Progressivism can be described in one word; improvement. This term came into the picture when individuals of that time period felt as though major improvement in society needed to take place. They held the belief that if improvement did not occur, then more and more problems in society would arise. So this was the progressive movement. The progressive movement placed an emphasis on social and political change. The voice of such change were reformers. These individuals made a stride toward improvement by expressing their concern about issues that needed change. Reformers across the nation voiced their concern about racial equality, rights of labor, and woman suffrage. Reformers nationwide then considered how exactly change would occur.