Important reform movement

I learned the reform movements were to improve the morals and living/ working conditions of Americans. I think the sanitation and labor conditions were the most important because they both endangered the health of Americans. The sanitation of cities was practically nonexistent before the reform. Disease and illness swept through city after city as sewage and garbage piled up in the streets. Thanks to the reform a sewage system was installed and other organised methods of waste disposal. The poor ventilation, cramped quarters, dangerous machinery and long hours were the plagues of the factories. The poor ventilation and limited exits made entire factories fire hazards as well as electrical machinery which cost many employees more than a finger or a toe while long hours for little pay exhausted workers. After reforms, a minimum number of vents and out swinging exits were setup and workers had limited work weeks. Both of these reforms saved many lives.