By the late 19th century, American industry was booming.  Capitalism enabled tycoons to claim power in both economics and politics. (Brinkley 437) This new trend is depicted in the cartoon above. A serious debate arose among the social classes, particularly the lower working class.  America was a place for hard work and productivity to turn into success. With the tycoons pressing competition out of the way, the smaller businesses and working class men had an incredibly difficult time advancing to the top.  

 

Some people supported the idea of the most advantaged men should rise to the top, as

displayed in nature.  The idea was drawn from Charles Darwin’s theory of Natural

Selection, in which animals that could adapt successfully to their changing environment

would survive (Social). The picture to the right demonstrates one of Darwin's most

famous examples of Natural Selection: the moth that alters its wing color to blend in

with its surroundings to avoid being eaten.

 

                                                                            Herbert Spencer, an associate of Darwin, proposed the concept of

                                                                            “survival of the fittest” derived from Darwin’s theory but which he

                                                                            applied to humanity, allowing the “fitted,” or most successful men to

                                                                            eliminate the “unfit”(New Attitudes).  The group of people who

                                                                            believed Herbert Spencer became known as Probusiness Social  

                                                                            Darwinists. The picture to the left demonstrated Spencer's belief that

                                                                            the successful should eliminate all the other socially inferior. ​

 

                                                                            Other people, however, disagreed with Spencer.  They believed that “a

                                                                            combination of hard work and good fortune - pluck and luck - was the

                                                                            key” (New Attitudes). An author named Horatio Alger made this belief

                                                                            popular, which in turn shaped what became known as the “American

                                                                             Dream” (University) .    

 

As the Industrial Revolution enveloped America, the Probusiness Social Darwinists had the opportunity to put their philosophy into economic and political action. The succeeding businessmen, under the influence of Social Darwinism, saw it fit to eliminate their competition to affirm their superiority and their success (Herbert 369).  Their political influence parallelled their economic influence.  As their businesses grew, they gained more say in the political field, often swaying votes and making government propositions even though they themselves were not politicians. In a sense, they were able to buy representation. This is what the cartoon at the top of the page is describing.

 

The people, believing in Alger’s themes of equal possibility for success through hard work and luck, were infuriated that all their representation was going to the tycoons, many of which implicated Social Darwinist ideals.

 

Spencer’s supporters wanted the government to allow successful business to continue succeeding even at the expense of the lower classes.  They reasoned that, according to natural law and “survival of the fittest,” those who were not successful needed to be squashed in order for a profit-based, new era to take place (Herbert 369).  Spencer and his supporters supported the ideas on laissez-faire, “ a policy that allows businesses to operate with very little interference from the government,” and attempted to make its ideals the norm for government interference (Merriam-Webster).

 

Alger’s supporters, however, desired equal opportunity, specifically in their representation and ability to move up on the social ladder (New Attitudes). They reasoned that the American government was created for freedom.  They wished to re- “secure the Blessings of Liberty” in their beloved nation (The Constitution).

 

With the oppression of large scale businesses controlling the economy, the working class pushed for new regulations on business that would limit the power of tycoons.  Many of the major tycoons shaped their actions based on the belief that the most capable businessmen were the only one’s capable and allowed to succeed. The working class belief that every American had the right to pursue greatness affected their political action through reform. Their efforts were successful in giving equal opportunity to all classes through several Acts (Davisson).  

 

To the advantage of the Alger supporters, the Interstate Commerce Act was approved on February 4, 1887 (Interstate).  It regulated the big industries by placing them under government regulation (Interstate). On July 2, 1890, the Sherman Antitrust Act was approved (Sherman). It helped terminate the advantages of big business trusts by outlawing monopolies (Sherman).  Both of these Acts gave the working class a chance at success, and they slowly destroyed the effects of laissez-faire (Herbert 369).

 

Sometimes still applicable to today is the Probusiness Social Darwinist American mentality that for someone to succeed, they must by the most capable in their field of pursuit.  But, the American Dream proposes that there is another way to success: through work hard and a bit of luck they have just as much opportunity to success.