Jane Addams, born September 6, 1860- May 21, 1935, was a pioneer settlement employee, inventor of Hull House in Chicago, philosopher, sociologist, a woman suffrage activist and an author (Addams 4). She was the most noticeable reformer during her Era besides the like of Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson. In her Era, she helped turn the issues of the nation to favor the concern of the women, the plight of children, and the health of the public and world peace.
Jane also fought for the inclusion of women in politics. She once said that if women are to be responsible members of the society and cleaning up the communities, they needed to be voted in order to meet their promises. She, therefore, became a role-model for most middle-class women who in one way or another volunteered to work for their communities. Increasingly, she is recognized as a member of the American pragmatist, a school of philosophy. In 1931, she won the Nobel Peace prize and became the first American woman to win the prize.
In 1887, Jane visited Ulm Cathedral in Germany, where she experienced a sense of unity and peace. She projected to create what she referred to as a ‘cathedral of Humanity,’ a place where needy people would come for help and cultural enhancement (Addams 21). On travelling to London, she visited the organization which housed the model for her project-Toynbee Hall, a settlement house. This is where young, sophisticated men stayed in a poor settlement. She then agreed to open such a center in America and Starr agreed to help her.
Before writing her 1910 memoir, she had a lot accomplished a lot. In 1889, Jane and her close partner, Ellen Starr co-founded Hull House in Chicago, the first ever settlement in America (Addams 54). The mansion had occasionally been built by Charles Hull in 1856 which required renovation and upgrading. She paid all the expenses with the help of individuals. Several women contributed to the building of the house. They were Louise DeKoven, Mary Rozet Smith among others.
Jane also greatly contributed significantly to ethics. Starr and Addams advanced three ‘ethical principles’ for public settlements. They were demonstrating by example, to exercise cooperation and to practice social democracy. It went ahead to imply egalitarianism, social relations and democracy. In 1890s, Jane, Julia and Florence and other inhabitants of the house made it a world center for social reform policy (Addams 60). The House used the latest methodology to study factors affecting the society such as truancy, newsboys, midwifery, and cocaine among others.
In 1909, Addams stressed the responsibility of a child in the Americanization process of new migrants. She nurtured the research, play movement and youth services. She argued in The Spirit of Teens and the City Highways (1909) that play and restitution programs are essential because cities are destroying the spirit of the youths (Addams 104). The hull House was home to many programs in art and drama, language classes, public baths among other useful services.
Initially, the main intention of Addams and her colleagues on Hull House is to be a transmission tool to bring the morals of the college-educated high philosophy to the multitudes including efficiency movements. However, with time, the target of the House diverted from the one intended of building art and culture to that of responding to the call of the community by providing childcare, education chances and meeting spaces.
Addams also kept up a busy agenda on public lecturers around the state, especially around colleges and universities. She went to extent of offering college courses by means of an Extension Division of the University of Chicago. Although appreciated, she still declined to be fully associated with the education institutions.
Jane was a respected figure not only in Chicago but in the whole country. He was a recognized lady to an extent of the then president of America Theodore Roosevelt paying her regular courtesy visits at the House. The business elites were also impressed and appreciated her undying efforts. Jane stood against racialism. For instance, when President Theodore wanted to prevent blacks from being in the party’s convention, she strongly disagreed.
During the World War 1, Addams backed for peace. She was strongly conflicting to US being involved in the War. She was involved in two peace organizations: The women’s peace party and the international congress of Women. Addams was so loathed for her anti-war stand, many branding her a traitor. After the war, she visited Europe and was horrified by what she saw. At this point she proposed that the German’s starving children should be helped she was seen as sympathizing with the enemies.
She continued to work for peace and the world all through 1920s as the president of Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILFP) (Addams 74). The travelling made her exhausted and developed a health problem and incurred a heart attack in 1926, making her quit to her post. Her greatest honor came in 1931 when she was awarded the Nobel Peace prize for her tireless work of promoting peace in the world. Due to her health she could travel to Norway to receive her prize, and she, therefore, donated them to WILPF.
Works Cited:
Addams, Jane. Twenty years at Hull-House: with autobiographical notes. Champaign, Illinois: University of Illinois Press, 1990.
