Final answer:
From the 1870s to the 1920s, society evolved significantly due to the Industrial Revolution, Darwin's theory of evolution, and shifts towards democratic ideals and modernization. These changes influenced population growth, societal structure, and cultural norms, despite resistance from traditionalists and the rise of controversial ideologies.
Step-by-step explanation:
Evolution of Society During 1870s-1920s
Throughout the years spanning the 1870s to the 1920s, society experienced profound changes, notably influenced by the Industrial Revolution. An upsurge in the use of fossil fuels facilitated the expansion of industrialization and mechanized farming, leading to enhanced food production and an increase in population. The era was marked by the advent of Darwinism with Charles Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection, which faced resistance from traditionalists but was largely accepted by the scientific community. Societal structures transformed significantly with workers transitioning from crafts to factory labor, shaping an environment with rigorous work conditions known as sweatshops.
Moreover, societal progress was reflected in the stepping towards more democratic principles. This included free education, secret ballots for voting, legal trade unions, and parliamentary governance. Mass-produced inexpensive newspapers proliferated, democratizing information access. Nonetheless, the period also witnessed cultural clashes and the emergence of controversial ideologies such as Social Darwinism, which was used to justify racial hierarchies.
Fundamentalist Protestants in rural America, who opposed the secularization of society, specifically contested the teaching of evolution, resulting in legal confrontations like the Scopes Monkey Trial of 1925. Lastly, this period also saw the rise of modern and contemporary art, and a drastic shift in world power dynamics with the decline of old empires and the birth of new nations.