The Progressive Era was a time of enormous change that flourished in the United States. Activists demanded reform in education, technology, science and democracy. Purging government was the primary goal, and it was at this time that progressives made the social sciences, particularly history, economics, and political science "scientific" (http://www. iep.utm.edu). It was also during this time (1890s-1920s) that the Federal Reserve was founded. The 16th through 19th Amendments, the Food and Drug Act, and the Federal Trade Commission were also implemented. It was only after World War I that such radical changes began to slow down. In the midst of all this change existed an extraordinary woman named Jane Addams; a political activist and pragmatist who brought enormous social and economic change to the United States. However, it was not until the end of the 20th century that she was recognized as one of the most influential philosophers and sociologists of her time (http://americanhistory.unomaha.edu).Jane Adams was born in 1860 in the town of Cedarville. , Illinois. She was born into a wealthy and politically influential family, the last in a line of 8 siblings. Jane's father, John Huey Addams, was a political activist and served as an Illinois state senator from 1885 to 1870. He also supported his friend Abraham Lincoln in his bid for senator and president in 1860. Jane's mother and four of her siblings had died by the time Jane was four, and it was around this time that Jane was diagnosed with Potts disease; an illness that left him with a curved spine and lifelong health problems (http://plato.stanford.edu). The misfortunes Jane suffered early in life did not alter her passionate thinking. As a child, she...... middle of paper...... uh contributions to society in a 5 page document. She has done incredible things to improve society as a whole. During her life, she was an author, philosopher, women's and children's rights activist, humanitarian, academic, sociologist, social worker, social leader and founder of numerous programs still in operation today. His ideas continue to influence social, political and economic reforms around the world. I think it would be fair to say that it's a blessing that she was born in a time that made her type of work more difficult. She worked tirelessly to produce much-needed changes that we benefit from today. Often, as Americans, we take for granted the freedoms and protections afforded to us, without considering the backbone necessary to realize them. I am grateful for the opportunity to study and become more familiar with such an extraordinary woman of history..