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Frances Perkins was the first woman on the US cabinet. She was the Secretary of Labor. She tried to get equal working rights, especially for women. She helped women take a step forward as leaders government.
Frances Perkins' Biography
Did you ever wonder what it would be like being the first woman on the cabinet? Well, Frances Perkins did just that. She was born in Boston on April 10, 1880. Frances went to Holyoke College in 1898 and graduated in 1902. When she was in college, she was inspired to help people who weren't being treated fairly at their job.
Frances took an American Colonial History course. The teacher made each student go to a factory to see how the people in the lower class lived. Frances explored work places and saw how terrible they were. Frances did not like what she saw; she wanted to change it.
Frances went to Philadelphia and New York trying to make conditions better for the factory workers. She became the secretary of the New York Consumers League. They were a league who tried to make the working conditions better for the factory workers. She realized in New York that if she could take part in the government she could make an even bigger impact. When Al Smith was the governor of New York in 1919, he made Frances a member of the State Industrial Commission against the wishes of many powerful people. She was later promoted to chairman of the commission. She had quite an impact!
In 1933, Frances was made Secretary of Labor by President Franklin Roosevelt. She helped make many laws including The New Deal and the Fair Labor Standards Act. She helped millions of people with the laws she helped make.
Frances resigned when President Roosevelt died in 1945. She impacted many people's lives all over the USA and prevented more things like the Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire.
I think Frances Perkins was an extraordinary woman. She fought for factory workers' rights. The US needed a woman to be on the cabinet. Frances was a perfect woman. She also helped woman just by being herself. She proved that women could make an impact. Now because of her women have more opportunities. Frances was respected even though she was a woman. That is why I think she is so special.
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A. Her mother
B. An American Colonial History Course
C. A course in college which taught the wrongs of factory working
Answer: B. An American Colonial History Course
When she took the American Colonial History course it required that she visit a factory. She did this assignment. That is what made her want to change the working conditions for the factory workers. She then became the Secretary of Labor.
2. What law did Frances Perkins help make that effected millions of people?
A. The New Deal
B. The Factory Act
C. She only made small laws that effected a group of people
Answer: A. The New Deal
This New Deal helped millions out of poverty after W.W.II the helped. Frances was a major influence with this law.
3. Which President did she work along side with to help change many lives?
A. President Roosevelt
B. President Truman
C. She was on the cabinet not with a president
Answer: A President Roosevelt
Frances grew fond of President Roosevelt. They worked well together and he respected her even though she was a woman. She was devastated when he died.
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