1. Social Darwinism vs. Social Gospel
The Progressive Movement During the
American Industrial Revolution

2. PAIR-SHARE
During the Industrial Revolution many people had ideas on how to improve society.
Who’s job do you think is it to help the poor and fix the problems in society (ie government, churches, people themselves)? Explain your answer.

3. Take notes on template;

4. Standard
Analyze the similarities and differences between the ideologies of Social Darwinism and Social Gospel (e.g., using biographies of William Graham Sumner, Billy Sunday, Dwight L. Moody).

5. Objective
Students will be able to analyze the similarities and differences between the ideologies of Social Darwinism and Social Gospel by completing a graphic organizer and reflective journal.

6. Important Words Ideology: An organized collection of ideas.
Social Reform: Changes in society for the better
Natural Selection: Process that living things survive due to their favorable traits

7. Social Darwinism Definition:
Applying Darwin’s theory of natural selection to Human Society.
Competition is essential in a free-market society.
(ie. The rich industrialists used the excuse of Social Darwinism for why they were so rich.)

8. William Graham Sumner 1840-1910)
was a leading American social scientist of the late 19th century
Yale Professor
Defended radical laissez-faire as being justified by laws of evolution
He heavily criticized socialism/communism

9. Social Gospel Definition:
A religious movement to solve problems of society, child labor, crime, poor working conditions and poor schooling resulting from the Industrial Revolution.
(ie. YMCA, Salvation Army)

10. 1862 –1935 Who was He? Billy Sunday A Evangelical minister
What was he in favor of?
1. Prohibition
2. Against child labor
3. For woman’s right to vote
4. Against big business
5. Churches helping the poor

11. Activity: Social Darwin or Social Gospel?
A few students in the class will be assigned to read aloud information about a specific progressive reformer.
As you listen to the autobiographies, try to figure out if they believe in the ideology of Social Gospel or Social Darwinism.

12. William Graham Sumner
Social Darwinist

13. William Sunday
Social Gospel

14. Washington Gladden
Social Gospel

15. H.G. Wells
Social Darwin

16. Dwight L. Moody
Social Gospel

17. Social Darwin Herbert Spencer
Coined the phrase “survival of the fittest”

18. Jane Addams
Social Gospel

19. Wrap-Up
Pair-Share
What are the similarities and differences between the ideologies of Social Darwinism and Social Gospel