Social Darwinism and Social Reform

Warm up What kind of society followed the Civil War? What’s going on? Who is doing what?

The Gilded Age The time period between the 1870’s to about the 1900’s is known as the Gilded Age Glided is used to describe something typically a metal that is clad in gold, but is typically a cheaper material underneath How do you think this can be used to describe things? People? Society?

Individualism Individualism is the belief that no matter what a person’s back ground is, he or she can still become successful through effort. Do you agree with this view? Why or why not? What other factors might play a role in someone's success?

Darwinism Darwinism is the theory of evolution presented by Charles Darwin This theory presents the idea that if a species cannot survive it dies out, only those which adapt live on to pass on their genes. Overtime (like millions of years), eventually new species are created and die out through natural selection. Not Pokemon Who do you think did not like this view? Why? How could Darwinism apply to society?

Social Darwinism Herbert Spencer page 123 Applied Darwinism to society Believed that human society had evolved through competition Society became better because the “fittest” had survived Do you agree? What type of economy does this sound like?

Class Activity Group Discussions on the opposition to Social Darwinism

Home Learning Chapter 4 Lesson 3 Review Numbers 2, 3, and 4. Write and answer in complete sentences.