DBQ Main Idea: A New Age of Thinking
Thesis: At the turn of the century, many new influential people had emerged who changed the way people
saw things.
Chapter 15 Section 3 Part 1
I.
II.
A Changing Culture
A. The Gilded Age was a period of time between 1870 and 1900.
1. Mark Twain coined the term “Gilded Age.”
2. Industrialization and urbanization altered the way Americans looked at themselves and
their society.
B. Just as it is today, people during the Gilded Age believed in individualism—the belief that no
matter where they came from, they could rise to fame and fortune.
C. Horatio Alger wrote “rags to riches” stories detailing lives of people rising to fame and fortune.
Social Darwinism
A. A powerful idea during the Gilded Age was Social Darwinism.
1. This idea played on the thoughts of Charles Darwin’s Theory of Evolution and applied it to
human society.
2. English philosopher Herbert Spencer took Darwin’s beliefs on nature and used it to explain
how humans also go through a natural selection competition as well.
3. Social Darwinism literally translates to the meaning “survival of the fittest.”
4. Industrial leaders adamantly believed in this idea because they feel it proved they deserved
all the wealth they had acquired.
B. Devout Christians rejected any ideas from Darwin or Social Darwinists because of the Theory of
Evolution.
1. The Theory of Evolution directly contradicts the teachings of the Bible.
C. Andrew Carnegie, a prominent business leader believed in Social Darwinism, but also that the
wealthy should use their fortune to improve social issues.
1. The Gospel of Wealth was his philosophy that promoted philanthropy—using wealth to
further social progress.
QARS—
Who created the Theory of Evolution? Charles Darwin
What does the Theory of Evolution contradict? Teachings from the Bible
What does Social Darwinism translate to? “Survival of the fittest”
Chapter 15 Section 3 Part 2
III.
IV.
Realism
A. A new form of art and literature began to arise during this time period known as realism—
depicting things as they are instead of idealizing them.
1. Painters such as Thomas Eakins depicted events of people’s everyday lives in a realistic way.
Popular Culture
A. Industrialization improved the standard of living for many people by giving them the ability to
earn more money for leisure activities.
1. Rural Americans did not have the same privileges as Urban Americans due to a lack of
industry.
B. Saloons in cities offered people a type of community center with drinks, news, and social
activities.
1. They also offered “free food” which was salty and encouraged customers to drink more.
C. Working class families also had places to spend their money such as Coney Island in New York.
1. Here families could ride water slides, railroad rides, play baseball, etc.
D. Sports became big in the late 1800s with the creation of America’s three biggest sports:
Baseball, Basketball, and Football.
1. Baseball was modeled after a British sport called cricket.
2. Football was first played by the upper class in America before catching on at public
universities.
3. Basketball was created by James Naismith in Massachusetts.
E. Entertainment grew at a rapid pace with the creation of live acrobatic shows called vaudevilles.
1. Ragtime music—a mixture of honky-tonk and African American rhythms—also became
common throughout cities.
2. Scott Joplin was considered the “King of Ragtime.”
QARS—
Where did working class families go for entertainment in New York City? Coney Island
What three sports were created in the late 1800s? Baseball, Basketball, Football
What type of art depicted American life realistically in the late 1800s? Realism
Key Terms:
 Gilded Age
 Social Darwinism
 Thomas Eakins
 Individualism
 Philanthropy
 Coney Island
 Charles Darwin
 Realism
 Ragtime