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III. Social Darwinism and Social Reform
Gilded Age IdeasWhat were the main ideas of Social Darwinism, and how did it compare with the ideas of individualism?
Gilded Age ideas1873 Mark Twain and Charles
Warner wrote a novel entitled
The Gilded Age. Historians adopted the term to name the era of 1870 to 1900
Twain and Warner were sounding an alarm
Gilded means expensive on the outside and cheap on the inside
Gilded with gold. Might seem to sparkle.
CORRUPTIONPOVERTY CRIMEGREEDEXCESSDISPARITIES IN WEALTH
Amazing new inventions
Industrial growth
Skyscrap
ers
Ele
ctri
c lights
Spec
tacu
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man
sion
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Gilded Age IdeasTime of great cultural
activityIndustrialization and
urbanization altered Americans and their society
Gave rise to new valuesIn artNew entertainment
The Idea of IndividualismIndividualism – the belief
that no matter what a person’s background is, he or she can still become successful through effort
Americans could rise as far as their talents and commitments could take them, no matter how humble their origins
The Idea of IndividualismHoratio Alger expressed it the
bestWrote more that 100 “rags to
riches” novelsPoor person goes to the city and
through hard work becomes successful
Alger’s books convinced many young people success was possible
Charles DarwinBritish philosopher in 1859
wrote On then Origins of species by Means of Natural Selection
Darwin argued plants and animals evolved over millions of years
Process of natural selection is species that cannot adapt die out, those that adapt thrive and live on
Spencer argued that human society also evolved through competition. Society became better because only the fit survived
Spencer and William Graham Sumner became know as Social Darwinism
“Survival of the fittest” became the catch phrase
Some industrial leaders used this theory to support laissez-faire- capitalism
This doctrine opposed any government programs that interfered with business
The most fit were white, industrialized societies such as the U.S. and Great Britain.
Herbert Spencer
Social DarwinismSocial Darwinism – a philosophy
based in Charles Darwin’s theories of evolution and natural selection, asserting that humans have developed through competition and natural selection with only the strongest surviving
Theories reinforced the idea of individualism
Darwinism and the ChurchMany Christians found
Darwinism offensiveThey rejected the theory of
evolutionThought it contradicted the
theory in Bible of creationSome clergy thought evolution
was God’s way of creating the world
Carnegie’s Gospel of WealthCarnegie advocated a gentler
version of Social Darwinism. Thought wealthy Americans should engage in philanthropy
Philanthropy – providing money to support humanitarian or social goals
Building schools, hospitals was better than handouts to the poor
Carnegie founded the creation of public libraries in cities
Gilded Age IdeasHow did Horatio Alger’s books demonstrate the idea of individualism?
Gilded Age IdeasAlger’s books gave people hope that they could improve their lives by hard work, as the characters did in the story
The Rebirth of ReformWhat methods and philosophies were developed for helping the urban poor?
The Rebirth of ReformIndustrialization and Urbanization triggered a debate on society’s problems
Some embraced Social Darwinism (survival of the fittest) and individualism (work hard for success)
American government needed to help to fix society’s problems• Regulating
the economy• Helping those
in need
REFORM DARWINISM –People succeeded because they learned to cooperate
Naturalism in Literature Naturalists challenged the ideas of Social
DarwinismMany people failed in life because of
circumstances out of their controlStephen Crane’s novel Maggie, A Girl of
the Streets (1893) story of girls descent into prostitution and death
Jack London’s tale of the Alaskan wilderness; power of nature of civilization
Theodore Dreiser’s novel Sister Carrie (1900)Painted a world were people sinned without
punishmentPursuit of wealth and power destroyed their
character
Helping the Urban Poor
Social Gospel movement worked to better conditions in citiesUsed biblical ideas of charity and
justiceWashington Gladden wrote
Applied ChristianityEarly advocate who popularized
the movement in writings
Helping the Urban PoorWalter Rauschenbusch argued,
must “demand protection and moral safety of the people.”
