Industrialists at this time used many things to legitimize this great economic change. They used the term "Social Darwinism" to describe their situation. this means that the larger businesses and factories deserve to survive because they were more adapted to the economy in terms of money and influence unlike the small home-run businesses of the common artisan. Another term they used was "Gospel of Wealth". This is the idea that God gave the rich the duty to provide for the poor through opportunity not charity, so the poor had to work for their money and not just rely on hand-outs from the rich factory owners. Finally, industrialists argued that by developing these large businesses, they were developing the nation. They believed that large business benefited the central government more so than small business did.
Picture representing how big business triumphed over small business:
Site:
"Stock Image: Big Business vs. Small Business." Dreamstime. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2014.
"Quizlet." AP World History Period 5: Industrialization and Global Integration (c. 1750 to C. 1900) Flashcards. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2014.
Great terms! Make sure they end up in Key Terms.
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