The reason why progressives sought to eliminate government corruption was because they knew and saw how damaing it was to true democracy. This left them wanting for corruption to be brought away from the country.
The Progressives sought to eliminate government corruption in order to empower the urban poor and those who were underprivileged by society. For example, through making the 17th amendment in the constitution which states that the legislators of the United States shall be elected by the people that they represent instead of voting within the Senate, they gave chance for the people to be heard.
