THE REBIRTH OF REFORM – Ch. 10, Section 4 By Mr. Thomas Parsons

I. Social Criticism A.Changes in industrialization and urbanization led to debates among Americans over the issue of how to handle Social Darwinism. B.Henry George 1.In 1879 journalist Henry George wrote a best- selling book called Progress and Poverty. 2.It raised questions about American society and challenged the ideas of Social Darwinism and laissez-faire economics.

C.Lester Frank Ward 1.In 1883 Lester Frank Ward’s Dynamic Sociology argued that humans were unlike animals because they could think and plan ahead. 2.He concluded that it was cooperation and not competition that caused people to succeed. 3.He wanted government to become more involved in solving societal problems. 4.These ideas became known as Reform Darwinism.

D.Edward Bellamy 1.In 1887 Edward Bellamy wrote Looking Backward It became a bestseller and helped shape the thinking of American reformers in the late 1800s. 3.The book tells the story of a perfect society in the year 2000.

II. Naturalism in Literature A.Naturalism V. Realists 1.Realists argued that people could control their lives and make choices to improve their situation. 2.In a style of writing known as naturalism, writers criticized industrial society. 3.They suggested that some people failed in life due to circumstances they could not control.

B.Prominent naturalist writers included: 1.Stephen Crane, Frank Norris, Jack London, and Theodore Dreiser. 2.All wrote stories of characters caught up in situations they could not control. Crane Norris London

III. Helping the Urban Poor A.Reformers began to organize to help the poor. 1.Organizations such as the Social Gospel movement, Salvation Army, YMCA, women’s clubs, settlement houses, and temperance movements formed to help the needy. 2.These were urban based agencies that operated without help from the government.

B.Washington Gladden 1.Minister Washington Gladden was an early supporter of the Social Gospel movement. 2.He wanted to apply “Christian Law” to social problems. 3.From 1870 to 1920, members of the Social Gospel group worked to better conditions in cities through charity and justice.

C.Walter Raushenbusch 1.Baptist minister Walter Rauschenbusch later led the movement. 2.He believed that competition was the cause of many social problems. 3.This led to many churches taking on community functions to improve society by offering gyms, social programs, and daycare.

D.The YMCA 1.In 1878 the Salvation Army offered aid and religious counseling to urban poor. 2.The YMCA attempted to help industrial workers and urban poor through Bible Studies, prayer meetings, citizenship training, and group activities. 3.They had facilities that offered libraries, gyms, pools, and low-cost hotel rooms.

E.Dwight L. Moody 1.Moody was an evangelical Christian and president of the Chicago YMCA. 2.He founded his own church in 1864, today known as Moody Memorial Church. 3.By 1867 Moody was so popular that he brought his revival meetings to other cities. 4.He was against Social Gospel and Social Darwinism. 5.He felt the way to help the poor was by redeeming their souls and not by providing them with services.

F.The Settlement House Movement 1.The settlement house movement was promoted by reformers who felt it was their Christian duty to improve the living conditions of the poor. 2.Jane Addams set up settlement houses in poor neighborhoods. 3.Addams opened Hull House in 1889 and inspired many others. 4.She inspired Lillian Wald’s Henry Street settlement house in New York City. 5.Medical care, recreation programs, and English classes were provided at settlement houses.

IV. Public Education A.Need for schools 1.In the late 1880s, the increase of industry resulted in a need for better-trained workers. 2.As a result, there was a need for more school and colleges. B.Americanization, or becoming knowledgeable about American culture, was key to the success of immigrant children.

C.Booker T. Washington 1.There was a lack of education opportunities for African Americans. 2.Booker T. Washington led the crusade to form the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama in 1881.

D.The grammar school system in the city divided students into eight separate grades to help teach successful habits in the workplace.

E.The number of colleges greatly increased in the late 1800s. 1.This was partly a result of the Morrill Land Grant Act 2.The Morill Land Grant gave federal land grants to state for the purposes of establishing agricultural and mechanical colleges. 3.College attendance increased. 4.The number of women’s colleges also increased.

F.Libraries 1.Free libraries provided education to city dwellers. 2.Andrew Carnegie donated millions toward the construction of libraries.

Closing Assessment: 1.) Identify and describe how people tried to help support the urban poor, and was this successful or not explain? 2.) What was the purpose of creating Public Education in America, and how has it changed from then to now, explain?