they believed that the government should be actively involved in the general welfare of americans. They believed that the government caused most of the problems in society and the progressives sought political and social reform. You could also say that the supported the idea that the federal government should reform
Basically you are imaginig you're visiting athens or sparta. And you are writing to a friend or relative about what you saw, focus on more general things. Choose you'll portray will you be a slave, child, soldiew, wealthy ruler