Later History Flashcards
(38 cards)
What characterized America in the 19th century?
Liberal, freedom and welfare of individual, evolutionary view of social progress, debate over govt. aid or laissez-faire
What was early American theory like?
It rationalized exploitation, domination, imperialism and inequality.
What influenced 19th century American thinking?
Post-Civil war, industrialization, rise of modern university system, Protestant drive, Spencer, Comte and Simmel
Why was William Graham Sumner important?
He held the first professorship in sociology (Yale). Influenced by Spencer.
Why was Lester F. Ward important?
First president of American Sociological Society, for social reform.
Why was Thorstein Veblen important?
He talked about business (owners focusing on profits) vs industry (skilled workers) and critiqued conspicuous leisure/consumption
What characterized the Chicago School?
Strong religion (Protestant), Social reform and Scientific research
Why was Albion Small important?
He founded the sociology department in Chicago, the American Journal of Sociology and the American Sociological Society.
Why was W.I. Thomas important?
He promoted empirical research. Also said that situations are real if people define them as so.
What did Robert Park study?
Urban ecology.
What principle is Charles Horton Cooley credited with?
The looking-glass self—how our consciousness is shaped by social interaction
Why was George Herbert Mead important?
He studied sociology through the lens of psychology, more specifically behaviorism.
Why did the Chicago School decline in the 30s?
There was an increase of statistical analysis and a decrease of descriptive ethnography and analysis of subjectivity (like they were doing)
What were the major themes of women of the time?
- Women’s lives and work are of equal importance to men’s
- Situated and embodied standpoint—can see things men can’t due to their position in society
- Inequality (many areas) is the major social problem
- Aimed at social reform
What did Jane Addams think the root of the time’s problems were?
Men were put in charge of problems that women had been handling already for a long time.
What did Charlotte Perkins Gilman say about women’s role in society?
They are economic factors in society, but treated like horses
What important things did W.E.B. Du Bois accomplish?
Founded the NAACP and pioneered ethnography
What were W.E.B Du Bois’ important points?
- Veil: Separation between Black and White people, but with visibility between them
- Double consciousness - Two-ness of African Americans seeing themselves through others’ eyes (treated differently by Black and White people)
- The history of the world is the history of races
Who hired Talcott Parsons?
Pitirim Sorokin
Why was Talcott Parsons important?
- Introduced European thinkers to American audience (Durkheim, Weber, Pareto)
- Structural Functionalist theory - Dynamic equilibrium between social structures, like different systems of the body working together
Why was George Homans important?
He suggested theory should be inductive (ground up based on observations) rather than deductive after critiquing Parsons for being not theoretical.
What was the Frankfurt school?
The Institute of Social Research, which helped develop Marxian theory and shifted attention from economy to culture industry. (Marx + Weber)
Why was Karl Mannheim important?
He founded the sociology of knowledge—the systematic study of knowledge (social context for knowledge)
Why was C. Wright Mills important?
He criticized structural functionalism, as well as the growing elite/professional occupations. He also claimed the US was ruled by a small group of leaders and connected personal problems to public issues
