Selects: Frances Perkins: Influential and UnknownFrances Perkins, the first female U.S. Secretary of Labor, played a pivotal role in shaping American social welfare and labor rights. Her legacy includes establishing Social Security and unemployment insurance, ensuring protections for workers during the Great Depression. Perkins' advocacy led to significant labor safety reforms and her commitment to social justice transformed public policy. She faced political challenges, including impeachment attempts, but her relentless dedication to improving conditions for all workers, including Jewish refugees during WWII, marks her as an influential but often overlooked figure in American history.
- Frances Perkins played a monumental role in shaping social welfare policies in the United States, notably through her work in establishing Social Security and labor rights.
- The current unemployment insurance system, which assists millions during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, owes its existence to Perkins' vision and reforms.
# Social Security ActThe Social Security Act of 1935 was a landmark piece of legislation that created a social safety net for Americans, overseen by Perkins.
