text: The Founders were wealthy, well-educated, land-owning white men, and their political and economic views reflect that. The constitution is essentially a prescription for keeping power in that select group, and looking at the world today, was very successful in its aim.\n\nProgressivism differed in that it sought to empower and protect people outside the select class, specifically poor people and immigrants. Of course, both groups--the progressives and the founders--sought to empower themselves. The difference is that the progressives were poor while the founders were rich.