Gilded Age: Social Darwinism, Gospel of Wealth & Reform
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Delve into the competing ideas that shaped Gilded Age society, from justifications for wealth like Social Darwinism and the Gospel of Wealth to the reformist impulses of the Social Gospel and the Settlement House Movement.
Gilded Age: Social Darwinism, Gospel of Wealth & Reform
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What is Social Darwinism?
The application of Charles Darwin's theory of "survival of the fittest" to human society. Proponents used it to argue that wealth was a sign of natural superiority and that the government should not interfere to help the poor or regulate business.
Who was a major American proponent of Social Darwinism?
William Graham Sumner, a Yale sociologist, was a leading advocate. He argued that millionaires were the product of natural selection and that helping the poor would interfere with this natural process.
What was the "Gospel of Wealth"?
An idea promoted by Andrew Carnegie in an 1889 essay. He argued that the wealthy have a moral obligation to use their fortunes for the betterment of society through philanthropy, such as building libraries and universities.
How did the Gospel of Wealth differ from Social Darwinism?
While both accepted wealth inequality as natural, the Gospel of Wealth added a moral responsibility for the rich to act as stewards of their wealth for the public good. Social Darwinism, in its purest form, implied no such obligation.
What was the Social Gospel movement?
A Protestant Christian reform movement that applied Christian ethics to social problems like poverty, slums, and labor exploitation. It argued that true salvation required working for social justice on Earth.
Who were key leaders of the Social Gospel movement?
Ministers like Walter Rauschenbusch and Washington Gladden. They urged churches to become involved in social reform and address the problems caused by industrialization and urbanization.
What was the Settlement House Movement?
A reformist social movement where educated, middle-class reformers, mostly women, established centers in poor urban neighborhoods. These houses provided social services, education, and recreation to immigrants and the working poor.
Who was Jane Addams?
The most prominent figure in the Settlement House Movement. She co-founded Hull House in Chicago in 1889, which became a model for hundreds of other settlement houses across the country.
What kinds of services did settlement houses like Hull House provide?
They offered English classes for immigrants, daycare for working mothers, art and music programs, health clinics, and meeting places for community groups and labor unions.
Who was Horatio Alger?
A popular Gilded Age author whose novels for young boys told "rags-to-riches" stories. His books reinforced the myth of the self-made man and the idea that anyone could achieve success through hard work and honesty.
How did the ideas of Lester Frank Ward challenge Social Darwinism?
Ward, a sociologist, argued that human intelligence and government planning could and should improve society. He advocated for social progress through education and government action, a philosophy known as "Reform Darwinism."
What was the Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU)?
A powerful women's organization founded in 1874 that advocated for the prohibition of alcohol. It argued that alcohol was a primary cause of social problems like poverty, crime, and domestic violence.
Who was Frances Willard?
The influential leader who transformed the WCTU into a large and powerful national organization. She broadened its platform from just temperance to include issues like women's suffrage, arguing women needed the vote to protect their homes.
What did the term "conspicuous consumption" mean?
A term coined by sociologist Thorstein Veblen to describe the lavish spending by the wealthy on goods and services acquired mainly for the purpose of displaying income or wealth.
