Study Guide

Industrial Thought:

Social Darwinism and the Gospel of Wealth

NOTE: If you can answer these questions satisfactorily, you should do well on this section of the first exam. The material below consists of important material from the lecture. Questions on the test will be largely taken from this material.

Terms (definition and significance):

plutocracy

self-made men

Social Darwinism

Herbert Spencer

Samuel Dadd

gospel of wealth

Horatio Alger

rags-to-riches myth

William Graham Sumner

Lester Ward

Henry George

Edward Bellamy

Questions to Think About:

How did the rise of the plutocrats threaten American democracy and public safety?

How did Social Darwinism justify the industrial order of the plutocrats?