1. Politics and Reform of the Late 19 th Century

2. “Gilded Age” Politics (what does this term mean?) A shallow glittering period for both politics and social issues. Age of great change from a technological point of view, but also a time of indifference toward political and social justice and balance. However, it is age of high voter participation:72-82% of all registered voters actually vote! Why?

3. The Gospel of Wealth and Social Darwinism A.Christianity was used to support competitive individualistic ethics - justified class divisions and moral superiority of those who were wealthy. ( riches were a sign that you had God’s blessing) - prosperity gospel. It is God’s will that “some should attain great wealth”.

4. Andrew Carnegie

5. The Gospel of Wealth and Andrew Carnegie THE Gospel of Wealth 1. Competition for better goods and lower prices 2. Concentration of wealth was essential to survival of race. 3. Fittest would bring order and efficiency out of chaotic industrialization. 4. Insisted that the rich must spend some of their wealth to benefit their poorer brethren. 5. “Natural Selection” a. Superior foresight, ability and adaptability b. Attempts to end poverty were pointless and immoral c. Justified belief in Anglo-Saxon superiority - had reached highest stage of evolution - justified monopolies as well.

6. Social Gospel Movement An attempt to address widening gap of “progress and poverty” See socialism as the logical outcome of Christianity: Jesus and the Sermon on the Mount Movement aims for the conscience of rich and middle class. Paves way for the Reform Movement (Progressives) after the turn of the century. 1. Jane Addams: Founds Hull House in Chicago 1889- located in poor immigrant neighborhood. Offers instruction in English, help to new immigrants, childcare and cultural activities. 2.Women’s Temperance Movement: Frances Willard founds WCTU and joins with Knights of Labor. Create programs to help with workers issues, which it is believed, causes drunkenness and poverty.

7. Social Gospel continued 3. John Dewey and William James: establish philosophical views for reform: “What is the cash value of a thought, idea, or belief”? - What kind of consequence or moral conduct is the result of an idea? Their questioning, is echoed by other disciplines such as sociology and economics. Say that capitalism via laissez-fare economics and competition has proven wasteful and harmful! What do you think?

8. THE STRUGGLE FOR WOMAN SUFFRAGE Many women felt a tension between their public and private lives and the women that came of age in the 1890s married less and later than any other in America Many women dealt with tension by seeing their work as maternal Women’s rights advanced very slowly after the Seneca Falls Convention of 1848 Before 1890 only the territory of Wyoming allowed women full political equity while other states were much slower In 1890, the split women’s movement recombined as the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) and shifted to younger leadership who concentrated solely on the vote Three central arguments emerged: 1.Women needed the vote to pass self-protection laws 2. Women’s role as social housekeepers could only be enhanced by political participation 3. Protestant, white women needed the vote to counterbalance the hordes of immigrants coming into America