By the mid-19th century, thousands of Americans with varied beliefs joined together to fight social problems of the nation. They began their reforms on schools and other institutions such as prisons and asylums. Prisoners were physically punished or isolated for a long period of time. They also had very bad living conditions.

Asylum/Prison Reform

http://publishing.cdlib.org/ucpressebooks/data/13030/x5/ft9r29p2x5/figures/ft9r29p2x5_00010.gif

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