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During the Progressive Era, Jane Addams was the most prominent female reformer. She was born in 1860, and had a college degree. She was never married but she grew to the idea that women must follow what she called the “family claim”. Addams claimed that a woman’s life must be devoted to parents, husband, and their children. With that in mind, in September of 1889, Addams founded Hull House in Chicago. Hull House was a settlement home for improving the lives of poor immigrants. Her goal was to introduce democracy to the newly arriving immigrants. The rich and poor were greatly divided within cities all over the country and Addams’ view was to unite society regardless of their differences. The Hull House Mansion soon became a large establishment …show more content…
and then spread the awareness throughout many poor neighborhoods at a nation-wide level. Jane Addams’ idea was to provide aid for immigrants, nevertheless Hull House presented progressivism as a symbol to drive society towards prosperity because Addams’ document examined poverty, cleaning the races, and the increase of Christianity. The Progressive Era began in the 1890s and it only lasted until around the 1920s but by that time, society was immensely transformed. The Progressive Era involved a group of reformers who made efforts in alleviating poverty among poor families and the working class. People believed that the government wasn’t doing a great job in solving problems of society among other things. Bribery and corruption was a huge problem in the late 1800s and businesses were obtaining too much control. The call for prohibition and discrimination was still prevalent. Those were just some conflicts that motivated progressives to contest for. It was a time in America of pervasive social activism and political reform. But, who were the Progressives? The Progressive Movement was guided by male and females from all types of social classes. Progressives involved peoples such as well-educated middle-class Americans, poor Americans, educators, union activists, members of the Republican and Democrat parties. Various people of all kinds of backgrounds were involved in the making of better society. While immigrants were moving into big cities such as New York, space for living accommodations was drastically decreasing. Poor families in the working class were living in dangerous facilities. Immigration, urbanization, and industrialization changed the United States forever, but within the Era it molded society into a more successful one. There was an emphasize on women and children during this era, and by the time the era ended, there were many important women in high levels of society, but never as high as their counterpart, nonetheless it was progress. First, poor people in large cities had the opportunity to be part of the democratic change in an activist state.
The condition of women and children in the workplace soon was a major focus of public concern, and so the political leader that was involved in this was abolished. Addams mentions the horrible conditions that working class workers go to after long days of work. In New York, tenement homes were large stretches of living quarters, which soon became intolerable living environments. Addams described these people as people who did not have proper social contact. Addams found that places such as clubhouses, libraries, and galleries were much more prominent in wealthier areas of the city. In order to help the division between the poor and the rich, high-social establishments must be located throughout the poor and the rich neighborhoods. With that said, all type of people would have better opportunities to succeed. This movement through poverty not only made poverty more predominant but it created huge wealth for many …show more content…
others. Secondly, cleaning the races into a more civilized one is a paraphrased term used by Addams in which she meant that absolutely all races had to come around and accumulate the best traits in order to come up with a perfect one that everyone can share. In other words, a way of life that everyone must share in order to find peace among everyone. Peace will then lead to equality and it will be much easier for the rest of the society to fall into place and create close-to-perfect lives. It may sound impossible, but it was an idea that all races must become civilized in order to obtain peace among different people. A great perspective Addams takes on is the great education Europeans hold. Addams explains how Europeans come to the United States as immigrants but are greatly educated. Then it is clear that all Americans should do the same so everyone can have greater opportunities to succeed and progress in life. Progressing in life not only means getting a job, but enables them to enter politics or even build a business. Europe was the first in the world to build a settlement home and it is actually where the idea of creating the Hull House originated from. That serves as an example of how good education produced a great educated community. The last principle in which Addams talks about is the spread of Christianity. Religion has always been a great factor in people’s morals and ethical standards, and during the Progressive Era it is no exception. Addams emphasized on the youth caring for others and she characterized it as Christ’s message. It was stated that the popularity of Christianity among young men and women was increasing, which meant that the religion spread. This message was sought to be used as a sign to accept people regardless of their differences. Progressive Christianity was about accepting and loving any living being. Perhaps many had different views towards God, but Christianity enabled its followers to accept as who they are no matter their personal beliefs. Addams was willing to ignore the differences. This was a very positive impact on everyone, especially those who’s minds were in proves of developing. For example, young women who turn out to be nurses became to be great people of the community. Communities such as the ones that had help from the Hull house or any other settlement home built after it. Those well-educated young women shaped the rest of society for ever by placing high moral and ethical standards, appreciation to the kindness of Addams and others who helped build those settlement homes. Although Addams’ idea was to provide aid for immigrants, nevertheless Hull House represented Progressivism as a symbol to drive society towards prosperity.
