Who were the progressives?

In the late 19th century, a group known as the
Progressives was created. They became more prominent during the early 20th century in an
effort to reform politics, economics, and moral society. They believed that reform could
come from within man, and therefore, rejected the belief of Social Darwinism and natural
selection. They were responsible for the passage of many laws including prohibition, the
Sherman Anti-Trust Act, and the Interstate Commerce
Act.

They pushed for a reform of government and Theodore
Roosevelt ran for office on the Progressive platform. Progressives pushed for better
working conditions, womens' rights, and increased monitoring of the nation's health. Due
to the progressive era, we have the FDA and the Federal Reserve System in
place.