Jane Addams: Chicagos Urban Reformer and the Fight Against Corruption

Abstract

Age of Reforms Jane Addams: Urban Crusader According to Scott, Jane Addams proved a potential social reformer whose urge to ensure social equality amongst the less privileged remained well defined. Adams was personally involved in the exercise of advocating for social changes amongst immigrants in the 19th ward. However, Addams Hull-House was neither patronizing nor romantic but rather with the defined aim of restoring social rights amongst 19th ward residents whose experiences defined humiliation and neglects attributed to Johnny powers (Pg 78). According to Addams, the social workers opposed everything Johnny power stood for, which led her to start a settlement house, “Hull House” in the 19th ward in Chicago in 1884 to provide volunteer services that would make life bearable for these residents (Pg 80). The neighbours got inspired by Hull-House services and started spending most of their time in it reading Shakespeare's, discussing socialism and asking for volunteer midwives. Life started having a meaning for the 19th ward residents, and with no time, Hull House flocked with such residents interested in understanding their personal histories (Pg 80). Jane Addams associated rising poverty, crime rates, inhabitable environment and overcrowded schools to the dictatorial powers exercised in Chicago that aimed at humiliating immigrants (Pg 82). Hull house offered bathtubs and showers for the residents since the sewer lines merged with the water lines to reduce disease outbreaks at the 19th ward. Addams social approach aimed at offering immigrants a chance to speak out about social injustices they were experiencing in the hands of Johnny powers which she aimed to reform (Pg 83). A municipal voter reform organization founded in 1896 aimed at replacing 58 corrupt council members out of the 68 that formed this council. Though Adams confirmed that Hull-House found evidence of the influence of the bossy standards, she failed in explaining why her house was not able to get around the law as Alderman Power did, but this did not stop her fight against the dictatorial power within Chicago even with failed elections due to the ruling power influences (Pg 88). Addams vast experience with immigrants' way of living led her to become the first reformer to grasp the real pattern of bossism; thus, political scientists started leaning from her ideas (Pg 90) Gifford Pinchot: Father of the Forest Watkins essay defines...