1. Social Darwinism and Social Reform
Lesson 3
Social Darwinism and Social Reform

2. Terms
Individualism – the belief that no matter what a person’s background is, he or she can still become successful through effort
Social Darwinism – a philosophy based on Charles Darwin’s theories of evolution and natural selection, asserting that humans have developed through competition and natural selection with only the strongest surviving.

3. Terms
Evolution – the scientific theory that humans and other forms of life have evolved over time.
Philanthropy – providing money to support humanitarian or social goods.
Settlement houses – an institution located in a poor neighborhood that provided numerous community services such as medical care, child care, libraries, and classes in English.

4. Terms
Americanization – the process of acquiring or causing a person to acquire American traits and characteristics.
Publish – to make a document available to the general public.

5. Progress Check - 123
How did Horatio Alger’s books demonstrate the idea of individualism?
Alger’s books gave people hope that they could improve their lives by hard work, as the characters in his stories did.

6. Progress Check - 126
Why were public schools important to the success of immigrant children?
Children learned English, American culture, and history, as well as workplace skills.

7. Progress Check - 127
Why was it possible to pursue more leisure activities and popular entertainment during this time period?
An improving standard of living provided more income to spend on such activities, and a decrease in work’s strenuousness encouraged more sport and exercise.

8. Taking Notes - 122 Theory or Movement Main Idea Social Darwinism
Survival of the fittest
Laissez-Faire
No government interference in business
Gospel of Wealth
The wealthy use philanthropy to create conditions to help people help themselves
Realism
Portray the world realistically

9. His ideas went against the traditional religious beliefs of the time.
Critical Thinking - 123
Why might Spencer’s ideas have seemed controversial at the time they were written?
His ideas went against the traditional religious beliefs of the time.

10. Critical Thinking - 125
Based on her involvement with Hull House, how would you describe Jane Adams as a person?
Addams was a dedicated social reformer who was concerned about improving the lives of others.

11. Critical Thinking - 127
Why did Mark Twain write the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn using local dialect?
Twain used local dialect because he wanted his characters and the subject of his book to seem as realistic as possible.

12. What is the main idea of individualism?
Lesson 3 - Exit Quiz
Which philosophy was a gentler version of Social Darwinism, and what was its intention?
What is the main idea of individualism?