Darwinism and Society

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Questions and Answers

Which theoretical implication represents the most profound departure from conventional interpretations of Darwinian evolution when applied within the framework of Social Darwinism during the late 19th century?

  • The advocacy for laissez-faire economics to foster natural market selection, thereby promoting the survival of the most efficient businesses.
  • The promotion of eugenics policies to accelerate the evolutionary improvement of the human race through selective breeding.
  • The belief that societal progress is inevitable and naturally selects the most moral individuals for positions of power.
  • The justification of existing socioeconomic stratification as a consequence of inherent biological superiority and inferiority among different social classes. (correct)

Considering the complex interplay between religious thought and Darwinian theory during the late 19th century, which theological adaptation represents the most nuanced attempt to reconcile evolutionary biology with traditional religious doctrines?

  • The promotion of intelligent design theory, arguing that irreducible complexity in biological systems necessitates the existence of a supernatural creator.
  • The wholesale adoption of Darwinism, asserting that natural selection is the sole mechanism driving both biological and spiritual development.
  • The allegorical interpretation of Genesis, viewing creation narratives as symbolic rather than literal accounts, to accommodate the extended timescales of evolution. (correct)
  • The outright rejection of Darwinism as an atheistic assault on divine creation and biblical inerrancy.

What latent function did the application of Darwinian principles to societal structures serve within the context of late 19th-century industrial expansion, beyond its manifest function of explaining social stratification?

  • Encouraging the formation of labor unions to collectively bargain for improved working conditions and fairer wages.
  • Providing a moral justification for the consolidation of economic power in the hands of a few industrialists, thereby minimizing regulatory oversight. (correct)
  • Promoting philanthropic endeavors by wealthy industrialists to mitigate the negative social impacts of industrialization.
  • Facilitating the redistribution of wealth through progressive taxation and social welfare programs.

How did the contrasting perspectives of Henry Ward Beecher and Lyman Abbott on Darwinism reflect a broader schism within religious communities regarding the accommodation of scientific advancements?

<p>Beecher sought to reconcile science and religion through evolving theological interpretations, while Abbott emphasized the potential for human spiritual evolution beyond sin. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What nuanced critique did religious critics offer regarding the application of evolutionary principles to religion, highlighting potential pitfalls of syncretizing science and faith?

<p>That it represented a superficial attempt to align religious beliefs with a transient intellectual trend, potentially distorting the essence of faith. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following counterfactual scenarios would most compellingly challenge the conventional interpretation of the Titanic disaster as solely a symbol of the limits of human achievement?

<p>If the Titanic disaster had sparked a widespread philosophical movement questioning the pursuit of technological progress at the expense of ethical considerations. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did the economic motivations driving Westward Expansion dialectically interact with the socio-political aspirations of formerly enslaved people in the United States?

<p>The Homestead Act provided formerly enslaved people with an opportunity for land ownership, fostering economic independence and challenging the racial hierarchy of the South. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What subtle distinction differentiates Captain Silas Soule's opposition to the Sand Creek Massacre from mere dissent, elevating his actions to a stance of profound moral courage?

<p>Soule's dissent was rooted in a deep commitment to justice and a willingness to risk his career and personal safety to expose the atrocities. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In what way did the discovery of gold in the Black Hills of South Dakota serve as a catalyst, exacerbating the already fraught relationship between the U.S. government and the Sioux Nation, ultimately leading to the Battle of Little Bighorn?

<p>The gold rush undermined the Sioux's traditional way of life and violated treaty agreements, leading to armed conflict. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Considering the complex history of U.S. Indian policy, how does the Indian Citizenship Act of 1924 represent a paradoxical culmination of assimilationist agendas and recognition of inherent rights?

<p>It granted citizenship to Native Americans who had abandoned tribal life, while simultaneously denying full rights to those who maintained their cultural identity. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did the introduction of barbed wire, ostensibly a technological advancement for agricultural purposes, inadvertently accelerate the decline of open-range cattle drives and reshape the economic landscape of the American West?

<p>Barbed wire disrupted traditional grazing patterns and restricted access to water sources, contributing to overgrazing and ecological degradation. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What latent ecological consequence, often unacknowledged in historical assessments, stemmed from the irrigation projects funded by the Newlands Reclamation Act of 1902, extending beyond the immediate promotion of agriculture?

