Chapter 15Urban America

Section 4

The Rebirth of Reform

Social Criticism

*Don’t Write* Industrialization & urbanization led to

debates among Americans over the issue of how to handle society’s problems.

Social Criticism

1879 – Henry George wrote Progress and Poverty.

Raised questions about American society & challenged the ideas of Social Darwinism and laissez-faire economics.

Progress & Poverty

“it becomes no easier for the masses of our people to make a living. On the contrary it becomes harder….The gulf between the employed and the employer is growing wider; social contrasts are becoming sharper; as liveried carriages appear, so do barefoot children.”

Social Criticism

1883 – Lester Frank Ward’s Dynamic Sociology argued that humans were unlike animals because they could think and plan ahead.

It was cooperation and not competition that caused people to succeed.

Wanted more gov’t involvement. Became known as Reform Darwinsim.

Social Criticism

1888 – Edward Bellamy’s Looking Backward 2000-1887 shaped American reformers in the late 1800s.

Tells of a perfect society in the year 2000.

Ideas were a form of socialism.

Naturalism in Literature

Naturalism criticized industrial society. Suggested that some people failed in life due

to circumstances they couldn’t control. Writer’s included:

• Stephen Crane – Maggie, A Girl of the Streets

• Frank Norris – McTeague

• Jack London

• Theodore Dreiser – Sister Carrie

The Social Gospel

Washington Gladden was a supporter of the Social Gospel.

He wanted to apply “Christian Law” to social problems.

Members of the S.G. worked to better conditions in cities through charity & justice.

Washington Gladden

Social Gospel

Walter Rauschenbusch later led the movement.

He believed competition was the cause of most social problems.

This led many churches to take on community functions to improve society.

The Salvation Army

1878 – the Salvation Army offered aid and religious counseling to urban poor.

YMCA

Attempted to help industrial workers & urban poor through Bible studies, prayer meetings, citizenship training, and group activities.

Revivalism

Dwight Moody – president of the Chicago YMCA.

Founded the Moody Memorial Church. 1867 – brought revivals to other cities. Against the Social Gospel & Social Darwinism. Felt the way to help poor was by redeeming

their soul and not by providing services.

Dwight L. Moody

The Settlement House Movement

Promoted by reformers who felt it was their Christian duty to improve the living conditions of the poor.

Jane Addams opened Hull House (1889) and inspired many others.

Medical care, recreation programs, & English classes were provided.

Jane Addams

Public Education

The increase of industry resulted in a need for better-trained workers.

Americanization – becoming knowledgeable about American culture, was the key to the success of immigrant children.

African-American Education

Booker T. Washington opened Tuskegee Institute in 1881.

Education for the Workplace

City schools helped immigrants assimilate.

Grammar school system in the city divided students into 8 separate grades to help prepare for the workplace.

Expanding Higher Education

Number of colleges greatly increased in the late 1800s.

Result of the Morrill Land Grant Act, which gave federal land grants to states for the purposes of establishing agricultural & mechanical colleges.

Public Libraries

Free libraries provided education to city dwellers.

Andrew Carnegie donated millions toward the construction of libraries.

End of Chapter 15

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