Government Reform and Women's Rights: Introduction The overpopulation, political corruption, unsafe working conditions, and unemployment that plagued the cities needed more than the outreach efforts of charity organizations. In this section, we will identify the people and the mechanisms used to inform the public about the ills that plagued the cities. We will examine how the government became more involved in solving the problems at the turn of the century. Lastly, we will trace the origins of the women’s movement for suffrage.