<p>The depletion of groundwater resources and the salinization of arable land, contributing to long-term environmental degradation. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the assassination of William McKinley in 1901 serve as a pivotal juncture in U.S. history, marking not only a change in leadership but also a subtle shift in the trajectory of American foreign policy under Theodore Roosevelt?

<p>It ushered in an era of aggressive interventionism and expansionism, particularly in Latin America. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What critical distinction separates the Roosevelt Corollary from the original Monroe Doctrine, fundamentally altering the nature of U.S. foreign policy in the Western Hemisphere?

<p>The Monroe Doctrine advocated for non-intervention in Latin America, while the Roosevelt Corollary asserted the right of the U.S. to intervene in the region to maintain stability. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did the improved U.S.-British relations in the late 19th century—the 'Great Rapprochement'—fundamentally reshape the geopolitical landscape, influencing the dynamics of potential conflicts over territories like Venezuela?

<p>It fostered a spirit of collaboration and compromise, preventing armed conflict and facilitating peaceful resolution of territorial disputes. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What underlying tension characterized U.S. involvement in Cuba during the Spanish-American War, revealing the complex interplay of altruistic motives and strategic self-interest?

<p>The U.S. intervention was motivated by a genuine desire to assist the Cuban people, while also securing strategic advantages and expanding its regional power. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What subtle yet profound shift in U.S. foreign policy is encapsulated by the transition from isolationism to active global engagement in the late 19th century, marking a departure from long-held traditions?

<p>A gradual increase in international involvement, driven by economic interests and strategic considerations. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do the muckrakers epitomize a critical juncture in the evolution of American journalism, transitioning from mere reporting to proactive advocacy for social and political reform?

<p>They pioneered investigative reporting to catalyze social change. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In what way does Theodore Roosevelt's 'Square Deal' represent a nuanced departure from laissez-faire economics, signaling a paradigm shift towards greater governmental intervention in social and economic affairs?

<p>It advocated for balanced governmental intervention, ensuring fair competition, consumer protection, and natural resource conservation. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine fundamentally redefine U.S. foreign policy, expanding its scope from preventing European intervention to asserting a right to intervene in Latin American affairs?

<p>It expanded the scope by asserting a right to intervene in Latin American affairs in cases of instability. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What implicit tension underlies women's suffrage, revealing a conflict between ideals of democratic inclusion and persistent social hierarchies predicated on gender?

<p>It highlighted a conflict between ideals of democratic inclusion and persistent gender-based social hierarchies. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In what nuanced way does direct election of senators via the 17th Amendment challenge the established balance of power, shifting influence from state legislatures to individual voters?

<p>It decentralized political power, strengthening individual voter influence. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did voter reforms – referendums, recalls, and initiatives – alter the dynamics of political participation, enhancing direct democracy at the expense of representative governance?

<p>They fostered a more participatory democracy by empowering citizens. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What implicit contradiction characterized Roosevelt's trust-busting efforts, as he aimed to promote fair competition within a capitalist system inherently prone to monopolistic tendencies?

<p>It sought to reconcile free-market principles with regulatory interventions. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did social progressivism fundamentally challenge prevailing societal norms, advocating for social justice by integrating ethical considerations into public life?

<p>It promoted social justice by integrating ethical considerations into public life. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In what subtle yet significant way did Jacob Riis's How the Other Half Lives challenge the established social order, generating awareness and prompting reform?

<p>It revealed urban poverty, inspiring reform. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did Jane Addams's Hull House serve as a catalyst for community transformation, providing extensive support and contributing to social cohesion?

<p>It offered comprehensive social services, bolstering community cohesion. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What broader ideological shift is exemplified by the Social Gospel movement, integrating Christian ethics into discussions of social justice and public policy?

<p>It integrated Christian ethics into social justice debates. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did Hawaii's annexation in 1898 embody the complexities of American imperialism, intertwining economic interests, strategic considerations, and racial ideologies?

<p>It demonstrated the convergence of economic, strategic, and racial factors. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did the Open Door Policy, as articulated by the United States, reflect a strategic maneuver to secure access to Chinese markets, couched within the rhetoric of free trade and equal opportunity?

<p>It aimed to secure access to Chinese markets under the guise of free trade. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In what way did the Platt Amendment circumscribe Cuban sovereignty, establishing a U.S. sphere of influence amidst Cuba's nominal independence?

<p>It imposed constrictions on Cuban sovereignty, ensuring U.S. influence. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What ethical quandary is at the heart of imperialism, given the inherent conflict between imposing external control and upholding principles of self-determination?

