While the progressive reforms in the United States in the early 20th century brought about significant improvements in areas such as labor conditions, public health, and political reform, they were not without their limitations. Some of the limitations of progressive reforms include:
Limited scope: Progressive reforms focused mainly on improving the lives of urban, working-class Americans, and often neglected the needs and interests of rural and minority communities. For example, the exclusion of farm laborers and domestic workers from the National Labor Relations Act of 1935 limited the scope of labor reforms.
Racism and discrimination: While progressive reformers aimed to promote social justice and equality, many of them held racist and discriminatory views towards minority groups, particularly African Americans. This limited the effectiveness of reforms in addressing racial inequality.
Limited political power: Progressive reformers faced opposition from powerful business interests and political elites, which limited their ability to enact sweeping reforms. Progressive policies such as antitrust regulation and labor protections were often weakened or undermined by political opponents.
Limited impact on economic inequality: While progressive reforms helped to improve the lives of working-class Americans, they did little to address the underlying causes of economic inequality. The concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a small elite remained largely unchanged, leading to continued disparities in income and economic opportunity.
Limited impact on foreign policy: Progressive reforms largely focused on domestic issues and did not address the United States' growing involvement in global affairs, particularly in the lead-up to World War I. This limited their impact on U.S. foreign policy and the country's role in the world.