In the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, during the age of industrialization, many immigrants from southern and eastern Europe immigrated into America. These immigrants came into America for various push and pull factors. These immigrants came from southern and eastern Europe to escape many push factors such as religious persecution and not having free speech. The immigrants came to Ellis Island to come into America to achieve their version of the American dream. When they were in America, they needed to find affordable housing and a job. The new immigrants couldn't afford much so they would move into tenements and into ethnic neighborhoods. This would make it harder to assimilate into American society. There were many social reformers, but one that provided aid to the new …show more content…
There were many historical circumstances that led Jane Addams to become a social reformer. When Jane Addams was a young girl, her step mom influenced her to help others through Charles Dickens novels. Addams went to Rockford Female Seminary for college, where she graduated and finished top of her class. In 1863 her dad died and inherited 50,000 dollars, which is around a million dollars today. Addams then went to medical school because she wanted to help others, but did not finish medical school because she got very sick. At this point in her life she needed to find her purpose and then she read an article about settlement houses and asked her friend if she wanted to go see the first settlement house called Toynbee Hall. When Jane Addams and her friend went to Toynbee Hall she was amazed and inspired to start her own settlement house with her friend Ellen Gates Star. When Jane Addams and Star were back in the United States, they made the settlement house called Hull House. She made it with her dad's inheritance and donations from others. Jane Addams took certain actions to provide aid to the new immigrants. Two services that