Part B Directions: Using information from the documents provided and your knowledge of the three
major social philosophies of the Industrial Revolution, write a well-organized essay that includes an
introduction, several paragraphs, and a conclusion.
Historical Context:
During the Industrial Revolution, welfare as we know it did not exist at the federal level. In general, charity
was in the private domain. At this time three different social philosophies-Social Darwinism, the Gospel of
Wealth and the Social Gospel-developed that influenced how Americans felt about and dealt with the huge
disparity between the rich and the poor.
Social Darwinism applied the biological concept of 'survival of the fittest' to society itself. Social Darwinists
felt that people who couldn't make it on their own in America's competitive society were weaker in an
evolutionary sense. If the weakest members were allowed to fail, then society as a whole would improve
because only the strongest members were left.
Some wealthy industrial leaders followed a belief in the Gospel of Wealth, meaning they agreed that poor
people were 'less fit,' but thought it was a rich man's duty to help them improve. However, those who
practiced the Gospel of Wealth feared that poor individuals would not know how to properly handle direct
charity. Instead, they sponsored major efforts in philanthropy aimed at improving society as a whole, like
building libraries and hospitals and universities.
The Social Gospel was a primarily Christian movement that sought to eliminate poverty by reforming
society according to Christian principles. Members of the Social Gospel movement believed that social
problems were actually just moral problems on a large scale. So they aggressively persuaded middle- and
upper-class citizens that many social issues could be cured by what they called “practical Christianity”.
Essentially, the Social Gospel believed that if they met the physical needs of the poor, it would transform
them spiritually and morally, and help them improve their lives.
These were the three major social philosophies of the Industrial Revolution that influenced how Americans
thought about and dealt with the huge disparity between the rich and the poor in American industrial cities.
Question:
Using information from the documents and historical context provided, as well as your knowledge of the
three social philosophies of the Industrial Revolution, write a well-organized essay in which you:
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the three major prevailing social philosophies of the
Industrial Revolution to those with low economic status.
Include in your discussion how each of the philosophies affected peoples’ view and treatment of the poor
Be sure to:
1. Incorporate information from the documents in the body of the essay.
2. Incorporate relevant information throughout the essay.
3. Support your thesis with relevant facts and examples.
4. Write a well-developed essay that consistently demonstrates a logical and clear plan of
organization.
5. Introduce your thesis by establishing a framework beyond a simple restatement of the question or
historical context, and conclude the essay with a summation of your thesis.