Settlement House Movement
A major factor in Immigration and Urbanization in the Progressive Era was the Settlement House Movement. This movement was a response to the chaotic state the United States found itself in, with rapid growth, economic distress, unemployment and poor living conditions. Settlement Houses were institutions that were privately supported and focused on helping the poor and disadvantaged. The overall idea was that wealthy people would move into poor neighborhoods, and they could learn from one another. The wealthy people would serve as teachers and providers of basic but important services to the poor people in the settlement. The first settlement, Tonybee Hall, was created by Canon Samuel Barnett in 1884. It was based on the social gospel movement, and attracted and inspired many young theologists and middle- class people to live among the poor and help them.