Chapter 15
Urban America
Section 4
The Rebirth of Reform
Social Criticism
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*Don’t Write*
Industrialization & urbanization led to
debates among Americans over the
issue of how to handle society’s
problems.
Social Criticism
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1879 – Henry George wrote Progress
and Poverty.
Raised questions about American
society & challenged the ideas of Social
Darwinism and laissez-faire economics.
Progress & Poverty
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“it becomes no easier for the masses of
our people to make a living. On the
contrary it becomes harder….The gulf
between the employed and the employer
is growing wider; social contrasts are
becoming sharper; as liveried carriages
appear, so do barefoot children.”
Social Criticism
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1883 – Lester Frank Ward’s Dynamic
Sociology argued that humans were
unlike animals because they could think
and plan ahead.
It was cooperation and not competition
that caused people to succeed.
Wanted more gov’t involvement.
Became known as Reform Darwinsim.
Social Criticism
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1888 – Edward Bellamy’s Looking
Backward 2000-1887 shaped American
reformers in the late 1800s.
Tells of a perfect society in the year
2000.
Ideas were a form of socialism.
Naturalism in Literature
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Naturalism criticized industrial society.
Suggested that some people failed in life due
to circumstances they couldn’t control.
Writer’s included:
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Stephen Crane – Maggie, A Girl of the Streets
Frank Norris – McTeague
Jack London
Theodore Dreiser – Sister Carrie
The Social Gospel
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Washington Gladden was a supporter of
the Social Gospel.
He wanted to apply “Christian Law” to
social problems.
Members of the S.G. worked to better
conditions in cities through charity &
justice.
Washington Gladden
Social Gospel
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Walter Rauschenbusch later led the
movement.
He believed competition was the cause
of most social problems.
This led many churches to take on
community functions to improve society.
The Salvation Army
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1878 – the Salvation
Army offered aid and
religious counseling
to urban poor.
YMCA
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Attempted to help industrial workers & urban
poor through Bible studies, prayer meetings,
citizenship training, and group activities.
Revivalism
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Dwight Moody – president of the Chicago
YMCA.
Founded the Moody Memorial Church.
1867 – brought revivals to other cities.
Against the Social Gospel & Social Darwinism.
Felt the way to help poor was by redeeming
their soul and not by providing services.
Dwight L. Moody
The Settlement House
Movement
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Promoted by reformers who felt it was
their Christian duty to improve the living
conditions of the poor.
Jane Addams opened Hull House (1889)
and inspired many others.
Medical care, recreation programs, &
English classes were provided.
Jane Addams
Public Education
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The increase of industry resulted in a
need for better-trained workers.
Americanization – becoming
knowledgeable about American culture,
was the key to the success of immigrant
children.
African-American Education
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Booker T.
Washington opened
Tuskegee Institute in
1881.
Education for the Workplace
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City schools helped immigrants
assimilate.
Grammar school system in the city
divided students into 8 separate grades
to help prepare for the workplace.
Expanding Higher Education
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Number of colleges greatly increased in
the late 1800s.
Result of the Morrill Land Grant Act,
which gave federal land grants to states
for the purposes of establishing
agricultural & mechanical colleges.
Public Libraries
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Free libraries provided education to city
dwellers.
Andrew Carnegie donated millions
toward the construction of libraries.
End of Chapter 15
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