The Gilded Age

Social Darwinism

• Philosopher Herbert Spencer applied Charles Darwin's theory of evolution and natural selection to human society.
• Spencer argued that society became better as time went on because only the fittest people survived.
• Spencer and like minded individuals were known as Social Darwinists, and their ideas were known as Social Darwinism.

Individualism

Darwinism and the Church

• Charles Darwin's conclusions about the origins of new species shocked and angered many devout Christians.
• This theory was rejected by them because of the theory of evolution.

• One of the strongest beliefs during that time and even in today's society was the idea of individualism.
• Horatio Alger expressed this idea of individualism better than anyone.
• He created the "rags to riches" novels, in which a poor person would move to the city and become successful.

Amusement Parks and Sports

A Changing Culture

• Working class families or single adults could go to amusement parks for entertainment.
• Watching the game of baseball and football became solid entertainment for many.
• As work became less physically strenuous, several people looked for leisure activities that kept them physically active.

The Saloon

Carnegie's Gospel of Wealth

• Functioning like community centers, saloons played a major role in the life of male workers in the 1800s.
• City saloons outnumbered grocery stores, and meat markets during this time.
• Saloons offered free toilets, free newspapers for customers, and water for horses.

• In 1873 a book entitled the Gilded Age was written by Mark Twain and Charles Warner.
• Historians later adopted the term and applied it to the time period of about 1870 to around 1900.
• A gilded age may appear to sparkle on the inside but beneath the surface lays corruption, poverty, and crime.

• Andrew Carnegie believed that those who profited from society owed it something in return.
• Carnegie developed the Gospel of Wealth.
• This philosophy held that wealthy Americans bore the responsibility of engaging in philanthropy -- using their great fortunes to further social progress.

Vaudeville and Ragtime

• Other types of entertainment such as theater and music became popular.
• Adapted from French theater, vaudeville took on an American flavor in the early 1800s.
• Ragtime music also became popular during these times.
• Scott Joplin, one of the most important African American ragtime composers, became known as the "King of Ragtime."

Saloons in the 1800s

Realism

Popular Culture

• A New movement known as realism took place in art and literature.
• Realism attempted to portray people realistically instead of idealizing them as romantic artist had done.

• Industrialization improved the standard of living for several people allowing them to spend money on entertainment and recreation.
• Saloons, Amusement parks, sports, theater, and music became entertainment for people during these times.

The Gilded Age