1. Social Darwinism vs. Social Gospel U.S. History Unit 2
Events and Ideas #3
Social Darwinism vs. Social Gospel
U.S. History
Unit 2

2. Essential Question:
Compare and contrast the ideologies of Social Darwinism and Social Gospel

3. Key Terms: Natural Selection:
Process that living things survive due to their favorable traits
Ideology:
An organized collection of ideas.
Social Reform:
Changes in society for the better

4. Social Darwinism

5. Social Darwinism Industry leaders embraced Social Darwinism.
Competition would eliminate those who could not adapt.
It was the “fittest” companies that would survive and grow.

6. Social Darwinism
Social Darwinism paralleled economic doctrine of laissez-faire - “Hand-off” the economy.
John D. Rockefeller and other industry leaders embraced Social Darwinism.
If a company succeeded, it was because it had best adapted to the business environment.
The rich industrialists used the excuse of Social Darwinism for why they were so rich.

7. Social Gospel

8. Industrialization Caused Many Problems In America
One group that tried to help were the Progressives
America is growing, immigration is increasing, unions were far and few between and big business dominates the working class.
There are a lot of poor people and immigrants in America.
Out of all of this, American religion rises to the challenge through the Social Gospel movement.

9. Social Gospel The Social Gospel movement takes hold from 1870 to 1920.
Churches expand their functions to include social programs to improve:
poor working conditions
problems of society
poor schooling
child labor
crime

10. Answer the EQ in 5 sentences:
Compare and contrast the ideologies of Social Darwinism and Social Gospel