Question

Analyze and evaluate the ways in which social darwinism and the gospel of wealth were used to defend the dominant economic and social order after the civil war to 1900.

Answer 1

The correct answer is:

Social Darwinism and the Gospel of Wealth were used to defend the dominant economic and social order after the civil war to 1900 in different ways.

"The Gospel of Wealth," was an essay written by the philantropic and entrepreneur Andrew Carnegie in 1889. In that document, Carnegie gave some suggestions and advice to other rich men about the way they should live their lives.

This, because Social Darwinism had been influenced the lives of people in the late-nineteenth-century. Social Darwinism was a “type of ideology” that wanted to prove the superiority of Anglo-Saxons over other races. The supporters of this way of thinking considered the assumption that white Northern Europeans were superior to all other groups. The social scientist that believed in this theory supported oppression of classes, justifying racism instead of trying to find or at least understand the social differences. The supporters of Social Darwinism did not approve the government programs directed to help the ones in need, considered that the poor were born to be poor in this life as a natural condition.

Then, enters Andrew Carnegie with his Gospel of Wealth. In the mentioned essay, Carnegie elaborated philanthropic projects with the goal of benefiting poor people. The intention of Carnegie was to change the extreme ideas of Social Darwinism. He considered that the rich should by thankful for their wealth and a way to show it was helping the poor. Not many rich families agreed with Carnegie. They preferred the accumulation of wealth instead of the support of social programs.

Answer 2

In the late 19th century, the United States experienced unprecedented growth in new industries such as steel and oil. The owners of these big businesses, people like Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller, became millionaires. Their unique successes illustrated an economic and social problem in America- a quickly growing gap between the rich and the poor.

Social Darwinism was a philosophy used at the time to explain, even justify, why some people in society were succeeding economically while others were not. Developed by a philosopher named Herbert Spencer, Social Darwinism was based on Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection, otherwise known as "survival of the fittest". Spencer transferred Darwin's biological theories to explain how society evolved and changed, suggesting that only the "fittest" or most capable humans survive and are successful. This is proposing that one's economic success depends on how capable and hard-working one is. In other words, if someone did not succeed it was because he was unable to adapt to the challenge. Economists used Social Darwinist principles to defend the idea of "laissez-faire", which is when the government does not interfere or regulate the market and is essential to a capitalist economy.

Andrew Carnegie wrote an article in 1889 suggesting that those people who made their fortunes were obligated to use their wealth to help others help themselves. Carnegie's thoughts on philanthropy became known as the Gospel of Wealth. Carnegie believed that inequality might be addressed by the wealthy themselves in a responsible and thoughtful manner. To Carnegie, this meant providing institutions that could educate and inspire people to better their situation through hard work. He donated nearly 90% of his fortune during his lifetime, which still supports the arts and education years later. (See image: Courtesy of biography.com)