Mr. Lahasky - APUSH Period 6 - Lecture #31 - Social Welfare During the Gilded Age

Summary

This video script explores the theories on social welfare during the Gilded Age, highlighting the growing wealth gap and the various responses to it. Social Darwinism, promoted by figures like Herbert Spencer, argued that poverty was a natural result of competition, while Andrew Carnegie's Gospel of Wealth called for the rich to help the deserving poor through opportunities like education. The Social Gospel, led by Walter Rauschenbusch, emphasized Christian duty to address societal ills. All these theories rejected government intervention, consistent with the era's belief in laissez-faire economics, though calls for change would emerge later with movements like the Progressives.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Gilded Age saw a dramatic widening of the wealth gap between the rich and the poor, fueled by industrialization and the rise of massive corporations.
• 😀 Conspicuous consumption became a hallmark of the era, with the wealthy flaunting their wealth through extravagant spending, while the poor lived in dire conditions just blocks away.
• 😀 The extreme economic inequality of the Gilded Age prompted Americans to question what should be done about poverty, as the country was founded on equality.
• 😀 Social Darwinism, a dominant social theory of the time, argued that poverty was a natural result of the unfit members of society and rejected any intervention to aid the poor.
• 😀 Herbert Spencer, a key proponent of Social Darwinism, believed that poverty was nature’s way of cleansing society, with the poor dying out over time without assistance.
• 😀 Social Darwinism has been widely discredited for its faulty assumptions, including the idea that intelligence and work ethic are the only determinants of success.
• 😀 Andrew Carnegie’s Gospel of Wealth proposed that the rich should take responsibility for improving society by providing opportunities for the deserving poor, particularly through educational access.
• 😀 Carnegie’s philanthropic efforts, including funding over 2,500 free libraries, were based on the belief that the wealthy should help the poor help themselves.
• 😀 The Social Gospel, promoted by figures like Walter Rauschenbusch, argued that Christians had a moral obligation to help alleviate poverty and build a more just society.
• 😀 None of the major social welfare theories of the Gilded Age, including Social Darwinism, the Gospel of Wealth, and the Social Gospel, called for government intervention in addressing economic inequality.
• 😀 By the end of the 19th century, political movements like the Populists and Progressives began calling for government action to address the country’s economic inequalities, leading to more government intervention in the early 20th century.

Q & A

What is the central issue addressed in the script regarding the Gilded Age?

The central issue is the growing wealth gap between the rich and the poor during the Gilded Age, and how different social theories sought to explain and address economic inequality.

How did the Industrial Revolution contribute to the wealth gap in the United States?

The Industrial Revolution led to a massive accumulation of wealth by CEOs of large corporations, while workers, who often worked long hours in harsh conditions, earned very little. This exacerbated the wealth gap.

What is the concept of 'conspicuous consumption' and how did it manifest during the Gilded Age?

Conspicuous consumption refers to the extravagant and wasteful display of wealth. During the Gilded Age, the wealthy flaunted their riches through large mansions and lavish lifestyles, contrasting sharply with the poverty seen in surrounding neighborhoods.

What does the script suggest about the relationship between education and success, according to the theory of social Darwinism?

The theory of social Darwinism incorrectly assumes that intelligence and work ethic are the sole determinants of success. The script cites a Georgetown University study that shows wealth, not intelligence, is a stronger predictor of success.

How did social Darwinists view poverty and what solutions did they propose?

Social Darwinists believed poverty was a natural consequence of competition, arguing that the poor were less capable individuals who would eventually 'die out.' They opposed welfare programs and public intervention, seeing these as interference with natural selection.

What was Andrew Carnegie's view on the responsibility of the wealthy toward poverty?

Andrew Carnegie, in his 'Gospel of Wealth,' believed that the rich had a responsibility to help the deserving poor. He advocated for providing opportunities, particularly through educational means, rather than direct handouts.

What was the impact of Carnegie's philanthropic efforts on American society?

Carnegie's philanthropy, such as funding over 2,500 libraries, helped provide educational access to the poor and contributed to the founding and growth of many educational institutions during the Gilded Age.

What does the Social Gospel theory propose regarding the role of Christians in addressing social issues?

The Social Gospel theory, promoted by figures like Walter Rochambeau, argued that Christians had a moral obligation to address social ills, including poverty, and to work towards building a more just and godly society.

How did the government respond to economic inequality during the Gilded Age, and how did this change by the early 20th century?

During the Gilded Age, the government largely adhered to laissez-faire economics, not intervening in economic inequality. However, by the early 20th century, the rise of populists and progressives pushed for more government intervention to address social and economic issues.

What was the prevailing belief in laissez-faire economics during the Gilded Age, and how did it affect government policies?

Laissez-faire economics, which advocated for minimal government intervention in the economy, was the dominant belief during the Gilded Age. This belief led to government inaction on issues like economic inequality and poverty, leaving the rich and philanthropic individuals to address these problems.