Analysis of Twenty Years at Hull House by Jane Addams
American Immigration & Ethnicity (HIST 461-001)
Professor Brian J. Payne
Essay #2 – Twenty Years at Hull House, by: Jane Addams
April 3, 2014
Jane Addams was undoubtedly one of the most influential and prominent female figures in the United States in the late 1800s and early 1900s. She single handedly changed the face of social reform among poor immigrants living in Chicago during this time period, and was also regarded as a catalyst for influencing positive community relationships between the poor and the wealthy. Although she was the centerpiece of numerous other reforms during this time, her progressive-era ideals on social reform policies and arguments over immigration, labor unions, women’s rights, Americanization, and government regulations revolving around the Hull House in Chicago may stand out most prominently. Addams consistently argued about themes ranging from women’s reforms and women’s activism, to immigrant workforce conditions and violent crimes of the settlement houses. But her agenda on Americanization and integration of the poor immigrants living in the Hull House were the most highly debated and critiqued, as many of these settlement housing programs encouraged and favored Americanization and integration among its residents, essentially squashing the “old world” cultures of the immigrants. But Addams’s settlement house, Hull House, had a much different approach regarding Americanization, integration, and the immigrant’s cultural background. The Hull House was not a medium for Americanization amongst the immigrants, but rather laid a foundation to encourage the immigrants to embrace and conserve their cultures.
Jane Addams’ Hull House became one of, if not, the standard model for immigration settlement housing in the United States during the Progressive Era. Numerous programs were offered to the newly arrived immigrants including education, health services, religious study, arts, and social integration. Tenants were encouraged to express
Professor Brian J. Payne
Essay #2 – Twenty Years at Hull House, by: Jane Addams
April 3, 2014
Jane Addams was undoubtedly one of the most influential and prominent female figures in the United States in the late 1800s and early 1900s. She single handedly changed the face of social reform among poor immigrants living in Chicago during this time period, and was also regarded as a catalyst for influencing positive community relationships between the poor and the wealthy. Although she was the centerpiece of numerous other reforms during this time, her progressive-era ideals on social reform policies and arguments over immigration, labor unions, women’s rights, Americanization, and government regulations revolving around the Hull House in Chicago may stand out most prominently. Addams consistently argued about themes ranging from women’s reforms and women’s activism, to immigrant workforce conditions and violent crimes of the settlement houses. But her agenda on Americanization and integration of the poor immigrants living in the Hull House were the most highly debated and critiqued, as many of these settlement housing programs encouraged and favored Americanization and integration among its residents, essentially squashing the “old world” cultures of the immigrants. But Addams’s settlement house, Hull House, had a much different approach regarding Americanization, integration, and the immigrant’s cultural background. The Hull House was not a medium for Americanization amongst the immigrants, but rather laid a foundation to encourage the immigrants to embrace and conserve their cultures.
Jane Addams’ Hull House became one of, if not, the standard model for immigration settlement housing in the United States during the Progressive Era. Numerous programs were offered to the newly arrived immigrants including education, health services, religious study, arts, and social integration. Tenants were encouraged to express