Twenty Years at Hull House

Why did Addams value science? Why did Hull-House residents conduct investigations? What were some important results of these investigations?

What benefit did Addams believe was possessed by the American women who proceeded her generation of educated women? What does she believe her generation of educated woman lacks? What is the stated cause of her generation’s frustration?

What criticism does Addams make of the pursuit of cultural knowledge during her trips to Europe? Do you see any contradiction between her criticism and Addams’s encouragement of certain types of educational activities for immigrants at Hull-House? If so, how do you reconcile her views on this subject?

What aspects of the location attracted Addams to the building she selected for the Hull-House Settlement? Consider the city, the neighborhood, and the structure.

What were some of Hull-House residents’ early projects? Which efforts were the most successful?

What were some of the reformers’ mistakes acknowledged by Addams? Explain why these mistakes occurred.

What were some of the early criticisms of Hull-House by the larger American society? Were any of these criticisms justified? Why or why not?

To what extent were the reformers’ efforts motivated by the cultural conflict with American middle-class values presented by immigrants’ practices or by health and safety issues? Cite specific examples in the answer.