The progressives of the early 20th century wanted among other things:
To increase democracy - they promoted women's suffrage out of a religious motivation. They thought that women would vote purely on a moral basis.
To attain social justice - the progressives were worried about corruption, poverty, and malnutrition. They impulsed the creation of the FDA, and sought the removal from office of corrupted officials who they thought, caused poverty by being inefficient and committing crimes such as embezzlement.
Improve the negative effects of industrialization and urbanization - the progressives were worried about infraestructure, public sanitation, water supply, among other issues that were problematic in cities in the early 20th century.
