Which event launched the Social Welfare movement in the U.S. through the efforts of its founder?

The Hull House Initiative is recognized as a pivotal event in launching the Social Welfare movement in the U.S., largely due to the efforts of Jane Addams, who co-founded Hull House in Chicago in 1889. This settlement house served as a community center offering various services to immigrants and the poor, such as education, healthcare, and legal aid. Addams and her colleagues sought to address the social issues exacerbated by rapid industrialization and urbanization, advocating for reforms that would improve living and working conditions.

The Hull House Initiative exemplified the principles of the Social Welfare movement by highlighting the need for organized efforts to aid the underprivileged and to foster community development. Through this initiative, Addams not only provided immediate assistance to those in need but also emphasized the importance of legislative reform to create systemic change. Her work brought attention to issues such as child labor, women's rights, and sanitation in urban areas, laying foundational ideas for future social work and welfare policies in the United States.