Social Criticism

1
Social Criticism

• Changes in industrialization and urbanization led
  to debates among Americans over the issue of how
  to handle societys problems. ?

• In 1879 journalist Henry George wrote a
  best-selling book called Progress and Poverty. ?
• It raised questions about American society and
  challenged the ideas of Social Darwinism and
  laissez-faire economics.

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2
Social Criticism (cont.)

• In 1883 Lester Frank Wards Dynamic Sociology
  argued that humans were unlike animals because
  they could think and plan ahead. ?

• He concluded that it was cooperation and not
  competition that caused people to succeed. ?
• He wanted government to become more involved in
  solving societal problems. ?
• These ideas became known as Reform Darwinism.

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3
Social Criticism (cont.)

• In 1888 Edward Bellamys Looking Backward
  20001887 became a bestseller and helped shape
  the thinking of American reformers in the late
  1800s. ?

• The book tells the story of a perfect society in
  the year 2000.

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4
Social Criticism (cont.)
What was the real importance of Henry George and
his writings?
George raised questions about American society
and challenged the ideas of Social Darwinism and
laissez-faire economics.
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5
Naturalism in Literature

• Realists argued that people could control their
  lives and make choices to improve their
  situation. ?

• In a style of writing known as naturalism,
  writers criticized industrial society. ?
• They suggested that some people failed in life
  due to circumstances they could not control.

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6
Naturalism in Literature (cont.)

• Prominent naturalist writers included Stephan
  Crane, Frank Norris, Jack London, and Theodore
  Dreiser. ?

• All wrote stories of characters caught up in
  situations they could not control.

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7
Naturalism in Literature (cont.)
What did Jack Londons tales of Alaskan
wilderness illustrate?
They demonstrated the extreme power that the
natural environment can have over civilization.
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8
Helping the Urban Poor

• Reformers began to organize to help the poor. ?

• Organizations such as the Social Gospel movement,
  Salvation Army, YMCA, womens clubs, settlement
  houses, and temperance movements formed to help
  the needy. ?
• Minister Washington Gladden was an early
  supporter of the Social Gospel movement. ?
• He wanted to apply Christian Law to social
  problems.

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9
Helping the Urban Poor (cont.)

• From 1870 to 1920, members of the Social Gospel
  group worked to better conditions in cities
  through charity and justice. ?

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

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10
Helping the Urban Poor (cont.)

• In 1878 the Salvation Army offered aid and
  religious counseling to urban poor. ?

• The YMCA attempted to help industrial workers and
  urban poor through Bible studies, prayer
  meetings, citizenship training, and group
  activities. ?
• They had facilities that offered libraries, gyms,
  pools, and low-cost hotel rooms.

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11
Helping the Urban Poor (cont.)

• Dwight L. Moody was an evangelical Christian and
  president of the Chicago YMCA. ?

• He founded his own church, today known as Moody
  Memorial Church. ?
• By 1867 Moody was so popular that he brought his
  revival meetings to other cities. ?
• He was against Social Gospel and Social Darwinism.

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12
Helping the Urban Poor (cont.)

• He felt the way to help the poor was by
  redeeming their souls and not by providing them
  with services. ?

• The settlement house movement was promoted by
  reformers who felt it was their Christian duty to
  improve the living conditions of the poor. ?
• Jane Addams set up settlement houses in poor
  neighborhoods.

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13
Helping the Urban Poor (cont.)

• Addams opened Hull House in 1889 and inspired
  many others, including Lillian Walds Henry
  Street settlement house in New York City. ?

• Medical care, recreation programs, and English
  classes were provided at settlement houses.

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14
Helping the Urban Poor (cont.)
How did Jane Addams and Lillian Wald help the
poor?
They set up settlement houses that provided poor
residents a place to go for medical care,
recreation, English classes, and hot lunches.
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15
Public Education

• In the late 1880s, the increase of industry
  resulted in a need for better-trained workers. ?

• As a result, there was a need for more school and
  colleges. ?
• Americanization, or becoming knowledgeable about
  American culture, was key to the success of
  immigrant children.

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16
Public Education (cont.)

• Due to the lack of educational opportunities for
  African Americans, Booker T. Washington led the
  crusade to form the Tuskegee Institute in
  Alabama in 1881. ?

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

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17
Public Education (cont.)

• The number of colleges greatly increased in the
  late 1800s. ?

• This was partly a result of the Morrill Land
  Grant Act, which gave federal land grants to
  states for the purposes of establishing
  agricultural and mechanical colleges. ?
• College attendance increased. ?
• The number of womens colleges also increased.

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18
Public Education (cont.)

• Free libraries provided education to city
  dwellers. ?

• Andrew Carnegie donated millions toward the
  construction of libraries.

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19
Public Education (cont.)
In what way did public schools pose a problem
for immigrants?
Parents were afraid their children would become
too Americanized and forget their culture and
traditions.
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