Influences on Her Early Life
Jane Addams was born into a Hicksite Quaker family and early on discovered the inequalities within society. At age eight, her father suggested she wear an old cloak to Sunday School so as to avoid hurting the feelings of the other girls whose garments may not be as nice. She believes this occurrence began her questioning of the inequalities among people. This questioning came to a head after the death of a client whom she had directed to take a job he was not suited for. She knew that “life cannot be administered by definite rules and regulations”. To serve successfully, one must learn about the lives and habits of others; stand by them during the down times; and, continue the relationships when their situations turn around.
The singularly most influential person throughout her life was Abraham Lincoln. In her mind, he understood the greatness of the people, especially his notion of “charity towards all”. For these efforts, she saw him as a martyr. She carried his principles on to Hull-House, using his experiences and ideas to encourage and uplift her charges to do that which is necessary to become successful. After hearing an analysis about Lincoln, she realized that there was no one way to exact American quality of virtues and similar standards of conduct from such a diverse population. She saw that new methods and processes would need to be developed to ingrain a sense of Americanism and democracy in these groups.
In her boarding school years, Addams saw that wherever there was a physical need, there was an accompanying pain that needed relief. This led her to conclude that there were many facets and forms to social work. After her graduation from Rockford, still in possession of her philosophies, she spent two years in Europe. Heartily affected by the poverty and hopelessness she saw, she became more and more determined to forgo her own advantages and devote herself to the ideals of democracy. In 1888, Addams realized that if her idea of a settlement house was to happen, that it would require her immediate attention; otherwise it would remain simply a dream.
Conviction and Passion for Social Reform
One of her passions was the prohibition of child labor. At Hull-House, she was able to witness the ramifications of child labor first hand. Children barely weaned were set to tasks at the feet of their mothers in the sweat shops and, as they grew, were relied upon to provide a substantial amount to the family coffers. Because there was no information available at that time numbering the children in sweatshops, a Hull-House resident took on a study for the Illinois State Bureau of Labor. The conclusions raised from that study led to the first factory laws in Illinois. There is no doubt that a portion of the success of this legislation was brought about by the suffering and exploitation she saw in the children. Hull-House residents and supporters were responsible for many investigations, in some cases in concert with larger organizations. These included investigations into refuse disposal, housing, the sale of cocaine to minors, midwifery, and truancy. In partnership with other organizations, Hull-House participated in investigations such as infant mortality based on nationality and industrial disease.
After twenty years at Hull-House, Addams concluded that blending the old country with the new would produce a richer experience for everyone.
