The Progressive Generation are those people born between the years 1843 and 1859, and they are the Hero Generation that precedes the G.I. Generation. The Progressives are a Hero Generation because their oldest members fight in the Civil War as enlisted men. However, Progressives do not have as great of an impact later in life as other Hero Generations because they are so badly damaged by the Civil War. As children, Progressives are the first generation to be legally compelled to attend school.