Industrialisation and Big Business · US History

Which of the following best describes the philosophy of 'Social Darwinism' as applied to Gilded Age business?

  1. The government should regulate businesses to ensure fair competition for all
  2. The wealthy have a moral duty to redistribute their money to the poor
  3. Society follows natural selection, so the strongest businesses and people deserve success
  4. Labor unions are necessary to balance the power of large corporations
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Correct answer: Society follows natural selection, so the strongest businesses and people deserve success

Social Darwinists argued that interference with the economy, such as social welfare or business regulation, would hinder natural progress. This ideology was frequently used to justify the vast wealth of industrial tycoons and the existence of poverty.

Difficulty: Medium Question 3 of 20

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