Inequality and Reform
US History/Napp Name: ______
“The philosophy called SocialDarwinism grew out of the English naturalist Charles Darwin’s theory ofbiological evolution. In his book On the Origin of Species, published in 1859,Darwin described his observations that some individuals of a species flourishand pass their traits along to the next generation, while others do not. He explained that a process of ‘natural selection’ weeded out less-suited individualsand enabled the best-adapted to survive.
The English philosopher Herbert Spencer used Darwin’s biological theoriesto explain the evolution of human society. Soon, economists found in SocialDarwinism a way to justify the doctrine of laissez faire (a French term meaning “let them do [businesses] as they please”). According to this doctrine, the marketplace should notbe regulated. William G. Sumner, a political science professor at YaleUniversity, promoted the theory that success and failure in business weregoverned by natural law and that no one had the right to intervene.
The premise of the survival and success ofthe most capable naturally made sense to the 4,000 millionaires who hademerged since the Civil War. Because the theory supported the notion of individualresponsibility and blame, it also appealed to the Protestant work ethicofmany Americans. According to Social Darwinism, riches were a sign of God’s favor, and therefore the poor must belazy or inferior people who deserved their lot in life.
Although some business owners endorsed the ‘natural law’ in theory, in practice most entrepreneurs did everythingthey could to control the competition that threatened thegrowth of their business empires.” ~ The Americans
Statement A: “The best way to economic recovery is to subsidize industry so that it will hire more workers and expand production.”Statement B: “If jobs are not available, the government must create jobs for those who are unemployed.”
Statement C: “According to human nature, the most talented people will always come out on top.”
Statement D: “Our government is responsible for the nation’s economic well-being.”
1. Which statement is closest to the philosophy of Social Darwinism?
(1) Speaker A
(2) Speaker B
(3) Speaker C
(4) Speaker D / 2. Many wealthy American industrialists of the late 19th century used the theory of Social Darwinism to
(1) support the labor union movement
(2) justify monopolistic actions
(3) promote legislation establishing a minimum wage
(4) encourage charitable organizations to help the poor
3. In the late 19th century, owners of big businesses generally embraced Social Darwinism because it reinforced their belief
(1) That economic success demonstrates fitness to lead
(2) That business monopolies are contrary to the social order
(3) That wealth should be shared
(4) That the economy should be regulated
Reading: Yet Calls for Reforms
“With the unequal balance of wealth and poverty it seemed that the rich were growing richer and the poor, poorer. As the growing poverty of America’s workers became increasingly apparent, many called for public and private relief that was not forthcoming. Movements for reform were spurred by the humanitarian concerns reflected in literature (How the Other Half Lives, Jacob Riis, 1890, The Bitter Cry of Children, John Spargo, 1906, Progress and Poverty, Henry George, 1879). Early efforts to help included the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (1874), settlement houses such as Hull House in Chicago, founded in 1889 by Jane Addams to offer social services, and the establishment of religious institutions such as the Young Men’s Christian Association (1851), and the Salvation Army (1879), and city missions.”~ U.S. History and Government
1- How was American society becoming more unequal? ______
2- What did some individuals call for? ______
3- What books reflected a growing humanitarian concern? ______
4- Who was Jane Addams and what did she establish? ______
1. The actions of Jane Addams, Ida Tarbell, and Booker T. Washington illustrate that reform in the United States has(1) utilized a variety of methods to achieve many goals
(2) depended on support from religious groups
(3) relied on programs initiated by the Federal Government
(4) promoted women’s suffrage as its main goal / 2. Jacob Riis, Jane Addams, and Margaret Sanger are most closely associated with efforts to
(1) educate and train formerly enslaved persons
(2) preserve the natural environment
(3) advance the interests of organized labor
(4) improve conditions for the poor
Reading: Jacob Riis
“Jacob Riis, a police reporter whose work appeared in several New York newspapers, documented the living and working conditions of the poor. Through articles, books, photography, and lantern-slide lectures, Riis served as a mediator between working-class, middle-class, and upper-class citizens.
Riis argued for better housing, adequate lighting and sanitation, and the construction of city parks and playgrounds. He portrayed middle-class and upper-class citizens as benefactors and encouraged them to take an active role in defining and shaping their communities. Riis believed that charitable citizens would help the poor when they saw for themselves how ‘the other half’ lived.”~ Virginia.edu
Jacob Riis, Five Cents Lodging, Bayard Street, c. 1889
Identify two images in the photograph that reveal the hardships and sufferings of the poor:
1-______
2-______
Do you believe that it is the responsibility of government to alleviate poverty? Explain your answer. ______
“An early reformprogram, the Social Gospel movement, preached salvationthrough service to the poor. Inspired by the message ofthe Social Gospel movement, many 19th-century reformersresponded to the call to help the urban poor. In the late1800s, a few reformers established settlement houses,community centers in slum neighborhoods that providedassistance to people in the area, especially immigrants. Many settlement workers lived at the houses so that theycould learn firsthand about the problems caused byurbanizationand help create solutions.
Settlement houses in the United States were founded byCharles Stover and Stanton Coit in New York City in 1886. Jane Addams – one of the most influential members ofthe movement –and Ellen Gates Starr founded Chicago’s Hull House in 1889. In 1890, Janie Porter Barrett foundedLocust Street Social Settlement in Hampton, Virginia –thefirst settlement house for African Americans. By 1910,about 400 settlement houses were operating in cities acrossthe country. The settlement houses helped cultivate socialresponsibility toward the urban poor.” ~ The American Vision
What was Hull House and why was it important? ______
Sanitationproblems in bigcities wereoverwhelming. Itwas not unusualto see a deadhorse in thestreet.
- How did conditions in cities affect people’s health? ______
Analyzing Effects: What effects did the migration fromrural areas to the cities in the late 19th century have on urban society?
Include:
• Why people moved to cities
• The problems caused by rapidurban growth
• The differences in the experiencesof whites and blacks
______
“Be a little careful, please! The hall is dark and you mightstumble over the children pitching pennies back there. Notthat it would hurt them; kicks and cuffs are their dailydiet. They have little else…Close [stuffy]? Yes! Whatwould you have? All the fresh air that ever enters thesestairs comes from the hall-door that is forever slamming…Here is a door.
Listen! That short hacking cough, that tiny, helpless wail – what do they mean? The child is dying with measles. With half a chance it might have lived; but ithad none. That dark bedroom killed it.”
~ How the Other Half Lives
How did Jacob Riis change American views on poverty? ______