-Background: Previously, there had been problems with the way patients were treated in asylums (Brinkley, 300). The sick and insane patients were treated harshly; many were "chained, beaten with rods, [and] lashed into obedience" (Prison and Asylum Reform). In other words, patients were deemed inferior to other people and treated such. In addition, there were many issues in prisons as well (Prison and Asylum Reform). One of the biggest issues was that people were all placed together, no matter what crime they had comitted, what their age was, or even their gender (Prison and Asylum Reform). So theoretically, a middle aged murderer could be placed in the same cell as a woman who had committed a minor crime and possibly a child who was placed in there for stealing. It was situations like these that put these people in danger, and it was situations like these that made people realize something had to be done about it (Brinkley, 301).

     -Leaders Involved: One of the most influential leaders of the hospital and prison reforms was Dorothea Dix (Brinkley).  She had grown up mostly in her grandmother's care because her father was unstable (Stoddard,137). It was during the earlier years in her life while she was teaching children that she became greatly influenced by a preacher and reformer named Dr. William Ellery Channing (Stoddard, 138). Channing influenced Dix by expressing his belief that "the great end of government is to spread a shield over the rights of all" (Stoddard, 139). Around her early thirties, Dix suffered from a nervous and physical collapse due to how hard she had pushed herself in her studies and teachings (Stoddard, 139). She then spent time with Channing in England and once recovered, learned about the harsh treatment of those in asylums (Stoddard, 139).  Dorothea then went on to speak with other reformers in the U.S., such as Dr. Samuel Howe (Prison and Asylum Reform). Dr. Howe was most known for creating the first New-England Institution for the Education of the Blind (Trent). Dix later continued to around the U.S. in order to see these harsh conditions for herself (Brinkley, 300). She observed that their was a "woman who seemed to be quite sane tied in a dark stall....no one could recall why she had been put there..." (Stoddard, 141). She also recorded seeing an "old naked man with his feet frozen off, the stumps in chains" (Stoddard, 141). No wonder these people were insane and sick! In conditions like these they had no chance of improving their health whatsoever. Dix decided to make these harsh treatments known to others, so she made speeches to a legislature that began with the statement, "I come to present the strong claims of suffering humanity. I come as the advocate of helpless, forgotten, insane men and women; of beings sunk to a condition from which the unconcerned world would start with real horror" (Stoddard, 141). Her speeches to state legislatures helped lead to the establisment of five hospitals in America (Prison and Asylum Reform). She also went to Europe where she spoke about human rights to Queen Victoria and the Pope (Prison and Asylum Reform).