1. Social Darwinism vs. The Social Gospel

2. Social Darwinism: The theory developed in England by Herbert Spencer in 1857 that social policy should allow the weak and unfit to fail and die, and that this is not only good policy but morally sound. Riches were a sign of God’s favor and the poor were lazy or inferior people who deserved their lot in life.

3. Social Darwinism Social Darwinism was a rationale for imperialism: Within the human species, nations are locked in a struggle for survival. Everywhere, civilized nations are supplanting barbarous nations. Underdeveloped cultures will soon die off. Therefore, natural order obligates powerful, civilized nations to appropriate the limited resources of the weak.

4. The Social Gospel: The Social Gospel: A philosophy that developed after the Industrial Revolution to combat the problems created by industrialization. The belief was that a society could be created based on social justice, and that Christians have a responsibility to help improve working conditions and alleviate poverty.

5. Social Gospel Most believers in the Social Gospel said that instead of trying to imperialize distant countries, the US should be concerned with racial and social justice at home.

6. the Social Gospel Some members of the Social Gospel movement argued for imperialism believing that “the white man’s burden” required Americans to spread their civilization around the world.