<p>It posed an irreconcilable tension between external dominance and self-determination. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In what nuanced way did Washington Gladden's advocacy for Christian responsibility in society influence the development of social reform movements in the United States?

<p>He integrated Christian ethics into discussions of social justice, inspiring various movements. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did Walter Rauschenbusch's connection of Christian teachings to social reform represent both a progressive vision and a point of contention, given critiques of deviating from traditional Christianity?

<p>His connection of Christian teachings to social reform was both progressive and contentious. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Considering the complex interplay of factors that spurred U.S. Imperialism at the turn of the century, what represented the most critical precondition that enabled the others?

<p>A shift in political ideology away from isolationism and towards active global engagement. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following represents the most incisive critique of the Progressive Era reforms regarding voter participation?

<p>The reforms, while seemingly democratic, often disproportionately favored educated, middle-class citizens, thus exacerbating existing power imbalances. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Among the various motivations attributed to American intervention in the Spanish-American War, what represents the most compelling synthesis of strategic, economic, and ideological factors?

<p>A complex interplay of expanding economic markets, projecting naval power, and promoting a particular vision of civilization. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Darwin's Theory of Evolution

The theory that species evolve over time through natural selection.

Social Darwinism

Applying 'survival of the fittest' to human society, justifying competition and industrial progress.

Henry Ward Beecher

Argued science and religion are compatible and theological errors evolve over time.

Westward Expansion

Fueled by economic opportunities (fur, mining, ranching, farming), land ownership, and independence.

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Sand Creek Massacre (1864)

U.S. troops attacked a peaceful Arapaho village despite a flag of neutrality.

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Black Hills Conflict

Gold discovery led to conflicts with the Sioux, culminating in the Battle of Little Bighorn.

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Chief Joseph & Nez Percé

Attempted to escape to Canada but were captured and forced onto reservations.

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Ghost Dance Movement

The religious movement promised the return of ancestors, disappearance of settlers, and buffalo restoration.

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Dawes Act (1887)

Broke up tribal lands into individual allotments to force Native Americans into farming.

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Burke Act (1906)

Granted immediate citizenship to Native Americans who abandoned tribal life.

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Indian Citizenship Act (1924)

Granted citizenship to Native Americans, but many states still denied voting rights.

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Cattle Industry

Cowboys drove cattle (1866-1888); vital before railroads expanded.

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Railroad Expansion

Reduced the need for long cattle drives.

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Homestead Act (1862)

Provided land to settlers willing to farm it for five years.

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Newlands Reclamation Act (1902)

Funded irrigation projects, aiding agriculture but contributing to the Dust Bowl.

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Roosevelt Corollary

Theodore Roosevelt asserted U.S. intervention in Latin America to maintain stability.

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Overthrow of Hawaiian Monarchy

American sugar planters overthrew Queen Liliuokalani.

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Spanish-American War (1898)

Triggered by the explosion of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor.

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Treaty of Paris (1898)

U.S. acquired the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Guam.

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Muckrakers

Journalists exposing corruption and societal problems.

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Theodore Roosevelt's Square Deal

Consumer protection, corporate control, resource conservation.

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Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine

Justified U.S. intervention in Latin America.

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19th Amendment

Granted women the right to vote in 1920.

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17th Amendment (1913)

Allowed voters to directly elect U.S. senators.

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Voter Reforms

Referendums, recalls, and initiatives increased democratic participation.

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Roosevelt as a Trust-Buster

Broke up monopolies to promote fair competition.

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Jacob Riis's Book

Exposed urban poverty.

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Jane Addams's Hull House

Provided social services to immigrants.

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Social Gospel

Advocated social justice through Christian ethics.

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Study Notes

  • Here are some study notes from the provided text

Darwinism

  • Charles Darwin's Origin of Species (1859) and Descent of Man (1871) introduced evolution by natural selection
  • Social Darwinism applied "survival of the fittest" to human societies and justified economic competition and industrial progress
  • Industrialism was an evolutionary process with larger corporations absorbing smaller ones
  • Competition eliminated weaker workers, leading to improved generations of laborers

Religion & Darwinism

  • Religious leaders had mixed reactions to Darwinism; some embraced it as compatible with faith, others opposed it for contradicting biblical creation
  • Congregationalist minister Henry Ward Beecher argued science and religion were compatible and theological errors would evolve over time
  • Lyman Abbott suggested sin was a lapse into an animalistic state and humans would spiritually evolve out of sin
  • Critics argued applying evolution to religion was an attempt to fit the "fad of evolution" into all aspects of life

