John Winthrop was a puritan who grew up in England. However, as he was growing up, the English were being persecuted. This inspired Winthrop to sail to the Massachusettes Bay area where he said, "We shall be as a city upon a hill." Winthrop believed that America had to be the light to the rest of the world and that people need to learn to do good in a world full of evil. Throughout the Progressive Era, the Great Depression, and the Civil Rights Movement, many brave individuals made contributions to help society by proving that indeed, there is a better future for the city.
Jane Addams was a social reformer during the Progressive Era, during which, she created the Hull House. The establishment of the Hull House was a spark toward public health, women's suffrage, civil rights, international peace, and public housing movements. People staying at the Hull House could take classes and do other activities. The Hull House had a great number of immigrants and Addams taught them to treat each other equally and to realize their differences. Addams also told them that if they work hard, they couldn't only benefit themselves, but that they also deserve a place in society as well. Another hero of the Progressive Era was Jacob Riis, who, through his photography, revealed the horrible living conditions of the urban poor to the public. When the public saw the pictures of the tenements, which were hot, crowded, and dark, they were appalled. Riis went on to influence tenement housing reforms, better education, and the establishment of more public parks and playgrounds. Carrie Chapmann Catt helped revitalize the NAWSA. She traveled around the globe promoting equal suffrage rights as a part of the International Women Suffrage Alliance. Later on, she campaigned hard to get the nineteenth amendment passed in 1920, which allowed women to vote.
The Great Depression was a troubled time for America.
