Answer: In the mid-1800s, a series of reform movements swept across the United States and people led groups and formed organizations to change society. (Define Reform: making changes in, in order to improve it.) Some of these reforms were in response to social issues made worse by urbanization that developed as industry and technology advanced. American reformers tried to tackle series issues such as abolishing slavery(kinda), promoting women’s rights, improving education, providing better care for the mentally ill(this movement was started by Dorothea Dix), improving prison conditions, and educating the public on the dangers of alcohol.