Social Darwinist vs. Progressives US History: Spiconardi
Social Darwinism Social Darwinism A theory that takes Charles Darwin’s Theory of Evolution and applies it to socio-economics. Social Darwinists disagreed with the Progressives Government should not interfere in aiding unions, regulating factory conditions, or private economic affairs Laissez-faire “let do;” government should keep its hands off businesses and the economy as a whole
Social Darwinism “It’s survival of the fittest” The wealthy are wealthy because they were the most capable The poor are poor because they are weak
Social Darwinism The Hypocrisy of Social Darwinism What is hypocrisy? Can you give some examples? While Social Darwinist didn’t want government to interfere in business by regulating business, Social Darwinists wanted the government to assist business through: Low interest rate loans Tax relief Increased tariffs
Social Darwinism Industrialists Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller were Social Darwinists, but they believed (You tell me. We learned about these two “Captains of Industry” [Hint, hint. Wink, wink. Nudge, nudge…] in our last unit of study): ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ _______________
And Jane Addams was a woman who believed in charity Jane Addams and Hull House
Jane Addams Progressive who advocated for the urban poor & immigrants, women’s suffrage, and pacifism during World War I She and a friend opened Hull House, the first U.S. settlement house, in Chicago in 1889
Jane Addams and Hull House Hull House A settlement house in a poor immigrant neighborhood of Chicago Settlement house Houses in which middle-class volunteers would live and provided food, shelter, cultural assistance, and education to the urban poor and immigrants This aid could be provided due to the charity of wealthy citizens Settlement houses brought the wealthy, middle-class, and poor together