Discuss the nature of the "social problem" middle class reformers in the United States and other industrial societies tried to resolve.

The "social problem" that middle class reformers in the United States and other industrial societies tried to resolve was the issue of poverty and inequality. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, industrialization and urbanization led to the growth of a large working class population living in crowded and unsanitary conditions, with low wages and little job security. This created a stark contrast with the wealth and comfort enjoyed by the middle and upper classes.

Middle class reformers sought to address this social problem by advocating for various social and political reforms. They pushed for labor laws to improve working conditions and wages, as well as for public health and housing reforms to improve living conditions for the poor. They also supported the establishment of social welfare programs to provide assistance to those in need, such as unemployment benefits and old age pensions.

Additionally, middle class reformers worked to address the root causes of poverty and inequality by advocating for education reform and promoting the idea of social mobility through education and hard work. They also sought to address issues of political corruption and corporate greed, which they saw as contributing to the social problem.

Overall, the nature of the social problem that middle class reformers tried to resolve was the stark disparity between the living conditions and opportunities of the working class and the middle and upper classes. They sought to create a more just and equitable society through various social and political reforms.