Progressive reforms were carried out not only on the national level, but in the states and municipalities of the country as well. Prominent governors devoted to change included Robert M. La Follette, of Wisconsin and Hiram Johnson of California. Reforms such as the direct primary, secret ballot and the initiative, referendum and recall were effected. Local governments were strengthened by the widespread use of trained professionals, particularly with the city manager system replacing the all …showed first 75 words of 628 total…

…showed last 75 words of 628 total…the prospects of the poor. However, efforts to place limitations on child labor were routinely thwarted by the courts. The needs of blacks and Native Americans were poorly served or served not at all—a major shortcoming of the Progressive Movement. Some of the poor living in the slums of Northeastern cities supported Progressivism because they desired a more active government, which supplied social welfare type services and dealt with the problems of the cities.