technology urbanization underwent a major reform.
Another key area of reform was the Government reform. Laissez-faire capitalism overtook the nation. It allowed that private production was more successful without high taxation and the influence of a big government. This led to the domination of big businesses. However, they became too big and the Sherman Anti-Trust Act was made. It prohibited trusts, therefore limiting how large and powerful one company could become. Another product of the political reform was the Populist Party. It wanted the abolition of national banks, graduated income tax, direct election of senators, and a civil service reform. It did not succeed in gaining everything it desired, but in 1913, the direct election of senators was recognized with the ratification of the 17th amendment. These changes helped in eliminating political corruption.

Although the United States experienced many attempts at reforms few were entirely successful. Granted most did see results, they were not as large as what Americans desired. Overall, though, urban life and government reform both improved somewhat.