In the US the 13 colonies declared independence from Britain in 1776 was definitely progress for the American people as now they controlled their own destiny including trade and what products they produced. The French Revolution of 1789-1799 emancipated the French from the aristocracy and began a new era of more democratic government. The Industrial Revolution from about 1760-1840 disrupted people's lives dramatically especially in Britain where it all started so that people had to become accustomed to working in say textile factories and coal mines enduring extreme exploitation, especially of children and women and no longer having a much more peaceful existence of cottage sewing industries etc. But on the positive side, the Industrial Revolution was accommpanied by an explosion of scientific discoveries and innovations to production like the steam engine, more advanced spinning jennies etc.
