AP US History in 1 Minute Daily: Social Gospel (Day 197/309)

Hey APUSHers, let’s chat about the Social Gospel as part of my series- APUSH in 1 Minute Daily!

Hell’s Kitchen, New York, Wikimedia Commons

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a movement called the Social Gospel sought to apply Christian ethics to address social issues, especially those caused by industrialization and urbanization. 

Walter Rauschenbusch, Wikimedia Commons

One proponent, Walter Rauschenbusch, was a Baptist minister in a poor New York neighborhood called Hell’s Kitchen. He emphasized the moral responsibility of Christians to alleviate societal problems such as poverty, inequality, and labor exploitation. 

Salvation Army activities. Hotel and cafeteria for [African American] men located at 7th and P Streets, Washington, DC., Wikimedia Commons

The movement stressed the idea of the Kingdom of God on Earth, urging individuals, churches, and groups such as The Salvation Army and YMCA, to actively engage in social reform to build a just and equitable society. 

YMCA Publication, Rhode Tour

The Social Gospel was adopted by many different religious groups who implemented its principles in a variety of methods and to address several different issues including labor rights, immigration, and the provision of basic necessities to urban poor. 

The Social Gospel was a movement that implemented Christian principles to address social injustices, poverty, and inequality by advocating for and supporting reforms.

Join me tomorrow as I explain the Development of the Middle Class in the next APUSH in 1 Minute Daily!