The term "growth and development" refers to the process of increasing in size, expanding, and progressing over time. In the context of America's middle class during the Progressive Era, it represents the upward mobility and improvement in living standards that occurred.
Related terms
Industrialization: The transformation of an economy based on agriculture into one based on manufacturing and industrial production.
Urbanization: The process by which an increasing proportion of a population lives in cities rather than rural areas.
Consumerism: The cultural trend emphasizing the acquisition of goods and services as a measure of personal well-being.