Reform Movement
... The response to this period of uncertainty was a movement towards reform and an ever increasing desire for order and control amongst the people. The largest driving force for reform was the nations commitment to progress and development and other vehicles of reform included burgeoning religious sects and philosophies. Reform movements in education, an influx of immigrants, as well as a rapid increase in technology and population nurtured the growth of industry and urban life throughout America. Under the age of reform, all aspects of society and the way people thought began to slowly shift. ... It is under the umbrella of religion that reform was brought about for it established the mind of thought necessary to cultivate change and bring about reform. ... This movement was inspired by people who saw the need for educated people in an increasingly commercial society, where more and more occupations required the ability to read and write. ... Reform in education would prove to provide the skills and education necessary for coming generations to innovate industry. ... This was due in part to the influx of immigrants entering the country, thus the overall rise in population during the era of reform was due more to incoming foreigners than to natural increase.