The decades in history where the progressives and the government took up goals that would end the abuse of power, reforming social institutions, monopoly, inefficiency, social injustice, better living and labor conditions was called the Progressive Era. It was also to allow the citizens of the United States to take part in their government. These people were known as the progressives. The progressives consisted mostly of middle-class men and women. The problems the progressives set out to solve were not all accomplished, but everything they did affected the United States in every, good, aspect. Ignorance was the number one enemy for progressivism.