Prosperity that involved great social life and a booming economy. An example of progression in society after the Progressive Era: In 1900, nearly half the children living in poor communities went to school but by the 1920s almost all children went to school. Addams and many of her followers opened up many other establishments around poor neighborhoods as a contribution to the greater of society. By the early 1900s kindergarten schools and playgrounds were built in many poor neighborhoods to accommodate those living there. Hull House was a stepping stone for many immigrants, to transition to democracy and earn a decent living experience. It impacted society in so many levels but most importantly it changed people’s behaviors which resulted to the “roaring twenties”. A time in history that demonstrated economic prosperity. Jane Addams founding Hull House was such a success, that in such a short period of time there were many important accomplishments. Accomplishments that made the Era very significant. To start off, the unionization of all major industries was such a success because it stopped a lot of discrimination and abuse from the employers. Discrimination that was great within the women population. The 19th Amendment was passed which enabled women the right to vote; this caused much more freedom for women. Child labor
was limited and even prohibited later on thanks to the laws passed during and after the Progressive Era. Related to child labor, children education was greatly improved and laws were passed to protect the nation's health and welfare. Among many more accomplishments, Hull House was a stepping stone for many and for society to progress in social life and economically.
Sklar, Kathryn Kish. “Hull House in the 1890’s: A Community of Women Reformers.” In Women and Power in American History, 3rd edition, edited by Kathryn Kish Skylar and
As a progressive, Jane Addams committed herself as a social servant to the community in an attempt to fulfill the promise of democracy to everyone rather than a small elite group. Addams’s dedication to communitarian purposes as opposed to individualist gains can be attributed to her upbringing and her remarkable respect for her father, John Huy Addams. Although John Addams was extremely wealthy, his neighbors appreciated and respected him because of the benefits he brought to their community, such as a reliable mill, a railroad, a bank, and an insurance company (5). Remembering the respect her father earned from their community, Jane Addams did not see her father “as an overbearing capitalist dictator from the Gilded Age but as a self-made steward from an era when leaders put the community's interest alongside their own” (5). Jane Addams’s father did, in fact, influence her way of thinking, regarding the devotion to community service. She looked to her father for guidanc...
The 1890s-1920s is what is referred to today as the Progressive Era. This was a time in which many people rose to push their beliefs and create a better future for America. These people called themselves progressives and they would make America the place we know today. They addressed important issues such as women’s rights, working conditions, and temperance. One such reformer was a woman named Mary Harris Jones. Mary Jones, later known as Mother Jones, was one of the most successful and effective progressive reformers of all time due to her experiences, work in labor agitation, and effective speeches.
Addams, whose father was an Illinois state senator and friend of Abraham Lincoln, graduated in 1881 from Rockford College (then called Rockford Women’s Seminary). She returned the following year to receive one of the school’s first bachelor’s degrees. With limited career opportunities for women, she began searching for ways to help others and solve the country’s growing social problems. In 1888, Addams and her college friend, Ellen Gates Starr, visited Toynbee Hall, the two women observed college-educated Englishmen “settling” in desperately poor East London slum where they helped the people. This gave her the idea for Hull House.
While Addams was a great organizer and reformer, it must be noted that she had the help of several ambitious women at Hull House who were progressive thinkers in their own right. Furthermore, she would have never been able to achieve so much without the many donations that she was able to secure from philanthropists. Today, the 13 buildings that surrounded the Hull House settlement have been destroyed, but the original mansion still stands as a museum. The Jane Addams Hull-House Association still operates in Chicago.
The progressive era was a time of enormous changes that flourished in the United States. Activists demanded a reform in education, technology, science, and Democracy. Purification of government was the main goal, and it was during this time that progressives made “scientific” the social sciences, especially history, economics and political sciences (http://www.iep.utm.edu). It was also during this era (1890’s-1920’s) that the Federal Reserve System was founded. The 16th through 19th amendments, the Food and Drug Act, and Federal Trade Commission were also put into play. It wasn’t until World War I that such drastic change started to slow. Amidst all this change existed an amazing woman by the name of Jane Addams; a political activist and pragmatist whom made enormous social and economic changes to the United States. It wasn’t until the late 20th century however that she was properly recognized as one of the most influential philosophers and sociologists of her time (http://americanhistory.unomaha.edu).
