The major 19th-century reform movement aimed at improving education for children was the Common School Movement, which sought to establish public, tax-funded schools for all children across the United States. Promoted by educators like Horace Mann, the movement emphasized the importance of accessible education as a means of fostering democracy and social equality. Advocates believed that a well-educated populace was essential for the functioning of a democratic society. This movement led to the establishment of a more formalized public school system, promoting compulsory schooling laws and curriculum standardization, ultimately shaping modern educational practices and ensuring wider educational access in the U.S.