Final answer:
Progressive reformers often had more success implementing reforms at the state and local levels, with significant early achievements taking place there due to the grassroots nature of the movement and the proximity to the issues being addressed.
Step-by-step explanation:
Progressivism at Different Government Levels
Progressive reformers typically found more success at state and local levels of government. Initially, many Progressive changes like the establishment of a worker's compensation system, minimum wage laws, and reforms in democratic processes were achieved at these levels. Figures such as Theodore Roosevelt and Robert LaFollette were instrumental in pushing these reforms through at the state level. While the national government eventually took on Progressive reforms with significant changes in legislation and the constitution, the beginning of the movement saw more practical and immediate successes at the local level. Cities tackled issues like political corruption, monopolies, and social welfare with policies that included merit-based public service and controlling utilities.
It was only later in the movement that the federal government adopted Progressive policies, enacting laws that regulated trusts with the Sherman and Clayton Acts, and promoting consumer safety with legislation like the Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act. Yet, the grassroots nature of the Progressive Era signifies that many of its earliest and significant accomplishments were closer to the people at the state and municipal levels.