The Gilded Age
The Gilded Age 1870-1900 I. Social Darwinism
Individualism and Social Darwinism shaped Americans’ attitudes toward industrial society.
(The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today – Mark Twain and Charles Warner, why historians call it that) A. The Idea of Individualism a. Individualism – no matter how humble your origins, you can rise in society as far as your talents and commitment and talents will take you. (one of the strongest beliefs of the era) 1. Horatio Alger B. Social Darwinism
“Survival of the Fittest” Enforced idealism, loosely derived from Darwin’s theories Human society evolves through competition and natural selection a. Herbert Spencer a. Applied Darwin’s theory of evolution to society i. Human society evolves through competition and natural selection ii. Society progressed and became better only because the fittest people survived b. Paralleled laissez-faire iii. Opposed government programs interfering with business c. Rockefeller – “Survival of the fittest is merely working out of the law of nature and the law of God” b. Darwinism and the Church d. Christians were upset, rejected evolution e. Henry ward beecher, Christian evolutionist c. Carnegie’s Gospel of Wealth
Gentler version of Social Darwinism f. Wealthy americans should engage in philanthropy and use their fortunes to create conditions to HELP PEOPLE HELP THEMSELVES iv. (schools and hospitals is better than giving money to the poor) II. A Changing Culture
Artists and writers began portraying life in America more realistically, and cities offered new forms of entertainment. C. Realism – movement in art and literature, began in 1800s Artists and writers tried to portray the world realistically, b. Edgar Degas, Edouard Manet, Thomas Eakins c. Writers engaged in realism too, Mark Twain ( Samuel Clemens writing genius huck finn)
Individualism and Social Darwinism shaped Americans’ attitudes toward industrial society.
(The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today – Mark Twain and Charles Warner, why historians call it that) A. The Idea of Individualism a. Individualism – no matter how humble your origins, you can rise in society as far as your talents and commitment and talents will take you. (one of the strongest beliefs of the era) 1. Horatio Alger B. Social Darwinism
“Survival of the Fittest” Enforced idealism, loosely derived from Darwin’s theories Human society evolves through competition and natural selection a. Herbert Spencer a. Applied Darwin’s theory of evolution to society i. Human society evolves through competition and natural selection ii. Society progressed and became better only because the fittest people survived b. Paralleled laissez-faire iii. Opposed government programs interfering with business c. Rockefeller – “Survival of the fittest is merely working out of the law of nature and the law of God” b. Darwinism and the Church d. Christians were upset, rejected evolution e. Henry ward beecher, Christian evolutionist c. Carnegie’s Gospel of Wealth
Gentler version of Social Darwinism f. Wealthy americans should engage in philanthropy and use their fortunes to create conditions to HELP PEOPLE HELP THEMSELVES iv. (schools and hospitals is better than giving money to the poor) II. A Changing Culture
Artists and writers began portraying life in America more realistically, and cities offered new forms of entertainment. C. Realism – movement in art and literature, began in 1800s Artists and writers tried to portray the world realistically, b. Edgar Degas, Edouard Manet, Thomas Eakins c. Writers engaged in realism too, Mark Twain ( Samuel Clemens writing genius huck finn)