Jane Adams was born in 1860, in Cedarville, Illinois. She grew up in the small community of Cedarville, Illinois. Jane had five brothers and sisters at the time of her mother's death, when Jane was two. Her father remarried and her new stepmother brought two new step-brothers to the already large family. Jane was especially devoted to her father. He encouraged her to pursue higher education, but not at the expense of losing her femininity and the prospect of marriage.
Jane attended the Rockford Seminary for young ladies. Her classmates admired her and followed her examples. Jane decided that she wished to pursue a degree in medicine when she completed her studies at Rockford. Her parents felt that she had had enough education and were concerned that she would never marry but Jane wanted more in life. She wanted a career in Medicine and Science.
Jane's parents decided that the best course was to take Jane and her friends on a grand tour of Europe for a year or two. Perhaps Jane would settle down and realize that her duty was to marry and have a family. Her father died upon her return. This set Jane into a deeper depression and a sense of guilt. When she recovered, she headed to Europe, this time just with friends.
1. It took some time after returning to the United States before she and her traveling companion, Ellen Starr, committed themselves to the idea of starting a settlement house in Chicago.Within a few years, Hull House offered medical care, child care and legal aid. It also provided classes for immigrants to learn English, vocational skills, music, art and drama.
In 1893 Hull House was serving over two thousand people a week. As charitable efforts increased, so too did political ones. Jane realized that there would be no end to poverty if laws were not changed. She directed her efforts at the root causes of poverty. The workers joined Jane to lobby the state of Illinois to examine laws governing child labor, the factory inspection system, and the juvenile justice system.
2. They worked for limit the working hours of women, mandate schooling for children, recognize labor unions, and provide for industrial safety. All this led to women's voting rights.
3. Adams worked for Chicago municipal suffrage and became first vice-president of the National American Women Suffrage Association in 1911. She campaigned nationwide for Theodore Roosevelt and the Progressive Party in 1912.
When the depression of the 1930's struck, Jane saw many of the things that she had fought for become policies under President Franklin Roosevelt. She received numerous awards during this time including, in 1931, the Nobel Peace Prize. She died in 1935 in Chicago, Illionis.
