Progressive Movement Practice Exam

Who is known for attempting to ease the problems faced by the urban poor during the Progressive era?

1. Lincoln Steffens

2. Jane Addams

3. Ida Tarbell

4. Jacob Riis

The correct answer is: Jane Addams

Jane Addams is widely recognized for her efforts to address the issues faced by the urban poor during the Progressive Era. She co-founded Hull House in Chicago, one of the first settlement houses in the United States, which served as a community center for immigrants and the impoverished. Hull House offered various services, including educational programs, childcare, and health care, aimed at improving the living conditions and opportunities for those in the surrounding neighborhoods. Addams believed in the importance of social reform and worked tirelessly to advocate for labor rights, women's suffrage, and various social issues that affected the urban working class. Her commitment to helping the urban poor was not only philanthropic but also rooted in her belief in social justice and the need for societal change. While other figures like Lincoln Steffens, Ida Tarbell, and Jacob Riis also contributed significantly to social reform and raised awareness about corruption and the conditions of the impoverished, it is Jane Addams who is most closely associated with direct efforts to alleviate the struggles of the urban poor through community engagement and social services.