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ho was Jane Addams? How did she bring the British “settlement movement” to America?
The Settlement Movement was a social reform movement that began in the 1880s and reached its peak in the 1920s. Good social relations are one of the platforms that seek to connect the rich and the poor in society not only geographically but also socially. The core goal of this movement is to establish "settlement homes" in poor urban areas, where middle-class volunteer "settlement workers" can move in to share knowledge and culture with low-income neighbors and alleviate their poverty.
The services provided by the settlement houses include childcare, English classes and health care, aiming to improve the living conditions of the poor in these areas. The movement also gave rise to several educational reform movements and developed a unique form of sociology in Britain and the United States, namely, settlement sociology. This science of social movements has often been neglected in the history of sociology in favor of university-based models dominated by teaching, theory, and research.
History of the Movement
The beginning of Britain
The settlement movement began in 1884 at Toynbee Hall in London's East End, and these institutions differed fundamentally from later American examples. They often provide the resources needed for food, shelter, and basic education, which are provided by wealthy donors, city residents, and volunteers. With growing concern about poverty, Victorian Britons created the settlement movement, which aimed to connect universities with the lives of the urban poor and work together to improve the social environment.
These institutions focus on the social root causes of poverty, especially the changes brought about by industrialization, rather than the individual causes previously believed.
American influence
Jane Addams was a pioneer of the settlement movement in the United States. After a study tour in England, she co-founded Hull House in Chicago with Allan Gates Starr in 1889, which became the most iconic settler house in the United States. Hull House is not a traditional charity organization, but was established based on democratic ideas and focuses on providing educational and recreational facilities for immigrant women and children.
Between 1890 and 1910, the United States welcomed more than 12 million European immigrants, a period when socioeconomic conditions encouraged a surge in settlement. Many immigrants live in crowded, poorly maintained slums, working long hours and living in poverty. Adams and others hoped to improve this situation and enhance the living conditions of immigrants through settlement homes.
Hull House is not only a social service organization, but also a platform for sharing culture and knowledge.
Legend and impact of the movement
The settlement movement has had a profound impact on urban design and architecture since the 17th century. Over time, settlement houses evolved into community centers that provided early education, youth mentoring, crime intervention, and specialized services for young people aging out of the foster care system. Although today’s settlement organizations no longer require staff to live in the same house as the people they serve, the community-oriented mission remains strong.
The core belief of the settlement movement is that poverty can only be combated through sustained social reform activities.
As the settlement movement developed, many important social service organizations were established, such as the New Covenant Community, Friendly House, and Henry Street Settlement, which played an important role in improving living conditions in the United States' busy immigrant communities. . Gradually, these movements also prompted broader social policy changes and the construction of social welfare systems. Today, although the number of settlement homes has decreased, their spirit continues to play a role in contemporary social services.
So, what inspiration and thoughts do you have about Jane Adams' story?
