Some reforms that have been built around the promise of public interest are the prison institutions, businesses, political machines, and voting rights. Before their reformation, these systems were oppressing minority communities from thriving.
Before there was a prison system, citizens who chose not to follow the law were brutally punished. Then during the 1800s, the early stages of prison systems were developed. Unlawful citizens were thrown into a large cell to basically rot and die. Reformers began to observe that this system wasn’t working and started reforms a new system influenced by the principles of transcendentalism, an idealistic social movement developed in New England in 1836. These new principles lead to more of rehabilitating and educational programs that are still used for inmates to help them transition into a better way of living.
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Political machines obtained power through bribery and rewarding people who voted for them and caused corruption, poor service, racial tensions, and violence in local governments. During the Progress Era a wave of political reform and social activism began and political machines were removed causing various aspects of local government to change in favor of the public’s interest. Reformers politicians were now held more accountable to their community once they reached power when new voting rights were implemented. Minorities, women, and the poor were now able to have their voice heard through voting. By voting, the public’s interests were also heard concerning businesses as well. Companies and corporations were also held accountable for the treatment of their employees from the formation of unions by the people. Today we see that the treatment of employees has become prioritized by some businesses and the evolution of voting