Final answer:
The Progressives were a divergent group, with some supporting Southern segregation while others pushed for civil rights reforms. This division reflected the varied Progressive ideologies based on regional and political lines and was part of a broader national evolution of civil rights issues.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Progressives represented a broad coalition with various beliefs and goals. Some Progressives supported Southern segregation, accepting white supremacy theories and assuming that segregation laws would reduce racial tension. Other Progressives, particularly in the North, wanted to advance social justice and were more likely to support moderate civil rights reforms, such as anti-lynching laws. These differing viewpoints among Progressives reflected broader national trends, where ideologies often depended on regional and political alignments of the era.
In the early civil rights movement, divisions among Progressives grew more conspicuous. The southern support for segregation was challenged by a growing black middle class who identified with Progressive ideas and sought to frame racial equality as a part of the broader Progressive agenda. Although the Progressives were not a homogeneous group, they collectively sought to improve society, expand democracy, and promote efficiency and fairness in both government and industry. Ultimately, the internal division among Progressives over issues like racial segregation and states' rights continued to evolve into the mid-20th century as civil rights became an increasingly important component of the national political conversation.