Desertion and Decline for Progressivism The decade of the 1920s discouraged the progressive movement. It was a period that had an extraordinary reaction against idealism and reform. The goal was to restore a place of special privilege benefiting big business, industry, and finance. Traditions and ideals were forgotten, nationalism was prominent with a fear of communism, suppression of civil liberties, and a revival of nativism. Because of this, progressives withdrew from the political scene, becoming …showed first 75 words of 720 total…

…showed last 75 words of 720 total…was wrecked by the election in 1920. The progressives' problems continued by conflicts within themselves as well as a lack of national leadership. Progressivism suffered a major decline also because of the desertion from the middle classes and the intellectuals, who had turned to the technological and economical changes of the country. Although the 1920s were a period of great prosperity for many people, for the progressive movement it was a time of desertion and decline.