Conclusions of Darwinism

  • Science gained authority for understanding human progress
  • Industrialism and materialism reinforced Social Darwinist ideas
  • Modernism emphasized reason and technological progress over tradition
  • Optimism in progress was challenged by events like the Titanic disaster, symbolizing the limits of human achievement

Westward Expansion

  • Expansion was fueled by economic opportunities like fur trade, mining, ranching, and farming
  • People desired land ownership, especially former slaves and European immigrants
  • People wanted to escape industrial cities and pursue independence
  • About 40% of settlers failed to make a living and returned East

The Indian Wars

  • Sand Creek Massacre (1864): U.S. troops attacked a peaceful Arapaho village despite an American flag indicating neutrality
  • Captain Silas Soule refused to participate and later testified against the attack
  • Gold discovery in the Black Hills of South Dakota led to conflicts with the Sioux
  • The Battle of Little Bighorn (1876) saw General Custer and his men defeated by Sitting Bull and his warriors
  • Chief Joseph & the Nez Percé tried to escape to Canada but were captured 30 miles from the border and forced onto reservations
  • The Ghost Dance & Battle of Wounded Knee (1890) saw U.S. troops massacre around 250 Sioux at Wounded Knee as a result of fearing an uprising due to the religious Ghost Dance movement that promised the return of ancestors, the disappearance of white settlers, and the restoration of the buffalo
  • Dawes Severalty Act (1887) broke up tribal lands into individual allotments to force Native Americans into farming
  • Burke Act (1906) granted immediate U.S. citizenship to Native Americans who abandoned tribal life
  • Indian Citizenship Act (1924) granted full U.S. citizenship to Native Americans, but many states still denied them the right to vote

Western Industry & Settlement

  • Cowboys played a key role in cattle drives (1866-1888); about 30% were African American or Mexican
  • Expansion of railroads reduced the need for long drives
  • Barbed wire (invented in 1876) and overgrazing contributed to the decline of open-range cattle drives
  • Homestead Act (1862) provided land to settlers willing to farm it for five years
  • Newlands Reclamation Act (1902) funded irrigation projects to promote agriculture, contributing to future environmental issues like the Dust Bowl
  • High costs of farming led many settlers to abandon their claims
  • The closing of the frontier marked the end of westward expansion

Turn of the Century

  • William McKinley won reelection in 1900 but was assassinated in 1901
  • Theodore Roosevelt became president, shaping U.S. foreign policy
  • Roosevelt Corollary extended the Monroe Doctrine, asserting U.S. intervention in Latin America to maintain stability

American Imperialism

  • Improved U.S.-British relations by the late 19th century prevented conflicts over territories like Venezuela
  • American sugar planters, aided by U.S. Marines, overthrew Queen Liliuokalani in Hawaii in 1893; Hawaii was annexed in 1898
  • U.S. intervention in Cuba led to Spanish withdrawal, but Cuba remained under American influence
  • The Spanish-American War (1898) was triggered by the explosion of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor, and included U.S. victories in the Philippines and Cuba
  • Treaty of Paris (1898): U.S. acquired the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Guam
  • There was a shift from isolationism to active global engagement, expansion of U.S. military and economic influence, and debate over imperialism's morality and practicality
  • This established the U.S. as a world power

Progressivism

  • Muckrakers were journalists exposing corruption and societal issues
  • Upton Sinclair's The Jungle led to the Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906
  • Theodore Roosevelt's Square Deal focused on consumer protection, control of corporations, and conservation of resources
  • Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine justified U.S. intervention in Latin America
  • 19th Amendment (1920) granted women the right to vote
  • 17th Amendment (1913) allowed voters to elect U.S. senators directly
  • Voter reforms like referendums, recalls, and initiatives increased democratic participation
  • Roosevelt acted as a trust-buster, breaking up monopolies like Standard Oil to promote fair competition
  • Jacob Riis's How the Other Half Lives exposed urban poverty
  • Jane Addams's Hull House provided social services to immigrants
  • Prostitution, child labor, and temperance movements gained traction
  • The Social Gospel advocated for social justice through Christian ethics
  • Washington Gladden promoted Christian responsibility to society
  • Walter Rauschenbusch connected Christian teachings to social reform, though critics saw it as a deviation from traditional Christianity

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