The Progressive Era lasted from 1897 to 1920 in the United States. Its politics consisted of several ideals. These were that the government should control the private sector and that the American People should settle for nothing less then perfection in their society. Muckrakers were journalists who reported on corruption, but only in the private sector. This is because muckrakers were often in favor of the ideas of the Progressive Era and wished to inspire doubt in the efficiencies of the private sector. Their goal was to encourage the American people to support the idea of the federal government controlling the private sector.