The 1920’s was a period of extremely economic growth and personal wealth. America was a striving nation and the American people had the potential to access products never manufactured before. Automobile were being made on an assembly line and were priced so that not just the rich had access to these vehicles, as well as, payment plans were made which gave the American people to purchase over time if they couldn't pay it all up front. Women during the First World War went to work in place of the men who went off to fight. When the men return the women did not give up their positions in the work force.
Ellen Gates Starr, who was born in Illinois in 1859, enrolled in Rockford Female Seminary. Here, she met what would be a long-time friend, Jane Addams. Together, they founded a mansion in the city of Chicago. After fixing it up, the Hull House was formed. This became the first settlement house in Chicago and in the United States, officially opening in 1889. This mansion was surrounded by the slums of Chicago. They felt no need to move it to another part of the city, but where it would feel more welcoming to the female immigrants and their children. The reason for opening the mansion was to give women a place to stay. Starr felt that the slums obviously weren't sufficient enough.
...wo decades was that in the 1920’s women’s rights advocates were able to pass the 19th amendment, granting women suffrage, and increasing political interest among women. Both time periods were difficult ones for minorities and women, though some victories were had.
Jane Addams was an upper class woman who thought it was her job to help others. Addams was an advocate of immigrants, the poor, women, and peace. In 1889, she created the Hull House, to help female immigrants become assimilated to the American lifestyle by helping them get a job, learn the language, and receive an education. It was no surprise that in 1915, Jane Addams wrote the life-changing article “Why Women Should Vote.”
In the 1890s, American women emerged as a major force for social reform. Millions joined civic organizations and extended their roles from domestic duties to concerns about their communities and environments. These years, between 1890 and 1920, were a time of many social changes that later became known as the Progressive Era. In this time era, millions of Americans organized associations to come up with solutions to the many problems that society was facing, and many of these problems were staring American women right in the face.
The 1920's was a time of change in the United States. “The Roaring Twenties” had an outstanding impact on the economy, social standards and everyday life. It was a time for positive results in the consumer goods industry and American families, because of higher wages, shorter working hours, and manufacturing was up 60% in consumer goods. But it was also a time of adversity and opposition for others, such as immigrants and farmers. Immigrants had lots of competition when they were looking for work and they weren't treated fairly by Americans, depending on where they came from and what they believed.
Jane Adams born in 1860 in cedar vill founded Hull house in 1889. Hull house was a welcoming non-profit organization for helping new immigrants adjusts to life in the United States. Hull hose was conceptualized around a similar organization called tonebthall. Toneybehall is a settlement house for men located in London where Adams in from. Hull house comprised of thirteen structures in the west side of Chicago. The 19th ward was the most diverse population of immigrants. The 19th had an estimated 50,000 residence. Residences of the 19th were also known as bohemians. English, Irish, Chinese, Arabs, Russians, Germans, polish and American compose the other 12 settlements in Chicago. Hull House offered many programs free/low cost to the surrounding community. They operated on of the first day care centers for working woman, a new concept at the time. The day care center was called a crèche located in a 2 story home and managed by Mrs. West. As the demands for child care grew the program expanded to meet the growing needs. Education is a fundamental princeable of hull house, the organization offered courses in English and history. Like the Starbucks of today the coffee house served as a place to meet and have conversation and a coffee house was constructed to meet those needs of the population. The Jane club was a shelter and
Women before the 1920's relied on men a lot and did not get very good educations. The 19th Amendment gave women the right to vote and let them feel like they have become full citizens which resulted in becoming a flapper. In 1917, women boycotted for the right to vote in front of the White House and for this "harmless act" many were incarcerated (West 1). On August 26, 1920, after a hard-won battle, women finally had become full citizens in their own minds.
Jane Addams humanized immigrants and the underprivileged people. When American society wanted to ignore the abuse people they deem irrelevant or unworthy, Jane Addams found a way to give people their dignity and provide services to empower them to assimilate to American culture. Ms. Addams has a list of accomplishments; her achievements are the blue print for social welfare. As the founder of the first settlement house in America, the Hull House was more than just a place to stay this refuge became a solid peace of American and Social Welfare history. During the 120 years of operation they provided housing, education, child care, and job training to countless people. The Hull house was a huge success but this was one of her many achievements. Ms. Addams worked untiringly to create and change laws in child labor, immigration, and