In the context of early twentieth century United States reform movements, which description best fits the National Urban League?

Introduction / Context:
During the early twentieth century, African Americans and their allies formed several organisations to address racial discrimination and social problems in the United States. Two major groups often discussed together are the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the National Urban League. Although both aimed to improve the lives of African Americans, they focused on somewhat different strategies and populations. Understanding these differences helps students answer questions that ask them to match organisations with their main activities.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question asks which description best fits the Urban League, more formally known as the National Urban League.

• The options describe various forms of activism, including helping poor workers, supporting middle class legal struggles, responding to race riots, and leading settlement house style movements.

• We assume the question wants to distinguish the Urban League from other groups such as the NAACP.

• The focus is on the primary mission rather than on every single activity the organisation undertook.

Concept / Approach:
The National Urban League was created to help African Americans who were moving from rural areas to cities, especially during the Great Migration, when many sought jobs in northern urban centres. It focused on practical support: job placement, vocational training, housing assistance, and social services, particularly for poor and working class African Americans. In contrast, the NAACP concentrated more on legal challenges, court cases, and political rights for African Americans, often with strong middle class leadership. Therefore, the description that emphasises helping poor workers adjust to city life best captures the Urban League role.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the Urban League mission was to enable African Americans in cities to secure employment, decent housing, and fair treatment in everyday life. Step 2: Consider option one, which states that it focused on helping poor African American workers adjust to city life through jobs and housing, and see that this matches the practical, service based approach of the organisation. Step 3: Compare this with option two, which describes helping mainly middle class African Americans fight for political and social justice in courts, a description that more closely fits the NAACP. Step 4: Examine option three, which links formation directly to the 1908 race riots and emphasises legal protest; again, this aligns more with NAACP origin stories than with the Urban League. Step 5: Evaluate option four, which mentions leaders like Jane Addams and Ida B Wells and suggests a settlement house movement, which does not accurately describe the Urban League core leadership and purpose.

Verification / Alternative check:
Historical summaries of African American organisations note that the Urban League was formed to address the social and economic difficulties faced by African Americans moving into urban environments. They describe programmes offering employment assistance, vocational training, and housing support. By contrast, the NAACP is known for legal challenges to segregation, landmark court cases, and public campaigns against lynching. These differences confirm that the correct description for the Urban League is the one centred on helping poor African American workers in cities.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• The description focusing on middle class struggles for political and social justice in courts relates more to the NAACP, not to the Urban League primary mission.

• The statement about formation in response to race riots in 1908 and emphasis on legal protest again fits historical accounts of the NAACP rather than the Urban League.

• The option mentioning Jane Addams and Ida B Wells refers to prominent reformers associated with settlement houses and civil rights activism; this does not capture the specific institutional identity of the Urban League.

Common Pitfalls:
Students often confuse the Urban League with the NAACP because both organisations worked to improve the lives of African Americans and sometimes cooperated. Exam questions frequently test whether candidates can distinguish between them. A useful memory aid is to associate the Urban League with employment, housing, and city life, and the NAACP with court cases, legal rights, and campaigns against segregation. Keeping this distinction in mind makes it easier to select the correct description in multiple choice questions.

Final Answer:
The Urban League is best described as an organisation that focused on helping poor African American workers adjust to city life through jobs and housing.