kford Women’s Seminary). It was here that her foundations for feminism were laid and she learned to uphold the “women’s cause.” In 1881, she graduated the Valedictorian of her class of seventeen. She studied medicine in Europe over the next six years, but realized that there were limited career options for women. At this, she decided to help society. While touring Europe, she and Ellen Gates Star, a college friend visited a pioneering settlement house called Tonybee Hall. This was in a very poor area of London. This led Star and Addams to the idea of opening a similar facility in the poorest area of Chicago. When the two friends returned to Chicago, they acquired a large mansion and started Hull House, which was a settlement house. This was mostly aimed at helping immigrants that moved to Chicago. About eighty percent of the population of Chicago was immigrants. It was an immediate success. It provided services for the community. Some of these were: the city’s first kindergarten and day care facilities for children of working mothers; employment bureau; libraries; music and art classes; and many other things. Out of all of her efforts, the Illinois legislature passed strong child labor laws and protection for women.Because of the Hull House, Addam’s reputation was increased. She used this to society’s benefit. She focused on many crucial social issues of the time. Activities at the Hull House soon became national activities on behave of the underprivileged. The Hull House became a meeting place for people like herself who wanted to reform society. She and other reformers who met at the Hull House became leaders of national campaigns for protective labor legislation for women, for elimination of child labor, for factory inspection laws, and for women’s suffrage. Addams gave lectures and wrote articles and books publicizing her ideas of social morality. Addams became the first...