Inspired churches to build gymsProvide social programsChild careHelp the poor
Helping the Urban PoorSalvation Army and Young Men’s
Christian Association (YMCA) combined faith and interest into reform
Salvation ArmyOffered practical aidReligious counseling to the poor
YMCA organized (industrial workers and the poor)Bible studiesCitizenship trainingGroup activitiesLow cost housing for men
Helping the Urban PoorDwight Moody (head of Chicago
YMCA) gifted preacher revival meetings drew thousands
Moody rejected the Social Gospel and Social Darwinism
Help the poor byRedeeming their souls and
reforming their characterNot by providing services
Helping the Urban PoorSettlement house began as
offshoot of Social GospelSettlement House - an
institution located in a poor neighborhood that provided numerous community services such a medical care, child care, libraries, and classes in English
Settlement HousesCollege educated women in the
late 1800’s established settlement houses in poor heavily immigrant neighborhoodsReformers lived in the
settlement housesOffered everything from medical
care to kindergarten and recreational activities
Helping the Urban PoorJane Addams opened Hull
House in Chicago in 1889Jewish reformer Lillian
Wald founded Henry Street Settlement in New York City
Both women powerful force in the settlement house movement
Public EducationIndustrialization and
Urbanization needed more trained workers
Public schools increased dramatically after the Civil War
7 million in 1870 to 15.5 million in 1900
Public school crucial to immigrant child success
Public EducationAt schools immigrant were
taught English and American history and culture
Process was called Americanization
Americanization – the process of acquiring or causing a person to acquire American traits and characteristics
Public EducationGrammar schools divided
students into gradesDrilled them in punctualityNeatness and efficiencyNecessary habits for the
workplaceVocational education in
high school taught skills for specific trades
Public EducationCity children had greater
access to education than rural areas
African Americans faced educational inequalities
Booker T. Washington founded the Tuskegee Institute in 1881
Public EducationWhat role did religion play in the Social Gospel movement? How did churches respond to this movement?
Why were public schools important to the success of immigrant children?
Public EducationReligious morals and teachings were the foundation of these organizations. Churches built gyms, provided social programs and childcare, and helped the poor.
Children learned English, American culture and history, as well as workplace skills
A Changing Culture
Why do you think artists and writers portraying Americans more realistically?
RealismMovement in Art and
Literature late 1800sArtists and writers wanted
to portray the world realistically
Thomas Eakins, America’s best know realist painterPainted men rowingAthletes playing baseballSurgeons and scientists in
action
RealismWriters attempted to capture
the world as they saw itWilliam Dean Howells presented
realistic descriptions of American life
Wrote The Rise of Silas LaphamAttempts of self made man
trying to enter Boston societyHowells first to declare Mark
Twain an American genius
Realism
Twain’s real name was Samuel Clemens publishedAdventures of Huckleberry Finn
1884Title character and his friend Jim
who escaped slaveryFloat down Mississippi River on a
raftTwain wrote with a local dialect
with a lively sense of humor
Popular CultureChanged considerably in
the late 1800sIndustrialization
Improved standard of livingSpend money on
entertainment and recreation
Divided life into work and home
People began “going out” to public entertainment
Popular CultureIn cities saloons
outnumbered grocery stores
Saloons played a major role in male workers lives
Saloons offeredDrinksFree toiletsWater for horsesFree newspapers
Popular CultureSaloons offered the first lunch
Salty food that made patrons drink more
Served as political centersSaloonkeepers key figures in
the political machine
Popular CultureAmusement parks opened
Coney Island in New York CityRailroad rides and water slides
cost only a nickel or a dimePeople began watching
professional sportsFirst professional baseball team
was the Cincinnati Red Stockings1903 first World Series Boston
Americans and Pittsburgh PiratesFootball gained popularity
Popular CultureWork became less strenuousPeople looked for physical
exercise activitiesTennis, golf and croquet became
popular1891 James Nainsmith
(Massachusetts) invented indoor game of basketball
Popular CulturePeople enjoyed comic
theatre and musicVaudeville adapted from
French Theatre1880s hodgepodge of
animal acts, singers, comedians, acrobats, and dancers
Popular CultureRagtime music
Syncopated rhythms grew out of riverside honkytonks
Saloon pianists and banjo players used patterns of African American music
Scott Joplin King of Ragtime
‘The Maple Leaf Rag” in 1899
A Changing Culture
Why was it possible to pursue more leisure activities and popular entertainment during this time period?
A Changing CultureAn improving standard of living provided more income to spend on such activities, and a decrease in work’s strenuousness encouraged more sport and exercise.