- In 1873 Mark Twain and Charles Warner co-wrote the novel, The Gilded Age.
- Refers to the time between 1870 and 1900.
- Gilded = something being gold on the outside, inside made of cheaper material.
- This was a time of growth but beneath the surface were corruption, poverty, and a huge difference between rich and poor.
Individualism
- the belief that regardless of your background, you could still rise in society.
- Horatio Alger, a minister, from Massachusetts, left the clergy and moved to New York where he wrote over 100 novels about rags-to-riches stories.
Social Darwinism
- Herbert Spencer, an English philosopher, first proposed the idea of Social Darwinism.
- Spencer took Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution and natural selection and applied it to human society.
- Darwin’s theory: a species that cannot adapt to the environment will eventually die out
- Spencer felt that human society evolved through competition.
- society got better because only the fittest survived.
- Industrial leaders agreed with Social Darwinism.
- Many devout Christians and some leading scientists opposed the idea of Darwin’s conclusions.
- They rejected the theory of evolution because it went against the Bible’s account of creation.
Gospel of Wealth
- Stated that wealthy Americans were responsible and should engage in philanthropy, using great fortunes to further social progress. (giving back to the community)
- Created by Andrew Carnegie, a wealthy business leader
Popular Culture
- People had more $$ to spend on entertainment and recreation.
- The saloon acted like a community and political center for male workers.
- Amusement parks like Coney Island were built
- People started watching sports
- Vaudeville became popular. It combined animal acts, acrobats, gymnasts, and dancers in its performance.
- New music: ragtime - based on the patterns of African American music.
Reform
- 1879- Henry George- Progress and Poverty.
- challenged the ideas of Social Darwinism and laissez-faire economics.
- 1883- Lester Frank Ward’s Dynamic Sociology
- Created Reform Darwinism
- cooperation and not competition caused people to succeed.
- He wanted government to become more involved in solving societal problems.
- Naturalism - writers criticized industrial society.
- They suggested that some people failed in life due to circumstances they could not control.
- Social Gospel movement - used the ideals of charity and justice to help the urban poor.
- wanted to apply “Christian Law” to social problems.
- believed that competition was the cause of many social problems. This led to many
- Churches offered gyms, social programs, and daycare.
- Eventually led to an organization known as the Salvation Army.
- YMCA: tried to help industrial workers and urban poor through Bible studies, prayer meetings, citizenship training, and group activities.
- Dwight L. Moody - president of the Chicago YMCA.
- against Social Gospel and Social Darwinism.
- He felt the way to help the poor was by redeeming their souls, not by giving them services.
- Settlement house movement: it’s a Christian duty to improve the living conditions of the poor.
- Jane Addams set up settlement houses in poor neighborhoods. Addams opened Hull House in 1889 and inspired many others.
- Medical care, recreation programs, and English classes were provided at settlement houses.
Education
- New industry needed trained workers, so schooling became important
- Americanization, or becoming knowledgeable about American culture, was key to the success of immigrant children.
- Booker T. Washington led the crusade to formed the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama in 1881 to provide an education for African Americans
- The number of colleges increased
- Morrill Land Grant Act - gave federal land grants to states to build agricultural and mechanical colleges
- The number of women’s colleges also increased.
- Free libraries provided education to city dwellers.
- Andrew Carnegie donated millions toward the construction of libraries.
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